Periods in Fiction

Around half the population will experience menstruation. These fiction books for tweens and teens talk about it.

Updated June 18, 2025
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Alma presses play
Cane, Tina
Paper Book
A lyrical novel-in-verse that takes us through the journey of coming of age in New York during the 80s. Alma's life is a series of halfways- She's half-Chinese, half-Jewish; her parents spend half the time fighting, and the other half silent; and she's halfway through becoming a...
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
Blume, Judy.
Paper Book
Now a major motion picture starring Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates! A Time Best YA Book of All Time Margaret shares her secrets and her spirituality in this iconic Judy Blume novel, beloved by millions. Margaret Simon, almost twelve, likes...
The Beautiful Game
Méndez, Yamile Saied.
Paper Book
A powerful story about family, fútbol, and playing like a girl, perfect for fans of Front Desk, The Academy, and, Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret from the award-winning author of Furia. At twelve years old,...
Blood moon / Lucy Cuthew
Cuthew, Lucy
Paper Book
This powerful, timely novel in verse exposes provocative truths about periods, sex, shame, and going viral for all the wrong reasons. After school one day, Frankie, a lover of physics and astronomy, has her first sexual experience with quiet and gorgeous Benjamin--and gets...
Calling the Moon : 16 Period Stories from BIPOC Authors
Paper Book
An essential, highly relatable collection of short fiction and poems around the topic of menstruation, written exclusively by authors who are Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color For Angela, it came on the basketball court--while playing on the boys' team. For Penny, it came...
Code red
McCullough, Joy
Paper Book
In the spirit of Judy Blume, this "character-driven, thought-provoking, often funny, and, above all, timely" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) middle grade novel celebrates finding yourself, making new friends, and standing up for what's right as a girl becomes involved in menstrual...
Free Period
Terese, Ali.
Paper Book
This middle-grade Moxie centering period equity is Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret for the next generation! Longlisted for the National Book Award "Absolute fire." -- Book Riot Helen and Gracie are pranking their way through...
Go with the flow
Williams, Lily
Paper Book
High school students embark on a crash course of friendship, female empowerment, and women's health issues in Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann's graphic novel Go With the Flow. Good friends help you go with the flow. Best friends help you start a...
Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins!
Evans, Karina.
Paper Book
In this fun and honest romp about friendship, puberty, and growing up, a debut author gives modern-day readers their own version of Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, for fans of Pixar's Turning Red. Twelve-year-old Tahlia Wilkins is ready to...
Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice
Lapera, Anna.
Paper Book
Most Anticipated Middle Grade Reads of 2024: Teen Librarian Toolbox, School Library Journal For fans of Donna Barba Higuera''s Lupe Wong Won''t Dance and Aida Salazar''s The Moon Within comes Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice - a contemporary...
The New Girl, Vol. 1
Calin, Cassandra.
Paper Book
This funny, feel-good middle-grade graphic novel about change and acceptance will be a hit with fans of Guts by Raina Telgemeier, Pizza Face by Rex Ogle and Dave Valeza, and Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang. Goodbye, old life... Lia and her family are...
Revenge of the Red Club
Harrington, Kim
Paper Book
A tween reporter discovers an important and beloved club at school is being shut down--and uses the power of the pen to try and activate some much-needed social change in this period-positive and empowering middle grade novel about the importance of standing up for what you believe in. ...
Something Maybe Magnificent
Toalson, R. L.
Paper Book
There's a new man in her mom's life, and Victoria is determined to get rid of him--no matter what. Both a standalone novel and a follow up to The First Magnificent Summer, this pitch-perfect middle grade story "thoughtfully and sincerely explores womanhood, family, anxiety, and identity" (...
The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday
Toney, Kelsey B.
Paper Book
Delia Bridges is striving to become the compassionate doctor she's been unable to find in her journey to diagnose her excruciating period pain--but when a single rule-breaking incident jeopardizes her future, she must find a way to reclaim her dreams in this funny, period-positive novel.

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