Can you recommend novels for early teens that deals with consent?

[Yellowdaisies7]

This is for a girl who's nearly 14, to prepare her for the years ahead. It would be great to find novels that deal with the issue of consent, providing healthy models of it and showing the importance of not giving in to pressure. Novels would be a much less cringey way of addressing the topic than non-fiction! Super grateful for any suggestions!

Oh, interesting question. When I was a teen the school library copy of Forever by Judy Blume was the one to read, but I have no idea what similar books have been published since.

You’ll not find much better than this tv clip-

Deeplight by Frances Hardinge deals with this but in the context of friendship.

Thank you! I read Forever a while ago and tbh was disappointed - it’s really good in some ways, but not around consent! The girl asks her boyfriend to stop, he doesn’t, and she goes along with it!

She had been considering sex with him, but still!! It shouldn’t have happened that way!

Oh really? You can tell it's been over thirty years since I read it, I don't remember much detail! Apologies

Try “Me & Mr J”, sorry, I can’t remember (female) author.
Its basically about a young lass who feels she has the whole world against her, and she falls hook line and sinker for her teacher.
I feel it was sensitive, and would deal with a lot of the emotions that can race through youngsters brains, and the feeling that they think they can “deal with” outside pressure.

Hey well done for trying to prepare your dc.

Malorie Blackman books are good for this

Plus it’s what they read at school in place of the Judy Blume Forever book that we read

Diary of a crush books.

I'd honestly just send her this link:

Concise, to the point and explains it clearly.

@Yellowdaisies7 I've read Forever a billion times (big Judy Blume fan).
At what point in the book does Michael refuse to stop?

Not sure if this one deals with consent directly, but I remember buying it for my teen dd. I think it's more about victim blaming and double standards etc but maybe worth a look

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Burning-Laura-Bates/dp/1471170209/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16BNQI0P0GUC0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.R1Pa96UKtS9A0fDLSukbporqkv5rt_QMbEZnJQUgRbnzdmxpcDY9LPvbeECWSeKf-EW-wnJPD0RyCz7oK9tLTFmFjGrmavcXDx9lLrgKNBLLi9L376brM3Maufcc-2CQ9XFiXLakEdy0apNfyEk4UA.ebz7CK2ozoeuu3s0fTA2w5gXXQM0k4plBCtoscs9jao&dib_tag=se&keywords=laura+bates+the+burning&qid=1748961163&sprefix=laura+bates+the+burning%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1

Thank you so much for the replies!

@Needmorelego The first time they have sex. I don’t have the book to hand, so can’t quote exactly or send a screenshot, but she says something like “don’t” or “stop” and he continues.

Also, before that, there’s a bit where she asks him to leave her bedroom as she’s about to change her top, and he doesn’t leave.

@Yellowdaisies7 I've just had a quick flick through my copy and I stand corrected 😳
Michael is a bit of an arse isn't he?
Of all the Judy Blume books it's my least favourite as the characters are so bland and boring (I really can't see why they fancy each other).
Anyway.... apologies to you for being wrong.
Unfortunately I don't have any book suggestions.

@Needmorelego Thanks for your post! I agree with you about the characters. I think in this book Judy Blume was focused on providing information about sex, rather than on character development.

The movie “How to Have Sex” is great for talking about consent for girls and for boys. And very much something they will think cool to watch. You can stream it on Mubi (can prob get a free trial?).

Heatstoppers novels and Netflix series might be a good one?

If you and your daughter aren't opposed to reading about a young homosexual relationship, then the heart stopper series is really good and aimed at their age. My daughter loves them and I've had a flick through and I love how the author deals with different challenges. Maybe look them up and see what you think. There is also a series on Netflix. 🙂

13 reasons why is good (also a Netflix series which modernised some aspects but book is good around consent and rumours etc) tw: suicide

Those sound great - thank you!