Reviewed by Thuy, Cerdon College, Merrylands

Although many taboos have developed around the topic of consent, it has received more affirmative attention recently, thanks to a refreshing focus on the importance of effective communication in our relationships. Welcome to Consent: How to say no, when to say yes and everything in between cleverly captures the vital essence of consent from various angles, within and beyond what is sexual, whilst also tackling seemingly-embarrassing issues in a professional manner. I deeply appreciate Yumi Stynes’ and Dr. Melissa Kang’s creative efforts to convey to younger audiences what consent truly entails. 

The guide features charming drawings and subtle humour, making what appears to be a difficult topic very approachable. A range of scenarios is skilfully included, some being personal accounts submitted by enthusiastic students willing to explore consent alongside fellow curious and confused peers. This sense of collective puzzlement can be reassuring for adolescent readers as they embark on shared journeys to engage with unfamiliar experiences.

I find it especially admirable how the book briefly touches on the issue of young students feeling obligated to laugh about taboo topics in order to shrug off the awkwardness. It sheds light on how these students do feel that, underneath the humour of it all, they ultimately want to learn more without feeling the need to conform and laugh about the topic of consent. 

Despite being incredibly informative, this guide behaves more as a starting point than a place to further prior knowledge of consent. Hence, I recommend it to students aged 11 to 14 years old, as older teenage students would prefer a guide that more boldly confronts the deeper questions uninvestigated by this book. 

Overall, it was a wholesome, comforting read and I hope younger students will enjoy the guide’s witty jokes and adorable doodles as much as I did.

Rating: ★★★★☆