Thank you all for your lovely and thoughtful comments on Monday’s post about Using The Good Things/ Driving The Ferrari. I feel inspired anew to revel in the things I love and to pass along the things I don’t. Writing it, I thought of the Mary Oliver poem “Storage.”
There’s no one like Mary Oliver. Well, there’s no one like anyone, I guess, but I was trying to segue to there’s no one like Judy Blume. I alluded in Monday’s post to a fun reading project I undertook last week, and that project was a binge of Judy Blume.
To be honest, it all started in February of this year, when I was in Mexico and had a few Judy Blume books on my Kobo. I quickly reread five of her YA books in short succession, and I talked about how brilliant she is at connecting with issues that are important to young people. My dear friend Maya (HI MAYA) sent me some more titles for my birthday, but then I had so many library holds come in, I put them to the side.
Because we are going on vacation soon, I have been pausing most of my library holds so that nothing will come in while I am gone. I got a little overly enthusiastic at hitting the pause button, though, so I didn’t have a whole lot to read. In other words, it was the perfect time to browse my own shelf.
Then Again, Maybe I Won’t. This is one of the titles that Maya had sent me, and it was a really interesting reread. What I remembered from my youth was that this was the book that introduced me to the concept of erections and wet dreams. Nine-year-old me was very confused, particularly with the wording “I felt myself get hard.” What did that mean, I wondered? I went from confusion to horror when I learned what it meant, and realized that this could be happening all around me, all the time. And wet dreams? What kind of a horror show is this? But revisiting this as an adult, I found the story is so much more than just Boner Talk. It’s about class structures, wealth, and, most of all, anxiety. It follows Tony, a seventh-grade boy from a working class Italian family in New Jersey; the family goes from barely making ends meet to being rich, rich, rich. They move to Long Island where Tony’s anxiety goes through the roof, presenting as terrible stomach pains that eventually land him in the hospital. It’s a really interesting story, and I feel like the tagline should be More Than Just Boners.
In The Unlikely Event. I read this in 2017 when it first came out and I had remembered liking it a lot. It is an adult book and it’s based on true events that Judy Blume lived through in the early 50s. In her hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey, three planes crashed over a four month period, and this book details those crashes and how it affected people in the town. I did NOT like this very much on the reread. There are SO many characters, and it is told in the third person omniscient, and so I found it very tedious and without a lot of the emotionality and character development that I love in a book.
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. The classic! I loved it then and I love it now. This is not my first adult reread of Margaret; in fact, my friends Allison, Hannah, and I (HI ALLISON HI HANNAH) wrote a collaborative blog about our respective youths, and I not only reread this classic, but I RECAPPED IT CHAPTER BY CHAPTER. You can read my recap posts here, here, and here if you are interested. Just like with Then Again, Maybe I Won’t, as a young girl I focused on the first-bra-first-period aspect of Margaret, but as an adult I see that it is so much more than that. It’s about religion, fitting in, and finding peace with God in your own personal way. There’s also a lot about friendship, body image, and insecurities. This is well worth the reread! (Yes, this was from the library, but it was actually IN the library and so I didn’t have to put it on hold).
Deenie. This book is my all-time Judy Blume favourite. I pulled out my well-worn copy of the story of a beautiful young girl with scoliosis, who has to wear a brace all day every day. I also recapped this one, and you can read those posts here, here, here, and here. It’s interesting; usually when I reread books from my youth I find I have a lot more sympathy for the parents than I did as a child, but NOT THIS TIME. Deenie’s mother is still terrible.
What a fun little project this was! Of the eight books I’ve read so far in September, seven of them were rereads, six of them total delights. Did you love Judy Blume as much as I did? What was your favourite? Tell me everything. xo
I couldn’t pick a favourite Judy Blume, because they all had a place in the timeline of my childhood. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Fudge were probably the first; and then through the ones you wrote about here (with a year 7 foray into Forever, which the mothers BANNED us from reading, which of course didn’t work. Oh and Blubber which I re-read recently and is just quite upsetting. And a reminder that bullying isn’t new, and that almost no one is or ever was immune to it. Oh and Tiger Eyes was a good re-read too. Boy she really knew how to get into our heads!!
Forever! It is so good – such a real illustration of teen romance. I loved it. Tiger Eyes too! That was a really interesting reread.
