The first reviews for my next anthology Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy have been coming in, and they’re incredible.

 

Here’s what Kirkus says:

Although we often take them for granted, our bodies—no matter what they look like, how we feel about them, or how others feel about them—are inherently political.

This anthology edited by Jensen contains a series of personal essays describing experiences that defined the authors’ relationships with their bodies. Avid young adult readers will recognize popular authors like I.W. Gregorio, who, in her capacity as a urologist, answers frequently asked questions about penises; Anna-Marie McLemore, who writes about struggling to get a diagnosis for their severe dysmenorrhea; Eric Smith, who discusses puberty and facial hair; and Alex Gino and Julie Murphy, who reflect on their evolving relationships with fatness. The book also includes narratives from celebrities like gold-medal–winning gymnast Aly Raisman, model Tyra Banks, musician and free-bleeding marathon runner Kiran/Madame Gandhi, and trans rights activist Gavin Grimm. Each author fully and impressively engages with their intersecting identities and the ways in which these intersections affect the way their bodies are treated by society. Taken together with short FAQ sections that address everything from the difference between body positivity and fat acceptance to respectful terms to use when discussing disability, the anthology is a comprehensive, compulsively readable guide to growing into our bodies in a politically fraught world.

A thoughtful, well-rounded anthology featuring diverse voices speaking out on essential topics. 

 

And School Library Journal is giving Body Talk a beautiful starred review:

Gr 7 Up–Jensen has collected personal narratives for a remarkable anthology that tackles various aspects of anatomy. Authors, athletes, celebrities, and other public figures share their experiences of negative self-image and how they came to terms with these feelings. Topics include visible “issues” (being overweight, having noticeable chin hairs, having scoliosis) and invisible ones (dealing with partial blindness, being Deaf, or having Crohn’s disease). These individuals are not afraid to share what they have gone through and how they achieved self-acceptance. As with her previous anthologies, Jensen expertly organizes these stories into chapters on a common theme. The experiences are relayed with equal parts honesty and knowledge. Throughout the book, readers can find “Body Talk FAQs” that fit the section in which they are located. The further reading guide contains nonfiction titles and fictional works where characters contend with those topics. Teens may not find a touchstone in every story but are likely to have experienced insecurity about one or more of the subjects. VERDICT A must-have anthology collection on an evergreen topic.

 

Body Talk hits shelves on August 18, and I’m really stoked for this book to be out there. It’s timely and timeless, and I think y’all will be super excited to see the VIRTUAL events lined up to go along with its release. Local pals: we’re working on an in-person event at my local indie as well, with details to come (and, of course, dependent upon how covid-19 looks by then).

But first, let’s talk about the sweet preorder incentives I’ve got set up!

 

 

Body Talk Preorder Incentives

Every preorder from a US resident or someone with a US address will be able to score a bookmark, as pictured above. The front reads “Your body is radical,” and the back features all three of my anthologies.

In addition, there’s a sweet sticker to come, too — it’s the same design as the front of the bookmark, reading “Your body is radical.” Order between now and August 18 and you’ll get these goods from me.

I want to sweeten the pot, of course, so there are a couple additional incentives.

If you order Body Talk from an indie bookstore, you’ll be entered to win a $25 gift card to a bookstore of your choice. Doesn’t matter what indie. Bookshop.org is fine, too. Just show me proof via the form below, and you’ll be automatically entered.

If you order Body Talk from my indie, a couple other bonuses: I’ll sign it for you, AND you’ll be entered to win a $50 gift card to the bookstore of your choice. You’ll also be entered for the $25 gift card. In other words, order from Read Between The Lynes (linked to my book!), and you’ll be entered for both a $50 gift card AND the $25 gift card, as well as get the book signed by me and get your bookmark and sticker. Sweet deal, eh? If you want me to personalize the book, leave a note in the comment field when you check out. Otherwise, I’ll just sign it with my fancy name.

Non-US ordering folks: I want to thank you, too. This is the tricky bit, though. Currently, Book Depository does not have a gift card option, and since Book Depository ships to the most non-US countries, I want to work through them. So, if you’re non-US, order the book and show me proof of purchase in the form below, and you’ll be entered to win a new book from the Depository equal or lesser than $25 US dollars. You’ll let me know what it is if you win, and I’ll send it your way.

Sound good?

I’ve made the record keeping as easy as possible.

Click this link to upload your proof of purchase — a receipt, a photo of a receipt, etc — and click the appropriate answers. That’s all! If you have trouble with uploading the proof, leave a comment here and I’ll connect with you another way. 

 

Some Answers to Questions

• Does purchasing for my library/school count? Yes! Proof of purchase is all I need.

 

• When will you send out the bookmarks and stickers? Once a week!

 

• When will you let us know if we won a gift card? Publication week. It might not be August 18, but it will be by the end of that week.

 

• So if we order from your indie, Read Between The Lynes, we get to enter both giveaways? Yes, indeed!

 

• I’d like my book signed and/or personalized: Leave a note in your order from Read Between The Lynes. I’ll go in and sign them prior to their shipment to you.

 

• I preordered the book before you shared this. Can I still enter? Yep! Just fill out the form above. And big thank you for such enthusiasm.

 

• I ordered from Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Another non-indie bookstore. Do I get anything? Yes! You’ll get your bookmark and sticker. The gift card entries are for indie bookstore purchases, as a means of offering an incentive to do so. I don’t care where you purchase your books, since we all make decisions based on our own needs. But because my work required Amazon linking to keep the lights on, off-work, I like to incentivize indie bookstore spending and to my awesome indie especially. I don’t judge your choice — I’m just incredibly grateful for your support!

 

More questions might come up, of course, so always feel free to ask here, via Twitter, or via Instagram. And most of all, thank you for your support. Right now is the hardest time to be an author and promoting a book that is indeed relevant and timely. It doesn’t feel good to try to capitalize on the pandemic relating to disease nor the one related to racism. But it’s a book I believe in deeply, and the voices of color in particular in this book are ones I want to keep highlighting and trumpeting because they’re vital reminders of what it is to live and operate in a body in today’s culture.

 

And if you haven’t yet seen it, here’s the official description of Body Talk:

It’s time to bare it all about bodies!

We all experience the world in a body, but we don’t usually take the time to explore what it really means to have and live within one. Just as every person has a unique personality, every person has a unique body, and every body tells its own story.

In Body Talk, thirty-seven writers, models, actors, musicians, and artists share essays, lists, comics, and illustrations—about everything from size and shape to scoliosis, from eating disorders to cancer, from sexuality and gender identity to the use of makeup as armor. Together, they contribute a broad variety of perspectives on what it’s like to live in their particular bodies—and how their bodies have helped to inform who they are and how they move through the world.

Come on in, turn the pages, and join the celebration of our diverse, miraculous, beautiful bodies!