Talking About Sex

Sex is mysterious, intriguing, and terrifying, especially if you're a young teenager. Between addressing rampant myths about sexual matters ("sleeping on your stomach will stunt your development") and the physical betrayal of puberty ("why is my body doing such weird things to me?!"), this two-video package takes the teen angst level down a few notches. With the straightforward, unembarrassed guidance of Holly and Zach, two older teens who answer anonymous questions through a fictional website, viewers are reassured in the first tape, Am I Normal?, that there is no single "normal" way kids develop into adults--everyone is on his or her own clock. The covered topics include basic reproductive facts, the link between hormones and emotional changes (such as a newfound interest in dating, having crushes, or even being moody), erections, wet dreams, breast size, menstruation, and (depending on which of the two available versions you order) even STDs and masturbation. The second video, Thinking Ahead, focuses more on the emotional maze of developing sexuality, advising teens to make decisions ahead of time, encouraging abstinence in a non-preachy way, and distinguishing between crushes and falling in love. While the information on the videos is fairly solid, the supplementary curricular material is lackluster--in fact, one of the reasons the videos work is because questions are asked and answered in anonymity, so it's frustrating that not only is Holly and Zach's website fictional, no real websites are included in the accompanying material, which instead encourages kids to talk to an adult or look up answers themselves in the library (and how realistic is that?). Optional. A better choice here might be the identically titled Talking About Sex (VL-1/97). Aud: I, J, H. (E. Gieschen)