Deal with It!: A Whole New Approach to Your Body, Brain, and Life as a Gurl

Following a recent trend, Web gurus Drill, McDonald and Odes have translated their highly popular Web site, gURL.com, into print, taking a holistic approach to those perennial teen concerns: changing bodies, emotions, desires and lives. In a frank, nonjudgmental tone, they discuss topics and details that more conservative guides might skip: lesbianism and bisexuality receive respectful and thorough treatment that is remarkably well-integrated into the broader discussion of sex in this happily nonphallocentric book; the section on illegal drugs is evenhanded; and the discussion of treatments of eating disorders, other mental illnesses and suicide are honest and informative. Each section ends with a comprehensive list of topical resources: Web sites, hot lines, books and organizations. In addition to the authors' valuable commentary, a good deal of the text is made up of outtakes from girls' online dialogues culled from the site, revealing a thoughtful and supportive cybercommunity able to respond unflinchingly to the many issues covered. Young readers, liberal parents and educators will welcome the authors' openness and lack of boosterism . Full-color illustrations throughout. Agent, Julie Merberg, Roundtable Press, Inc.; 5-city author tour. (Sept.)