I know I read all the Judy Blume books when I was a kid, and I remember the basic plots, but not many details. I remember that Blubber was very upsetting to me. It would be fun to reread them now from my much older perspective! Although Kate mentioned above the Blubber was still upsetting, so maybe I won’t read that one!
It’s upsetting for sure but it was also kind of fascinating, because one of the bullies ends up getting bullied/ excluded. It reminded me so much of what it was like for girls that age – they are always excluding someone.
I have not read as much Judy Blume as you have, and I have never re-read any of her books but I should remedy that. I think I’m most interested in re-reading “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” I definitely did not read “Then Again, Maybe I Won’t” but since the POV is a young boy, I’m curious about that one as a boy mom!
Your vacation is so soon!!!!
Lisa, it’s really good – I mean, it would be too old for your boys but I found it really interesting. It really examines the physical effects of anxiety, which is something not a lot of YA writers were addressing.
I think Blume has the gift Beverley Cleary had, of really inhabiting a kid’s point of view in a way that feels psychologically rich. I remember finding Then Again so fascinating because of the whole boy-secrets aspect. (Not that anything in there was really a secret, but it seemed like it, didn’t it?) I think Blubber might have been my favorite, though, with Are You There God second, and Starring Sally J. Freeman third. I liked Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing and its sequels, but in comparison with the others, the characters were a little flat. I never read Deenie or Forever.
You and Sarah both love Blubber! It wasn’t my favourite but it was interesting on the reread – I didn’t remember one of the more benign bullies ended up being bullied. It was so real, the way girls that age have rotating exclusions towards other girls.
Confession: I have never read a single book by Judy Blume. I CERTAINLY was not allowed to as a child/youth, and I simply never have as an adult. Perhaps I will.
I am sure my mom didn’t know what I was reading most of the time (I also read things like Flowers in the Attic and Clan of the Cave Bear!)
I was a HUGE Judy Blume fan as a kid, and read and reread a bunch of her middle grade books. For some reason, I never dabbled in her more mature books. It was only in — checks Goodreads — 2019/20 that I read Deenie, Wifey, Then Again Maybe I Won’t, Tiger Eyes, Summer Sisters, Smart Women, and Forever. Nicole, I don’t remember ANY of them. Perhaps it was The Times, but none of them made any impression on me! Ack! Clearly I need to read them all again.
This made me giggle: “I found the story is so much more than just Boner Talk.”
Let’s see. My favorite Judy Blume books are probably Just As Long As We’re Together (which I listened to, along with Here’s to You, Rachel Robinson, with my kid this year) and Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself. I do love Are You There, God? and thought the recent movie version was pretty great. Iggie’s House and Blubber are up there, too — both are so fabulous. I love Otherwise Known As Sheila the Great and all the Peter Hatcher/Fudge books, too. Judy Blume is a national treasure. Now I want to do another reread.
I read Wifey and Summer Sisters in 2020! Wifey is pretty wild. I’m not even sure it’s wild in a good way. I definitely like her YA better! I didn’t read the Fudge books when I was a kid though and I think that time for me is past.
I want so much to say I loved Judy Blume as much as you did – I do not think I did, not because she is not a wonderful author, just because it didn’t connect with me the way it did with you, for whatever reason (probably because I identified too much with the girl they picked on, I was a weird kid). Which probably means I should try a reread. I went through our Judy Blume bin at Wednesday School yesterday and did not find Margaret, but did find Then Again, Maybe I Won’t – the chief thing I remember about that IS the stomach pains, and that did kind of impact me. I meant to check the catalogue because I think it’s kind of weird if we have that one but not Margaret. I brought home Rachel Robinson because I don’t remember reading it.
Rachel Robinson and the companion book As Long As We’re Together are both very good! Then Again Maybe I Won’t was well worth the reread. The only one I’m really missing right now is It’s Not The End of The World.
Blubber for me. Sometimes I read it when I am missing fall– her Halloween description is the stuff of dreams.
Wow, quite a few people are saying Blubber! It wasn’t my favourite for sure but I did reread it in February.
I love this post!! Judy Blume is who made me fall in love with reading. I am super jealous you have your original Deenie book! My favorite too. This book was my homerun because, I too, have, and still live horribly with scoliosis. I felt she was thinking of me as I read this book ( but I was no teenage model..lol) I actually got Judy’s autograph in a newer copy of Deenie and told her my story. It is a prized possession! I just recently bought a copy of the original book Forever. What a classic! It was passed around our middle school like it was on fire!..lol
Oh wow oh WOWWWW!!! A signed copy! That’s amazing. Deenie is just so good (and UGH her mom is the worst).
