Author SPLOTlight: Judy Blume

Chances are, you've read a Judy Blume book — or at least, someone you know has. There is something for everyone when it comes to Blume, no matter how old you are or what types of books you like to read. Feeling overlooked by your family? The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo, her first-ever book, will make you smile. Is your pesky kid brother driving you crazy? The Fudge Books — Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Superfudge, Fudge-a-mania, and Doublefudge — will make you realize maybe your life isn't so bad in comparison. After all, did YOU ever have to save your brother from eating a pet turtle? (If you did, I want to hear all about it in the comments!)

Apart from the very funny, very real books she writes, Blume also holds a special place in the hearts of a lot of girls. There are generations of us who counted on her to tell stories that reflected what we were facing every day — stories about fitting in, falling in love, dealing with your family, and growing up. I discovered Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, buried in a bookshelf in my 3rd-grade classroom, and my life — both as a reader, and as a girl — was never the same. Then I discovered Deenie . . . and Blubber . . . and Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself . . . and on and on, until I came across my favorite Blume books of all: Just As Long As We're Together and its companion book Here's to You, Rachel Robinson. They showed how friendships can grow and change, for good and for bad, as we find out who we are and what we want in life. In middle school, those books helped me stay sane.

After that, I thought I was done with Blume — until one day a few years ago I came across a title I hadn't read yet: Summer Sisters, which is one of Blume's book for adults. If you have one of those books that you re-read every year, and even though you know it by heart you can't help but get sad and happy and wistful and cheerful as you come across all the best parts, well, that's what Summer Sisters is to me.

What are your favorite Blume books? And if you haven't read any yet, which ones listed here would you want to?

— Morgan, Scholastic Staffer

Comments

[Comment #1]

I have always loved the Judy Bume books ever since gr.3 when I found the Fudge series. my fve rites are, {Jst as long as we're tgather,It' not the end of the world, Are you there god it's me Margret, Wenies house and Starring me SAlly J freedmen.} someday I want to write great books just like her.