""I wonder if Judy Blume really knows how many girls' lives she affected. I wonder if she knows that at least one of her books made a grown woman finally feel like she'd been a normal girl all along. . . ."" -- FROM Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy BlumeWhether laughing to tears reading "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great" or clamoring for more unmistakable "me too!" moments in "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," girls all over the world have been touched by Judy Blume's poignant coming-of-age stories. Now, in this anthology of essays, twenty-four notable female authors write straight from the heart about the unforgettable novels that left an indelible mark on their childhoods and still influence them today. After growing up from "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" into "Smart Women," these writers pay tribute, through their reflections and most cherished memories, to one of the most beloved authors of all time.
What can I say? If you've ever been a fan of Judy Blume, if her books have ever held a special place in your heart and soul, you should read this book. If you missed out on the beauty of Judy Blume, but you have pre-teen daughters, you should still read this book.
There wasn't a bad essay in this entire book; I admit I found one completely shocked me, but that's more because I apparently didn't take away from Deenie what everyone else did. (Deenie left me terrified of scoliosis, and when I was 18 and diagnosed with a mild variation, I don't mind telling you, I freaked.)
What I've most taken away from this book though is the (for me) surprising revelation that I'm not alone in my adoration of her books and the importance they had on my childhood and adolescence. I got on some level that she was immensely popular, of course, but I never really got that I was so very normal. That my childhood was so normal. That my friends and I weren't the only ones that thought Forever was the apex of contraband reading. Forever it seems, was not just my watershed moment of adolescence, but my entire generation's watershed moment.
See? Just reading about other people writing about Judy Blume continues to change lives. If you find this, read it. I can't promise you'll love it as I do, but if you're a woman you'll find plenty to identify with.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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6 January, 2017:
Finished reading
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6 January, 2017:
Reviewed