Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins

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Author(s)

Karina Evans

Publisher

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

April 19, 2022

ISBN

978-0316168755

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Twelve-year-old Tahlia Wilkins is ready to kick off the perfect summer at the popular kid's pool party. But when the Red Goddess of Panties, aka her first period, arrives 24 hours before the pool party, it messes up all her plans. To make matters worse, her mom is out of town, and there's no way she's going to ask her dad for help! Tahlia always feared that growing up would be tough, but this is just not fair.

In order to save herself from total embarrassment, it will take all of Tahlia and her best friend Lily's scheming to keep her reputation—and her favorite jeans—from being ruined. Sneak off to the grocery store only to have the clerk price check your "goods" over the loudspeaker? Check. Trick your mature teenage neighbor into letting you use her bathroom to 'rehome' some tampons? Check. Take a dip into a fountain to 'borrow' some quarters for a bathroom period product dispenser? Check, check, check!

With the hilarious and heartwarming tone of Dork Diaries and the critically-acclaimed movie Eighth Grade, Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins! is a coming-of-age middle-grade novel about growing up, in all of its awkward glory.

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4 reviews

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4.5

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4.5(2)

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Problem after Problem

February 05, 2022

Overall rating

5.0

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5.0

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‘Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins’ by Karina Evans will have readers on the edges of their seats, wondering what is going to happen to Tahlia next. Problem after problem befalls her as she starts her period for the first time at the most inopportune moment—her mother has just gone out of town and she’s left with her father and two older brothers. Luckily, she has her best friend Lily, who comes over and tries to help Tahlia solve the problem by finding tampons or pads, but even after she gets what she needs, she still finds herself frustrated and worried. Nothing is going as she planned, and her mom isn’t even reachable to help calm Tahlia’s nerves. Add to the mix that Lily seems to be keeping something from Tahlia, and the two of them are supposed to go to the adorable Noah’s pool party the very next day as an end of seventh grade party. Tahlia wonders how she’ll ever pull off swimming without her period making an appearance in the pool.

The story covers lots of Tahlia’s shenanigans as she tries to keep her secret between herself and Lily and get the things she needs. Anyone who’s ever been through their first period, hasn’t yet gotten it, or merely understands the feelings of embarrassment and humiliation will be able to empathize with Tahlia. Her stress is palpable, and Karina Evans has done a fantastic job not only making Tahlia realistic in her worries, but also making her family and friends realistic in how unaware they are of her troubles.

The story has its share of cringe-worthy moments, but it also has moments that will make readers smile and think how sweet and kind people can be when they show their true selves. It is a quick, extremely engaging read that is great for young adults and anyone who loves middle grade and young adult contemporary realistic fiction.

Good Points

The story has its share of cringe-worthy moments, but it also has moments that will make readers smile and think how sweet and kind people can be when they show their true selves. It is a quick, extremely engaging read that is great for young adults and anyone who loves middle grade and young adult contemporary realistic fiction.

Beth Rodgers, Staff Reviewer Top 50 Reviewer 357 reviews

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A Humorous Look at Periods

February 04, 2022

Overall rating

4.0

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4.0

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A lot can happen in the space of a couple of days, and when Tahlia's mother goes out of town for a business conference, leaving Tahlia at home with her father and older twin brothers on the last day of school, things go badly wrong. Tahlia gets her period for the first time and is ill-prepared, especially since she has Noah's pool party to attend! With the help of her best friend, Lily, she manages to get to a local store to buy tampons, but has a lot of trouble using them and soon needs more, so she "borrows" some by sneaking into a teen neighbor's bathroom. She doesn't want her dad to know, so when she has a leak while out to dinner with both Lily and Noah's families, she is mortified, and again relies on her friend to help her out. Lily's mother is eight months pregnant and rather preoccupied, so the girls take it upon themselves to spill a virgin margarita down Tahlia's front to distract from the other stain, and end up in the fountain outside the restaurant trying to further obscure things. Feeling fairly confident at Noah's party, Tahlia runs into Jackie, who used to be friends with her and Lily, but started to act more mature and distanced herself from them. She is friendly at the party, but warns Tahlia that she should change her tampon every hour to avoid Toxic Shock Syndrome. This panics Tahlia, but it's Lily's surprise announcement that crushes Tahlia's spirit and has her calling her father to pick her up from the party. Luckily, her dad comes through with a lot more support than she would have imagined, and when her mother returns, Tahlia is further assured that everything will work out for the best.

Good Points

If you believe my fourth grade diary, topics revolving around puberty are really interesting to middle grade readers. Tahlia and her long suffering (and somewhat younger acting) friend Lily navigate the sometimes treacherous waters of first periods, boy-girl parties, and changes in friendship with humor and a positive attitude. They are going into eighth grade, which will make their adventures very appealing to a variety of readers who might be facing the same issues or looking forward to the day when they do.

It was interesting that while Tahlia was very sure at first that she would be mortified to tell her father, he eventually was a big help, and made her feel more comfortable telling him what she needed. This is a great message whose time has really come.

The fact that the main action of this book took place in just two days was interesting; we pick up the story again after the summer has passed and Tahlia is starting eighth grade, but most of what transpires is very localized. This heightens the emotions and allows for a deep dive into Tahlia's struggles with feminine protection. I especially loved the girls' encounter with an older woman who sympathizes with them but also opines that they are lucky they don't have to deal with sanitary belts! Hopefully, these details will help readers better prepare so that they never have to be in Tahlia's difficult circumstances.

Readers who found Harrington's Revenge of the Red Club and Williams' graphic novel Go With the Flow instructive will appreciate Tahlia's efforts in dealing with her period. This would make a great gift for a younger girl, perhaps accompanied by an informative fiction book such as Own Your Period: A Fact-filled Guide to Period Positivity by Chella Quint and Giovana Medeiros or at least a pamphlet and some menstrual hygiene products so they aren't caught in Tahlia's predicament.