So I haven't done anything like this for a while, but when I heard about Body Talk: 37 voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy from @algonquinyr I jumped at the chance wanting to read it and review. Though I'm a little bit older than the aimed demographic for this book, so are a lot of the writers. Then again, they wouldn't be writing about they're own experiences without having to learn from their younger selves. As I was reading this, I'm glad that @heykellyjensen chose a wonderful group of people that share their experiences of people who know that they're bodies are different, and have come to except who they are. For me I'm the same way, it has been a long journey to except who I am. I may not be thin, or hairless, and I have a big oval birthmark on my ankle, but I wouldn't have it any other way. This book certainly focuses on what it's like to be different. Not only is it a collection of essays, but there is artwork and comics as well as displayed throughout it. My favorite piece in it was marked at birth comic, because it reminded of my own birthmark, as well as my friend from elementary and middle school (it was the same school.) who has port wine stain birthmark on her face and has become a motivational speaker from it.

Our relationships with our bodies are so complex and fraught with tension. In this anthology, Jensen finds a variety of voices who share their experiences with their own bodies and make us reevaluate our relationship with our own bodies.

I love the message and the style of this book. Obviously the body positivity is a plus. The style, though, is really fresh and interesting for a YA NF title. I like the sort of mixed media vibes, especially from various sources. This is a great collection, perfect for all teens.

There are so many great body books for teens and this one needs to be added to the list. It's inclusive and diverse and addresses a lot of things kids ask about as they start getting curious about their body.

You can never represent everyone, but I admire how much these books try. As with the other books that came before it, Body Talk contains a fun mix of prose, graphic stories, interviews, gorgeous artwork, playlists and Q&As with an endocrinologist and urologist. Another diverse, inspiring collection that was a pleasure to read!

I LOVE Kelly Jensen's editing! Each story brought fun and interesting viewpoints to the overall book, I will definitely be putting this book in my library.

Body Talk is a brilliant anthology that celebrates all kinds of bodies. I could relate to a few of the essays as I have lived those experiences. A must-read.

DNF, this book was not for me unfortunately, but I appreciate its intent and think a lot of people would enjoy it.

This just didn’t end up being a book that interested me. When I first read the premise, I was very excited and invested, but getting into it made it clear that it just wasn’t for me. Hopefully it works for others out there!

An excellent anthology from Kelly Jensen, as usual. I appreciated that it wasn't just about the fat/thin dynamic, but encompassed ALL bodies.

A fantastic and important insight into a diverse range of lives and bodies, Body Talk is a must read for everyone, regardless of age. You might not find someone who shares your exact story in these pages - it's never possible to represent everyone - but you're sure to find pieces of yourself and your story amongst the heartwarming, thoughtful, and sometimes painful stories it contains.
It's time to demystify our bodies and share our stories. Body Talk answers important questions and provides different viewpoints on various conditions and societal expectations, as well as showcasing the pain that can be felt when people are made to feel 'other' because of the way they look or how their body works.
An essential read for young and old, and a great way to open discussions on inclusivity, acceptance, and equality.

4 Stars (I received an e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

I loved this series of anthologies by Kelly Jensen, I have read and own all of them. While I have my favourites, there isn’t really one that is bad (though Tyra Banks’s contributions were lacklustre). Even as a 30 year old millennial I can definitely relate to all the stories as the contributors are around them same age as me or younger. Highly recommend these collections to young adults and even older.

I haven't read all the stories in here yet but I am so thrilled that this book exists! The two stories I have read so far were so affirming for me to read.

I first read Roshani Chokshi's "Maybe it's Maybelline, or Maybe it 's really not your business" because I ADORE everything that Roshani writes and just her in general. She is so funny while also not shying away from talking about important issues in the world. She discusses how "Makeup [is] an art form, an act of ritual, a semblance of armor even" and I feel the same way. As someone disabled, sometimes I don't want people to notice how tired I look or how I'm holding my arm a bit weirdly and I use makeup as armor to both redirect people's attention and as armor. I felt so validated by her piece!

The other piece I have read is Abby Sams' "But You Don't Look Sick" as she and I share the same diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. It is this weird feeling of feeling sad that someone else experiences the same pain and trauma that you do, while also feeling validated that other people share your experiences. It takes some time to sit with as it can be uncomfortable to think about how real some of this stuff is in my life (and Abby's).

I am very grateful for having received this book on Net Galley and I hope more anthologies come out like it!

This book was absolutely incredible - so incredible that my school chose it as an all-school read! We've purchased around 100 copies for students and faculty and anticipate the students independently buying about 100-150 more!

Inclusive, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, no high school collection is complete without this anthology!

I absolutely love books with body positivity at the forefront and each of these stories were beautiful! This book is going to help so many people feel comfortable in their skin and that makes me so happy!

This covers such an important topic. It explores the body through a very interesting perspective and shows it in a holistic way.

I thought this was a really awesome read. I think, just like the other books in the series, that this is an important topic to discuss, especially from multiple different angles.

This YA nonfiction anthology, which addresses a whole range of topics related to bodies, including chronic illness, disability, puberty and self-esteem, is so fantastic and important. There are issues/conditions discussed here that I don’t think I’ve ever seen mentioned in YA (like PCOS), or that I’ve never seen an own voices portrayal of in YA (like facial differences). It’s well-written, engaging, moving, and edifying. It also doesn’t shy away from presenting conflicting points of view, like following a body-positive piece with an intersectional feminist critique of the limits of the body positivity movement, especially for women of color and trans women. And I love that many of the people featured are really prominent and successful (like a Deaf Broadway actor) and can serve as awesome examples and ~role models for teens.

As in all anthologies, there were a couple I loved less than the others, or that I had some quibbles with (for example, I like the piece from a urologist, but it uses terms like “obesity” that I feel like shouldn’t be in a generally very body/fat-positive book like this). But the overwhelming majority were great (and even that one had some really good parts!). I especially liked that most of the writers were careful to use gender neutral/inclusive language and in general seemed very thoughtful about the words they chose.

I also love the title, because it sounds vaguely
intimate and taboo, and I think teens will pick it up and maybe find something different than they expected, but also great. Highly recommend.

(A personal note: part of the reason this took me so long to read is that I’ve been newly diagnosed with a disability caused by Covid and at times this was so comforting & relatable & helpful, and at other times I was a bit too raw for it).

TW: references to physical abuse, ableism, disbelief/gaslighting, chronic pain, sexism, eating disorders

I read an ARC — thanks to Netgalley and the publisher! I apologize for my extremely late review. This is out now!

This is an essential read for young women and teenagers - unlike any book I have picked up before. Engaging, interesting, humorous and moving.