By Nancy Amanda Redd
Body Drama should be on the shelf of every family, school and doctor in America. This book is an antidote to the media onslaught of air-brushed women. It provides pictures, knowledge, and encouragement to young women everywhere to help them avoid feeling insecure, ugly or imperfect. This book covers it all--from body hair, bras, acne, weight issues, stinkies, bumpies and even vaginal discharge!

I admit, when I agreed to review this book I assumed I would skim it. I have to tell you--I read every single word. I laughed, groaned and even learned a thing or two (like what a queef is). Body Drama is packed with very funny bad jokes, health information, body care tips and most importantly, full color photos of real women's bodies described using real-world language. This is maybe the most important aspect of the book--real words to describe real bodies--that you get to see. These bodies help people understand that their bodies are normal. There is even a page of vulvas--yep, real ones!

Everywhere in this book is the message that you are perfect and anyone who loves you should think you look perfect. If you change your body, it must be because you want to. Nobody has the right to try and make you feel bad. We all stink sometimes, get zits, and 85 percent of women have cellulite--so relax and love living!

I tried to get my 12-year-old and her friends to offer some quotes about this book, but they blushed and said: "Mom, we are too young." I will leave it on the shelf in my room, though, where she knows she can find it and look through it in private. That said, I guess I better buy a copy to leave in my office, too! My 15-year-old promises to read it during Christmas break and will publish her own review.

Nancy Amanda Redd has a Harvard degree with honors in women's studies and is a former Miss Virginia. Her goal in writing this book seems to have been to help young women understand "normal" covers a very wide reality and differs for every shape, ethnicity and size. This amazing book will hit the bookstores at the end of the month, but you can order your copy now at Amazon.com for only $13.60.

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