This can be a nerve-racking time for anyone reaching or about to reach puberty. It's very common to wonder if you're normal, and to compare yourself with your friends and schoolmates. It's hard to know what normal should be. Girls tend to start puberty before boys and often then grow taller at the same age. Some people start puberty early, some start later, and though there is a rough order in which parts of you change, it's not always exactly the same for everyone. There's a lot of variety.

Some people find it easy to talk about puberty with their parents, and others find it difficult and embarrassing. It's not always easier for boys to talk to their fathers rather than their mothers - some fathers can find it very hard to talk about such personal things. The chances are that they didn't live in such open times as we do, and their own fathers were even more tight-lipped about the whole subject!

That may be the same for some mothers with their daughters, but usually it's a bit easier. Traditionally women have more openness between each other than men do about personal issues - again this may not always be the case.

If open talking doesn't come naturally at first within the family, a good way to ask for some advice is to mention casually to your parents that you'd like to learn more about puberty, or that you think you may be starting, and ask if they could help you to find a good book or source of information about it. The chances are that you may have had some discussion about this in school from year 6, but it can really help to be able to talk to parents too.

Whatever happens, remember that it's normal for you, and whatever is happening to your friends is normal for them too.