Feeling Freakish?: How to Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin

Four paperback titles kick off the Sunscreen series of self-help books aimed at teens. Just Us Girls by Moka, with Melissa Daly, illus. by Eric Heliot, divided into ""phases"" (sections) tackle subjects such as girls' changing bodies, self-awareness and relating to others-plus lighter fare such as ""experimenting with makeup."" Sex Explained by Magali Clausener-Petit, with Daly, illus. by Soledad, navigates the body's changes (for boys and girls) during puberty, as well as such topics as intercourse, contraception and sexual crimes (e.g., rape and incest), offering advice on how not to become a victim. My Parents Are Getting Divorced by Florence Cadier, with Daly, illus. by Claire Gandini, can help kids caught in the middle, providing reassurance and advice: ""Just listening to their fighting is hard enough; you shouldn't have to referee."" Finally, Feeling Freakish? by V ronique le Jeune and Philippe Eliakim, with Daly, illus. by Princess H, tackles self-esteem issues and ends with quotes from real kids. Cartoons mix a comic touch with compassion: a girl confesses to a boy, ""I can't go out with you because my ears stick out... I'm sure you understand."" .