Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

If you have a teenage daughter, you need to read this. Full stop.

Orenstein does what most parents can't: she gets teenage girls and young women to talk honestly about sex, hookup culture, porn's influence, and assault. The result is a clear-eyed, research-backed look at what girls actually face—not what we hope they face or fear they face, but reality.

This isn't a how-to guide or a moral panic. It's investigative journalism that opens dialogue. Orenstein doesn't tell you what to think; she gives you the information to have better, more honest conversations with your daughter. The 4.5 Amazon rating and endorsements from parenting organizations aren't hype—this is genuinely useful.

Obviously, this isn't a book for kids. The content is explicit and meant for adult readers. But if your daughter is in high school or heading to college, this book will help you understand her world in ways you probably don't right now. And that understanding is the first step to being the parent she needs.

Age Fit

This is a book for parents, educators, and possibly mature older teens (17+) who want to understand the sexual landscape facing young women. Not appropriate for children or younger teens—it's meant to equip adults with knowledge to support and guide their daughters.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

75

Frank, non-judgmental exploration of teen/young adult female sexuality that prioritizes emotional health and agency. Orenstein approaches sensitive topics with care and research-backed insight, creating dialogue rather than moralizing. The book models honest communication about difficult subjects, though the content itself (porn culture, hookup dynamics, assault) is inherently challenging and not 'wholesome' in a traditional sense—but the treatment is.

Imaginative

55

This is investigative journalism and cultural commentary, not creative narrative. While Orenstein asks important questions and opens new ways of thinking about adolescent sexuality, the format is interviews and analysis rather than imaginative storytelling. It invites intellectual exploration and reframing of assumptions, but doesn't spark creative expression or world-building.

Safe

35

Explicitly addresses mature sexual content including pornography, hookup culture, sexual assault, and the pressures young women face around sexuality. This is not content a child should stumble upon—it's written for adults (parents, educators) or mature older teens. The treatment is responsible and research-based, but the subject matter includes trigger warnings around assault and detailed discussions of sexual behavior. Not 'unsafe' in terms of harm, but definitely requires reader maturity.

Enriching

88

Deeply enriching for the right audience. Orenstein provides parents and educators with crucial insight into the sexual landscape facing teenage girls and young women—information most adults lack. Based on 70+ interviews and expert consultation, it builds empathy, opens dialogue, and equips readers to have better conversations with young women. The 4.5 Amazon rating and widespread positive reception from parenting organizations signal real value. This is essential reading for parents of teen girls.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Based on 70+ interviews with young women plus expert consultation—this is real research, not speculation
Orenstein goes beyond the sensational headlines to explore the nuanced reality of girls' sexual experiences
Non-judgmental, dialogue-opening approach that helps parents understand what their daughters face without moralizing
Addresses the topics most parents are too uncomfortable to discuss: porn's influence, hookup culture, assault, and the 'perfect slut' paradox
Widely recommended by parenting and girls' leadership organizations as essential reading

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What to Watch For

This is explicitly for adults—detailed discussions of sexual behavior, assault, and pornography make it inappropriate for younger readers
Heavy subject matter that may be emotionally difficult, especially for parents of daughters who've experienced assault
Some parents may find the frank language and lack of moral prescriptivism uncomfortable
Focuses primarily on cisgender, heterosexual experiences (published 2016, pre-broader cultural conversations)

Conversation Starters

""What surprised me most in this book was... Did you know that many girls feel pressure to act like porn during hookups?""
""The author talks about how girls often prioritize their partner's pleasure over their own. How do we help our daughter understand she deserves reciprocity?""
""This book made me realize I need to talk more openly about consent and pleasure, not just danger and pregnancy. How do we start that conversation?""
""Orenstein says there's a huge gap between what parents think is happening and what actually is. How do we bridge that with our daughter without being invasive?""

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