Forever is such a good book – it is SO real, at least it was real for my own experiences.
This may be a little embarrassing to admit, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever read a Judy Blume book? I am a couple of decades older than you so that’s part of the reason. My daughter may have read some when she was a teen, but another mom fail, I don’t know if I ever talked to her about them. I’ll ask her if she read them. ( my excuse there is when she would be reading those books. I was also a single mom of her & 3 young boys. Maybe I’ll try and read couple in the next few weeks!
Ah you probably missed the window, Pat! And honestly, whose moms talked to them about the books they were reading in that time? I know my mom didn’t, and I’m sure none of my friends’ moms did either. It was just a different time!
Lots of folks loving Blubber, but I am pretty sure I never read it. I loved Margaret, and Forever. I loved Forever because there was no STD or pregnancy scare, they were pretty responsible, they were a reasonable age…it was about the relationship, not trying to scare kids.
My mom had Wifey, and I read it secretly. Wow, such a scandal! Not great, but much like a porn movie I think. I mean, her gyno coming on to her? Ack! I read Summer Sisters when it came out, but I don’t remember anything about it.
WIFEY!!! I read that in 2020, and I cannot not think of the pandemic. It’s WILD. And no, it is NOT a good book, but it is very porny. Summer Sisters is much less sexy!
I’m not in the demographic of Judy Blume readers, but my little sister is. She was the one who brought Judy Blume into the house, and since I read anything and everything I could get my hands on, I read Are You There… and Forever. That’s it. I don’t remember much about either one except being charmed by Margaret and the way it was written.
Gosh, I feel old now.
Oh those two are so good! Her writing was brilliant!
Coincidentally, just the other day I watched ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME MARGARET, and I loved it so much. I don’t remember reading a lot of Judy Blume (I’m older than you), but you’re right, this book is about so much more than teen angst over bras and periods. It’s about choosing a religion (or not) that fits, about belonging when you feel like the outsider.
Oh I was thinking of watching that show! Is it on Netflix? I feel like it is, but haven’t really had a chance (why haven’t I had a chance? Idk)
Yes, it’s on Netflix.
I think the only Judy Blume that I’ve read are the Fudge, Super Fudge, and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. I like the idea of an author creating a body of work that can grow with the reader, though. I really should read her books, they are such classics.
My best friend in elementary school was obsessed with “Are You There God?” (by elementary school, I mean we were in grade 7 or 8.) I feel like it was considered a little risqué at the time and she would tell me about the book in hushed tones as we were hanging out her her bedroom.
Oooh if you think that’s risque, you should read Forever! Teen sex!
I don’t know why I did this but I looked up Deenie and Margaret on Goodreads and there were reviewers just eviscerating them because of the SEXUAL CONTENT. One woman was reading it to her daughter without reading it herself first. Lady, that’s on YOU.
Did you love Judy Blume as much as I did? Welp, here’s the thing, I’ve never read any of her books. They weren’t around in my childhood, anywhere. I only found out about them later in life.
Hahaha so your favourite is Not Applicable!
I made note of that Mary Oliver poem when I read that collection by her, too! So true.
I have not read a single Judy Blume book in my life. So I’ll be curious to see what CBBC selection Engie ends up hosting. It could be a Judy Blume!
Wow, never? You’re not alone, a few people haven’t either!
I love that Mary Oliver poem. Just when I think I’ve found the one I love most, another comes along that I love even more.
I read all of those books (and Forever — do you remember that one too?), and it’s so nice to hear your adult thoughts about them. It’s been years since I’ve read them, except for Margaret, which I re-read during lockdown. I felt the same way you did about it.
I want to re-read Deenie too — Anna has scoliosis, so it would be a very interesting perspective now. I remember how horrified we all were about scoliosis after reading that book. Thankfully, it’s not as scary now.
Oh I didn’t know Anna has scoliosis! Does she have a treatment plan?
I loved Forever!
She was diagnosed her freshman year and had to be fitted with a brace. Fortunately, braces are much better now — plastic with velcro straps — but still very uncomfortable to wear while sleeping. She wore it for two years, and it was a STRUGGLE. I mean, try being an active teen wearing a back brace every day. Sigh.
