Age of Consent (At Issue Series)

Gr 9 Up—These 13 articles, ranging in length from four to seven pages, tackle the murky moral issue of legislating the age of first consensual sexual experiences. The authors address establishing uniform age-of-consent laws, the dilemma of teaching students about safe sex and then prosecuting them for sexual activity, what to do about sexting, applying a lifelong sex-offender label to a teen, and parental notification of a minor seeking an abortion; and examine sources of pressure for reform. More than half of the entries were originally published in 2008 or later; most are from the United States, but some are from Canada, Britain, and Australia. A few provide the point of view of people directly affected by the laws, such as those who, as teens, were registered as sex offenders for life. A list of organizations to contact is included. These well-written entries provide solid report information, and the book should be considered for purchase where the curriculum requires material on early sexual circumstances in relation to the law.—Joanne K. Cecere, Monroe-Woodbury High School, Central Valley, NY