Several stories look at menstruation in a modern vein. Losing It is a wrenching look at losing one's virginity; an antidote to the Hollywood romanticism of the "first time." The Uterus Fairy is a cross-generational look at, well, uteruses. The mother is mourning an impending hysterectomy; her daughter is worrying about a possible pregnancy. The Heroic Quest of Douglas McGawain is one of the few comic tales and the only one told from a male's point of view (this "knight's" quest involvestampons!)
Several stories look at menstruation from different cultural or historical perspectives. Getting one's period as a noblewoman in pre-revolutionary Russia meant being eligible for marriage to a politically-correct man. Instead, The Czarevna of Muscovy longs to be one of the dancing peasants she spies in the village courtyard; her pining has drastic consequences. Ritual Purity is a fascinating look at the Othrodox Jewish tradition of mikveh (monthly cleansing bath) and a troubled teen who seeks meaning in tradition and family. Moon Time Child is a look at a slave girl's dread of her "moon time" knowing that it will mark her as a "breeder" and mean a further loss of freedom.
Several stories transcend time and place. Sleeping Beauty is a musing on fairytales and menarche. Transfusion is a dramatic story of a mentally-ill woman's blood infusing another woman's life with meaning and strength. In a second powerful story, Maroon, a young girl worships her older, `hipper' cousin only to discover that her "hero" has done the unforgivable: become pregnant out of wedlock.
Some of the stories have violent themes although not graphically portrayed. There is also some adult language and sexual situations --again, not graphic. The very theme of the collection will be off-putting for some, titillating for others. The attractive cover and breezy fly ("Whether your cycle is regular or random, you prefer chocolate or chips, you break out or remain zit-free, you period is an indelible fact of life...") makes this book appear to be light-weight reading. But those who pick it up will be rewarded with uniformly high-quality writing. A great addition to high school collections,middle school (with caveats) and certainly a women's studies course.
Finally, a book that forgets "Aunt Flow" and "the curse" and deals with that time of the month head-on. In twelve stirring fictional narratives, celebrated authors including Han Nolan and David Lubar explore with spirit and strength everything from boyfriends buying tampons, to embarrassing encounters in white, to heart-wrenching pregnancy scares. This is a must-have collection for young women everywhere!