Masana the Brave

“... an inspiring and much-needed resource that will empower a new generation to approach puberty with knowledge, dignity and pride.”
Fatima Kathrada | Pharmacist, Lecturer, Women’s health researcher at Wits University 

Masana is almost twelve. She’s a poet, a dreamer, a girl who dances under the stars in Capital Park. Then one morning she wakes up to blood in her panties and a fear she can’t name. Convinced her body is broken, she stuffs 22 sheets of toilet paper into her underwear (her lucky number) and tries to face it alone.

But Masana doesn’t have to be brave by herself. With the help of a kind teacher, loyal friends, and a purple box her mother has kept hidden since she was nine, Masana discovers that her first period isn’t the end of the world. It’s the beginning of a new one. Masana the Brave is a warm, funny, and tender story about first periods, first fears, and breaking cycles of shame, one honest conversation at a time.

Buying a book donates a book.

This book was produced in collaboration with Lil-Lets® to raise awareness of menstrual health in young girls and women. Every book sold allows for a donation to a school, library, organisation or child in need and furthers this awareness. Visit Lil-Lets to learn more.  

“'Masana the Brave' is a warm, affirming story that normalises menstruation and equips learners with the language and confidence to navigate puberty without shame. Its authentic South African voice reflects the Gender Transformative Education principles of the DBE, breaking the silence around menstrual health, promoting sanitary dignity and fostering supportive school communities."
Likho Bottoman | Director: Social Cohesion and Equity in Education

Specifications:

• ISBN: 978-1-0671825-1-9
• Author: Puno Selesho
• Illustrator: Gabby Correira
• Publisher: Imagnary House (in collaboration with Lil-Lets)
• First Published: September 2026
• No of pages: 48
• Format: Paperback, 210 x 138 mm (Portrait)