Editorial Content for The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
When thinking about children’s literature, it is impossible to overlook or overstate the accomplishments and influence of Judy Blume. The author of more than 25 books, including those for children, teens and adults, Blume changed the storytelling and publishing landscape for young readers and remains both controversial and beloved. In THE GENIUS OF JUDY, Rachelle Bergstein explores Blume’s books and impact over the many decades of her career. Along the way, she shares the biographical details that influenced Blume’s writing and the ways in which she reflected and changed American culture.
"Insightful and thoughtful, THE GENIUS OF JUDY is a fantastic companion to Blume’s books and a fascinating look at American culture through literature."
Blume was born Judith Sussman in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1938. She was aware of the expectations put on her by her middle-class Jewish family, especially those of her mother, Essie. Blume was encouraged to pursue her education but to be prepared to give up career plans in favor of marriage and motherhood. It turns out she was married to John Blume and pregnant with their daughter, Randy, even before she graduated from NYU in 1961. And it wasn’t until after her son, Larry, was born that she published her first book, THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE IS A GREEN KANGAROO, in 1969.
Blume’s debut came at a time of rapid cultural change in the US. Even as she began to contribute to the canon of kids books, she herself was inspired by books published by feminist writers such as Betty Friedan and Kate Millett. The themes found there, combined with Blume’s own beliefs about children’s development and the honesty that adults owe them, inform key aspects of her work and help contextualize her oeuvre. The timeline of her career parallels the milestones of her life and how she asserted herself personally and professionally.
THE GENIUS OF JUDY is organized thematically, with chapters examining moments in Blume’s life, relevant cultural realities, and the ideas that she presents and explores in her books. From the lives of preteen girls in the seminal ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET, to virginity and pleasure in books like the oft-banned FOREVER, to familial strife and divorce in JUST AS LONG AS WE’RE TOGETHER, Blume was at the forefront of writing stories that reflected real life for young readers --- one that is messy, confusing and frustrating, and full of love, sex, humor and discovery.
Bergstein draws on previous biographies of Blume, as well as interviews and Blume’s own nonfiction writing, to provide the personal details that help create her beliefs and philosophies and the moments in her life that shaped her characters, literary ideas and plots. She also offers some solid and well-explained perspective of time, place, narrative, and public reception and response. Her discussion of book banning and the role of librarians in children’s literature and as champions of various freedoms is especially important and interesting.
There are no shocking revelations or innovative analysis here. Bergstein allows Blume’s life and work to speak for itself and encourages readers to go beyond nostalgia toward an understanding of what she was able to achieve through her writing. Insightful and thoughtful, THE GENIUS OF JUDY is a fantastic companion to Blume’s books and a fascinating look at American culture through literature.
Teaser
Judy Blume’s books have garnered her fans of all ages for decades and sold tens of millions of copies. But why were people so drawn to them? And why are we still talking about them now in the 21st century? In THE GENIUS OF JUDY, her remarkable story is revealed as never before, beginning with her as a mother of two searching for purpose outside of her home in 1960s suburban New Jersey. The books she wrote starred regular children with genuine thoughts and problems. But behind those deceptively simple tales, she explored the pillars of the growing women’s rights movement, in which girls and women were entitled to careers, bodily autonomy, fulfilling relationships and even sexual pleasure. Blume wasn’t trying to be a revolutionary --- she just wanted to tell honest stories --- but in doing so, she created a cohesive, culture-altering vision of modern adolescence.
Promo
Judy Blume’s books have garnered her fans of all ages for decades and sold tens of millions of copies. But why were people so drawn to them? And why are we still talking about them now in the 21st century? In THE GENIUS OF JUDY, her remarkable story is revealed as never before, beginning with her as a mother of two searching for purpose outside of her home in 1960s suburban New Jersey. The books she wrote starred regular children with genuine thoughts and problems. But behind those deceptively simple tales, she explored the pillars of the growing women’s rights movement, in which girls and women were entitled to careers, bodily autonomy, fulfilling relationships and even sexual pleasure. Blume wasn’t trying to be a revolutionary --- she just wanted to tell honest stories --- but in doing so, she created a cohesive, culture-altering vision of modern adolescence.
About the Book
An intimate and expansive look at Judy Blume’s life, work and cultural impact, focusing on her most iconic --- and controversial --- young adult novels, from ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET to BLUBBER.
Everyone knows Judy Blume.
Her books have garnered her fans of all ages for decades and sold tens of millions of copies. But why were people so drawn to them? And why are we still talking about them now in the 21st century?
In THE GENIUS OF JUDY, her remarkable story is revealed as never before, beginning with her as a mother of two searching for purpose outside of her home in 1960s suburban New Jersey. The books she wrote starred regular children with genuine thoughts and problems. But behind those deceptively simple tales, Blume explored the pillars of the growing women’s rights movement, in which girls and women were entitled to careers, bodily autonomy, fulfilling relationships and even sexual pleasure. Blume wasn’t trying to be a revolutionary --- she just wanted to tell honest stories --- but in doing so, she created a cohesive, culture-altering vision of modern adolescence.
Blume’s bravery provoked backlash, making her the country’s most-banned author in the mid-1980s. Thankfully, her works withstood those culture wars, and it’s no coincidence that Blume has resurfaced as a cultural touchstone now. Young girls are still cat-called, sex education curricula are getting dismissed as pornography, and entire shelves of libraries are being banned. As we face these challenges, it’s only natural we look to Blume, the grand dame of so-called dirty books. This is the story of how a housewife became a groundbreaking artist, and how generations of empowered fans are her legacy, today more than ever.
Audiobook available, read by Mia Barron
