From how much you want to start your period, because no matter how its told you. As a result menarche a girls first period is still likely to be disconcerting. Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month. And the thing about growing up is that though styles and accessories and such change over time, the feelings and questions we ask pretty much stay the same. Judy blume talks about this book being her most autobiographical novel. And itas a shame because the realism and thoughtfulness of deenie is a potentially comforting read for many young women.
Add to that a scene with a gym teacher giving very straight facts about periods, jilling off, and other touchy stuff and you have a book that gets a lot of knickers in a twist. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. According to the american library association, more than. While her frankness, firstperson narratives, and ability to portray the concerns of her audience with humour made her a remarkably popular and awardwinning author. Although it was written years ago, adolescents, going through the awkward stages thats inevitable with growing up, can relate to this young adult novel. Judy blume, originally named judith sussman, is an awardwinning, bestselling author for children, teens, and adults.
She is considered a pioneer of ya fiction, being one of the first authors to write novels dealing with racism. Amy poehler vulture generations of teenage girls have grown up reading the tales of teenage angst told by beloved author judy blume. Families can talk about the fact that author judy blume is the author of five books that appear on the american library associations top 100 most frequently challenged books of 20002007. This book, also by judy blume, features a main character going. Judy blume and her character margaret simon were the first to say out loud and in a book even that it is normal for girls to wonder when they are ever going to fill out their training bras. Mashable margaret simon, almost twelve, has just moved from new york city to the suburbs, and shes anxious to fit in with her new friends. Born in 1938 and raised in elizabeth, new jersey, she graduated from new york university with a bachelors degree in education. Were trying to do new covers now and ive seen some i really like so lets hope. This is up to you, jusy i just want you to know, if he says that, we are going to lose book club sales, the book clubs will not take this book. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. I cant imagine any young girl not identifying with margaret simon in this book. Books by judy blume were not part of my growing up years. Judy blume as one of the first authors for young adult readers to deal frankly with puberty, sex, and the confusion that surrounds adolescence, judy blume has inspired generations of.
Her face lights up, and shes transported back to her childhood self curled up with a book she knows will speak directly to her anxieties about relationships, selfimage and measuring up. One day, in the early nineties, she came across an article about judy blume and bought a book. I went home and thought about this, my son said, youre judy blume. Judy blume is an american author of novels for children and young adults, best known for novels like tiger eyes and are you there god. Shes just moved from new york city to the suburbs and is anxious to fit in with her new friends nancy, gretchen, and janie. When i was nine and ten i was a lot like sally curious, imaginative, a worrier, she writes. The debut book of the series is titled as tales of a fourth grade nothing.
The novel explores her quest for a single religion, while confronting typical issues faced by early adolescent girls going through puberty, such as buying her first. When they form a secret club to talk about private subjects like boys, bras, and getting their first periods, margaret is happy to belong. Blume is the subject of the 2018 song judy blume by amanda palmer. Judy blume has given voice to the hopes and fears of preteens and teenagers since before many of her readers were even born. Of all the rites of passage of a womans young adulthoodfirst period, first bra, first kisstheres one that is often left off the official timeline but that is no less crucial. Judy blume has helped generations of girls grow up, and now, three of her novelsare you there, god.
Dec 07, 2012 in the version of the book i read from the 70s, blood catchers were held in place with a belt and the onesided sticky thing i was presented with were not yet a flicker in a marketing gurus eye. According to the american library association, more than 11,300 books have been challenged since. Judy blume on margaret, davey, and coping with death and periods. Judy blume knows all your secrets the new york times. Like sally, judy grew up jewish and worried that there would soon be another war like the one which had just ended in 1945. What judy blume books taught me about being a woman scary. Its me, margaret by judy blume you would likely find it thoughtful, insightful, cute, feisty and wise. Want to know how judy came to write each of her books. Books about puberty and growing up for girls mumsnet.
By the time i got onto the scene, the belt was just a memory for many, except for those who used them and those of us who read judy blume. An entire generation of girls learned about menstruation, training bras, and. I know thats what charles would say, i know it, and he needs to say that. Because in newer versions, theyve changed the sanitary hardware. Blume is my first husbands name, but we were married a long time and it felt comfortable. For more than four decades, the judy blume novel are you there god. Multimedia, interviews, biographical resources, honors, publications, translations. Nov 16, 2018 judy blume talks about this book being her most autobiographical novel. She found success with the 1970 comingofage story are you there, god.
It was published by the berkley publishers in the year 1972. Thematically, the song cultivates in the listener an understanding of blumes role in palmers adolescent life, blumes books influential in palmers understanding of intimate and femalecentered subjects such as puberty, menstruation, and the male gaze, and universal. Granted, judy blume books arent the only titles to raise the ire of righteously indignant types. Girls dont read literature as menstruation instruction manuals, so why would. About how they want to fit in with their peers and are in a hurry to grow up. Blume captures exactly the obsessions with growing up, bras, periods, talking on the phone, cliques, and wanting to be like everyone else. But if youre a gen xer or earlier on a reread mission, keep the smelling salts handy.
