The rules of the lake / Christina Soontornvat -- Muneca / Aida Salazar -- Turning point / Leah Henderson -- Shiloh: The gender creamsicle / Mason J. -- Holiday / Saadia Faruqi -- Ofrendas / Guadalupe Garcia McCall -- Mother Mary, Do you bleed? / Erin Entrada Kelly -- The arrival / Nikki Grimes -- Heavenly water / Veeda ByBee -- Sometimes you just need your Prima / Emma Otheguy -- Cannibal at the door / Elise McMullen-Ciotti -- Thicker than water / Hilda Eunice Burgos -- Shakthi means strength / Padma Venkatraman -- Part of the team / Yamile Saied Mendez -- Bloodline / Ibi Zoboi -- The hadiyyeh / Susan Muaddi Darraj.

For Angela, it came on the basketball court--while playing on the boys' team. For Penny, it came on a school field trip to the lake (making for some cringeworthy moments of humor). And to Layla's disappointment, it came at the start of her first fasting Ramadan, meaning that she won't be able to fast after all. Whether it spurs silence or celebration, whether the subjects are well prepared or totally in the dark, the young people in these sixteen stories find that getting a period not only brings change to their bodies, it also brings joy, sorrow, self-discovery, and yes, sometimes even gifts.