Her curve will always be there, but it was managed well enough that her doctors felt good about it. She had some back pain last December, went to her orthopedic doctor, had imaging done, and her curve is still the same. They gave her exercises and some anti-inflammatory meds, and she felt better. 💜
I can imagine how hard it would be to sleep that way! I’m so glad it’s all under control for her.
Wow, I have never heard of Deenie! My daughter has scoliosis and she’s in 6th grade. She only has to wear her brace at night though, and it’s soooo much better now than those Milwaukee braces. Even the ones kids wear all day are much more sleek and could be completely hidden under a hoodie. (More good news: middle schoolers no longer have to change for gym class, at least at her school.)
I think that your daughter might find Deenie resonant, Sarah! I didn’t realize she had to wear a brace. Deenie wears the Milwaukee brace all day and night for four years – it sounds like there is a huge improvement in scoliosis treatment!
Oh dear, I have to admit that I have never even HEARD of Judy Blume! Maybe she’s just not that well-known in Europe?
My childhood shelves were all Enid Blyton, from “Malory Towers” to the “Famous Five”.
I love how you’ve discovered new layers in her books as an adult.
If someone would read a Judy Blume for the first time as an adult, which book would you say is the best place to start?
Maybe she’s not popular in Europe! I think if you were to start as an adult, Deenie would be the best one. Who am I kidding – that’s my favourite, I cannot be objective here!
This is inspiring me to read Judy Blume again!! I had an elementary school teacher who read the Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing series to us, which was my Judy Blume gateway. Margaret was always my favourite and I also loved Starring Sally J Freedman as Herself. (Also, the fact that her books are being banned makes me so sad)
Oh it’s so awful to think of them being banned! That’s so sad!
I’m sure I read most of these as a kid, but I must have sniffed a lot of glue because I don’t remember any details. Surely, if a book mentioned BONER several times, I would have stored that away, somewhere. Right? The title Deenie conjures up something, but I can’t tell you what!
The Mary Oliver poem is epic!
Well, Suz, I give you some grace because the word “boner” isn’t actually used, the term is “getting hard” which was SO confusing to me. What was hard? OMG THAT???? Awkward!
I’ve never read any of her books except the movie on God, this is Margaret. I should recommend this list to Sofia.
I bet Sofia would enjoy them!
I’m trying to remember what Judy Blume books I read. I remember reading Just As Long As We’re Together and feeling like if my mom knew what was in that book (I remember a girl looking at her naked body and feeling SCANDALIZED!), she would NOT allow me to read it, lol. I’m sure there were others. I would love to do a Judy Blume reread at some point. What a fun project!
It was so fun, Stephany! Just as Long As We’re Together is a good one, and so is the follow-up, Here’s To You, Rachel Robinson. I think they are so good because they really tap into real-life situations and thoughts.
Yes yes yes, I love Judy Blume. If I had to pick a favorite it would be Are You There God. But I also loved Deenie and all the other YA ones. Have you re-read Blubber (have we talked about this?) That one’s not my favorite, but they’re all good. And I mean… Forever! So, so good.
Jenny, yes, I did reread Blubber in…February I think? It was interesting on the reread but I probably won’t pick it up again.
Forever! Remember how the boyfriend’s penis was named Ralph? My friend dated a guy named Ralph when we were teens and I could never not think of that.
I was also a Blubber fan and then Are you there God.. it’s me, Margaret. I reread Summer Sisters last year and it was a fun read, but I’d like to read Deenie, my daughter really liked that one too!
I reread Summer Sisters (or maybe just read it – can’t remember if I read it when I was young!) in early 2020 when all the libraries closed. I ordered it from Owls’ Nest because they still had books available for curbside pickup. I THINK. Things are fuzzy!
I listened to The Genius of Judy recently and loved it. Also reread – and loved – Are you there, God… I remember Deenie really hitting me hard when I was a tween, but oddly, don’t remember many/any of her other books. I may need to remedy that.
And this has given me an idea for something I could do kind of related to my research but kind of not – which I know was not the intent at ALL, but thank you for sparking something in my brain. <3
I am here but to serve, Anne! Lol!
My Judy Blume days were so long ago that I don’t really remember the differences between the books, but I LOVED THEM SO MUCH! Also, did you ever read Paula Danziger (??) ‘The Cat Ate My Gymsuit’?? I had that paperbook and was obsessed with it.
I did read that book! I wonder how it would hold up today!