Speaking of Judy Blume. . .

CrimsonTide4 · #1 11-02-2002, 12:48 PM

FUDGE is back. . .

Grade 3-5-A worthy successor to Superfudge (1980) and Fudge-a-Mania (1990, both Dutton). Peter Hatcher is now entering seventh grade and apprehensive that no one will remember him since his family spent the past year in Princeton, NJ. Five-year-old Fudge is obsessed with money-acquiring it, talking and singing about it, and counting it. He even creates his own currency, Fudge Bucks. To try to curb this fixation, the family takes a trip to Washington, DC, to visit the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, and runs into Mr. Hatcher's long-lost cousin. Howie, his wife Eudora, twin daughters Flora and Fauna, and four-year-old son Farley are traveling through the East Coast before moving to Florida. Of course, a visit to New York City is in their plans. A few weeks later, the relatives arrive and set out their sleeping bags. Two nights turn into four, then seven, and then Howie announces that he is subletting an apartment in the building for six weeks. It is a tough time for Peter, culminating at Halloween when Fudge and Farley are trapped in the building's elevator while trick-or-treating. Peter is a real 12-year-old with all the insecurities and concerns of that age. And nothing can suppress the personality of Fudge, who even renames Washington, Fudgington.

yes boys and girls, he's back.

Also let's share our Judy Blume memories. . . what was your first? Which was your favorite? Will you be reading/buying this book for yourself? I know I will.

astroAPhi · #2 11-02-2002, 02:52 PM

Oh my goodness... I may have to go get this from the library.

I used to absolutely love these books.

USFSDTAlum · #3 11-02-2002, 03:14 PM

my Fave is Summer Sisters, which is my favorite book of all time. Everytime I read it, its even more amazing.

Thrillhouse · #4 11-02-2002, 03:58 PM

Wow, I read those fudge books like in 2nd grade. Brings back memories.

CutiePie2000 · #5 11-02-2002, 04:12 PM

I remember being about 12 or 13 and wanting to get my hands on "Forever" because it was one of my first reads that had (dare I say it?) SEX in it!

SATX*APhi · #6 11-02-2002, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
I remember being about 12 or 13 and wanting to get my hands on "Forever" because it was one of my first reads that had (dare I say it?) SEX in it!

LOL! You crack me up!

I loved Judy Blume books! They were the best.

CrimsonTide4 · #7 11-02-2002, 04:48 PM

I remember being 12 and seeing a dog eared copy of WIFEY on my mom's bookshelf and being a little indignant that she was keeping a Judy BLume (one of my favorite authors) from me. I SNUCK and read it in my closet as a 12 year old. I remember these words 15 years later, "F*CK ME SUNSHINE! F*CK ME!!"

I was a bad girl.

ZTAMiami · #8 11-02-2002, 05:03 PM

OH MY!!!
When I was 10years old I found Forever in my local library. I checked it out because I was a big Blume fan. Boy did I get a surprise! Ok, I was that kid who felt the need to inform everone else in the 5th grade of the books contents. I dogeared all the good pages and passed it around

I also read my older sisters copy of Wifey when I was 12 or 13. I think I knew way too much too young!

DigitalAngel126 · #9 11-02-2002, 05:23 PM

We Keep A Pig in Our Parlor

Judy Blume was one of my mom's friends when I was growing up, so I've met her.. I have her signature somewhere. She's a very nice woman!

Ideal08 · #10 11-02-2002, 06:21 PM

I was a JB fan, as well. My first read was Freckle Juice. I really loved that book. I think of it still to this day. But my all-time favorite was Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. I remember in college, I got stressed out, and went and got that book from the library. I did no homework, just sat and read that book. My roommate thought I was regressing into childhood, lol.

CrimsonTide4 · #11 11-02-2002, 06:27 PM

**this is NOT the same book cover**

Are You There God It's Me Margaret

Amazon.com
If anyone tried to determine the most common rite of passage for preteen girls in North America, a girl's first reading of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret would rank near the top of the list. 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. Puberty is a curious and annoying time. Girls' bodies begin to do freakish things--or, as in Margaret's case, they don't do freakish things nearly as fast as girls wish they would. Adolescents are often so relieved to discover that someone understands their body-angst that they miss one of the book's deeper explorations: a young person's relationship with God. Margaret has a very private relationship with God, and it's only after she moves to New Jersey and hangs out with a new friend that she discovers that it might be weird to talk to God without a priest or a rabbi to mediate. Margaret just wants to fit in! Who is God, and where is He when she needs Him? She begins to look into the cups of her training bra for answers ...

Also just added to my Christmas list

and

CutiePie2000 · #12 11-02-2002, 06:31 PM

I loved "Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret", when I was 13, but I remember that even then (and this is maybe 1983), the book was already out of date.

Remember how Margaret buys herself a box of maxipads and she is trying to figure out how to put them on with the sanitary belt? I don't think they even make that kind with "the belt" anymore?!

_______________________________________________
I remember "Tiger Eyes", too. That was a good one, but it came a bit later.

I also loved Norma Klein books too.

CrimsonTide4 · #13 11-02-2002, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
I loved "Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret", when I was 13, but I remember that even then (and this is maybe 1983), the book was already out of date.

Remember how Margaret buys herself a box of sanitary napkins and she is trying it on with the belt? I don't think they even make the kind with the belt anymore?!

_______________________________________________
I remember "Tiger Eyes", too. That was a good one, but it came a bit later.

Yeah it was a little outdated. . .I read it around the age of 9 (1984) and I remember my granny giving me the belt kind as an 11 year old and I was like

-- I tell you periods can be scary stuff

However I thik all preteens can relate to being awkward with our bodies, hoping our breasts grow SOMEDAY

and menstruation anxiety as well. Also the whole boy/girl thing is a universal experience.

ZTAngel · #14 11-02-2002, 06:54 PM

My favorite is Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret

I also remember the part with the belt sanitary napkins. I was about 12 years old and I remember asking my mother why they had to wear belts with their pads. My mother informed me years later that it was at that moment that she realized that she was old.

Speaking of which, the bathrooms at UCF have not been renovated since the 60's (and it smells like it needs to be renovated too.......yuck!). The old pad disposal machines in the bathrooms haven't been renovated in years either. Now, the machines probably have worked for over two decades but they haven't taken them out. They still say on the machines "Beltless Sanitary Napkins". I guess they had to specify that they were the adhesive kind. My friend was in there one day with me and she goes, "Beltless? Pads come with belts?????"

Angels&Arrows · #15 11-02-2002, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ideal08
I was a JB fan, as well. But my all-time favorite was Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Ideal08... I am soo there... I loved that book... nothing but childhood memories!!!!!!!!!!!!!!