Blume captures exactly the obsessions with growing up, bras, periods, talking on the phone, cliques, and. Because though judy blume published it in 1970decades before cell phones and snapchat and all that jazzat its heart, this is a book about growing up. Its me, margaret has helped girls understand such taboo topics as getting your period or buying your first bra. I know i was assigned judy blume at least once tales of a fourth grade.
May 24, 2015 with that question, judy blume, the books author, was reflecting back her readers impatient curiosity about the world ahead, and promising, implicitly, that she, at least, would try to fill. What judy blume books taught me about being a woman scary mommy. Why author judy blumes classic novel still inspires fans. Judy s first book in the fudge series, tales of a fourth grade nothing, was published in 1972. Judy blume s books have sold well over 80 million copies the world over and been translated int0 32 languages. Mashable margaret simon, almost twelve, has just moved from new york city to the suburbs, and shes anxious to. Brooks, kelly fremon craig pitch judy blumes after. The first time it ever occurred to me that margaret could be seen as controversial was when i gave three copies of the book to my childrens elementary school, and the principal of the school a man decided that these books could not be on the shelf in the library of his school because in the book, margaret gets her period, and this was. There are some things about growing up that are hard for her to talk about, even with her friends. Judy blume as one of the first authors for young adult readers to deal frankly with puberty, sex, and the confusion that surrounds adolescence, judy blume has inspired generations of teenagers with her lifechanging books.
Judy blume author, debbie ridpath ohi illustrator 4. Mar 28, 2020 judy blume has helped generations of girls grow up, and now, three of her novelsare you there, god. Its a lovely story for girls about what it is like to go through puberty. Controversy and censorship judy blume teaches writing. Sep 28, 2015 granted, judy blume books arent the only titles to raise the ire of righteously indignant types. Nicole antonuccio now that shes nearing the end of fourth grade, my daughter has become one of those bespectacled, bookworm types who.
I never read any of judy blumes books as a child, but i decided to read this. Its me, margaret, and cemented her popularity among young readers. The settingthe early 1950sis especially well realized through period references and incidents. She is considered a pioneer of ya fiction, being one of the first authors to write novels dealing with racism, menstruation, divorce, bullying, masturbation and teen sex. But when the girls start talking about boys, bras, and getting their first periods, margaret starts to wonder if shes normal. Brooks and writerdirector kelly fremon craig this week are in the mix with studios on a m. Thematically, the song cultivates in the listener an understanding of blume s role in palmers adolescent life, blume s books influential in palmers understanding of intimate and femalecentered subjects such as puberty, menstruation, and the male gaze, and universal. If he says friggin family, the book clubs will take it.
This week i went to the library and checked out all the judy blume books on the. The first judy blume books i read, i read when i was a little kid, when i was 8 or 9 years old, and they served as a kind of introduction to myself. Mention judy blume to almost any woman under a certain age and youre likely to get this reaction. Judy blume, one of americas most popular authors, is the recipient of the 2004 national book foundation medal for distinguished contribution to american letters. Author judy blume began her writing career in the 1960s. Hbo announced that it would adapt blumes first nonya book. Jun 02, 2015 the first judy blume books i read, i read when i was a little kid, when i was 8 or 9 years old, and they served as a kind of introduction to myself. Judy blume books list of books by author judy blume. With that question, judy blume, the books author, was reflecting back her readers impatient curiosity about the world ahead, and promising, implicitly, that she, at least, would try to fill. Dec 18, 2009 i had never before read a judy blume book. And for almost as long, blume has turned down requests from producers to turn the beloved novel into a movie. Why we cant wait for judy blumes books to hit movie and tv.
The book ends with margaret getting her period, as she is the third of her friends to get it. The fudge series written by judy blume consists of 5 books in total, published between the years 1972 and 2002. What it means, how it affects all of us, what to do about it. In what will likely end in the first huge book to movie sale of the new year, producer james l. Teaching your mighty girl about her menstrual cycle a mighty girl. Isnt it pathetic that as a girl, once you learn about periods, you just cant wait to get one, and then. Blume published her first book, the one in the middle is the green kangaroo, in 1969. It was published in 1970 by judy blume under the random house publishing company. Oct 24, 2018 why author judy blumes classic novel still inspires fans. Judy blume, american author known for creating juvenile fiction that featured people and situations identifiable to young readers. Judy blumewho has sold more than 85 million bookswrites the kind of stories that get passed around at slumber parties so the sex stuff can. As soon as i finished it, i begged her to buy my every single blume.