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The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us
Win a free print copy of this book!
1 day and 06:16:04
100 copies available
U.S. only
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.
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.
288 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 16, 2024
About the author
Rachelle Bergstein
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 26, 2024
This is the genius of Judy Blume. It’s the single most important aspect of her legacy. Her work as a children’s writer did something nobody else could manage: it helped ensure feminism’s longevity…A movement requires a multigenerational buy-in to maintain its momentum. And over in suburban New Jersey, a soft-spoken stay-at-home mom was listening. Writing cutting-edge books for kids, Judy Blume became the Second Wave’s secret weapon.
There are several biographies of Judy Blume out there — most written thirty or more years ago — and author Rachelle Bergstein quotes from all of them. But what makes The Genius of Judy a special read is the way that Bergstein, with the benefit of looking back across the intervening decades and their shifting social and political climates, is able to give us the context in which Blume filled her literary niche and was able to positively influence countless young readers. From S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders paving the way for more realistic young adult fiction to Erica Jong’s Fear of Flying giving voice to the modern woman’s existential malaise, Bergstein sets Blume in her cultural moment, explaining what a necessary force her books were for allowing girls to understand and take control of their own bodies. That’s no small thing; it’s everything, and it’s somehow under threat again today. The Genius of Judy traces Blume’s releases — sharing the stories of their inspiration, their plotlines, and reception — while also giving us the story of Blume’s life throughout the years; from unfulfilled suburban housewife to free speech activist. As a Gen X woman, Blume’s novels were hugely influential in forming my own outlook, and I have to admit, I took her for granted: I never once considered that for me to read these books, someone out there had to be thinking deeply on what was needed and taking risks to get them published. I truly appreciate the context that Bergstein supplies here and that I had the opportunity to revisit, and better understand, these formative reads from my youth. (Note: I read an ARC through NetGalley and passages quoted may not be in their final forms.)
Are You There God?, Deenie, and Forever form a triptych, with eleven-year-old Margaret, thirteen-year-old Deenie, and seventeen-year-old Katherine creating a progressive portrait of the new American girl. All three are smart, spunky, and in touch with their bodies. They’re all white, middle class, and from the suburbs — Judy wrote what she knew — but together, they embody an ideal for Blume that transcended race or class. The trio offers a vision of how the up-and-coming generation could digest the feminist and sexual revolutions. They’re good girls with a twist; they’re all in touch with sexuality, but they have futures.
Those three novels were hugely influential to me as a girl in the late 70s, and mostly because I read each of them, years apart, at the exact right time — I needed the information and was ready to absorb it — and I remember that something about reading them felt transgressive; as though I was uncovering secret information about my body (how shameful!) that had been actively hidden from me. But I wasn’t reading Judy Blume anymore in the 80s (I never have picked up her adult novels; I think I want to preserve my memories of Blume in an unexamined amber of nostalgia) and I was oblivious to the periodic, and ongoing, bans that her novels have been subject to since then. Bergstein tells a fascinating story of those who have attempted to remove novels from schools and public libraries — from the Reagan era Moral Majority to Florida governor Ron DeSantis — and Blume’s efforts, in conjunction with the National Coalition Against Censorship, to keep not only her own novels but other often often-banned books (Slaughterhouse-Five, Catcher in the Rye, etc.) available to those who want them. Whether or not you’ve been reading Judy Blume, she’s been fighting behind the scenes to promote feminism and fight censorship.
In the end, Bergstein acknowledges that Blume’s books have fallen out of fashion — even the 2023 theatrical release of an adaptation of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is a nostalgic blast from the past — and she laments that despite the YA book market exploding with lots of frank and explicit material (Forever, which shook teenaged me, is so sweet in retrospect), there’s something essential in Blume’s novels that is missing in today's cultural landscape:
What’s still missing from a lot of contemporary sex ed is an exploration of the way sex intersects with relationships, experts say. Even today, very few parents and educators are prepared to discuss the way dynamics of care and safety and vulnerability all contribute to true intimacy, which is crucial for a satisfying love life. That’s what Judy innately understood how to do. She taught us about our bodies and our hearts through her stories. Periods are something that happens to a whole friend group. First teenage love affects the entire family. Boys experience heartbreak, too! Truly safe intercourse requires talking and planning. You can’t go back to holding hands.
I’m so glad I read this book: I am delighted to have both learned so much more about Judy Blume’s true legacy and to have had this journey back to my own younger self; in so many ways, Judy Blume set key stones in the foundation of who I am and I hope that the young readers of today find their way to similarly good, foundational material.
May 5, 2024
Part biography, part social commentary, this book co-relates what was happening in Judy Blume's life when she wrote her books and what was happening in the world at that time, affecting the reception of these books. She was a pioneer for openness about sexuality, puberty, divorce, etc in her books aimed at children, pre-teens, teens and later, adults.
Fans of Judy Blooms books who are curious to learn the author's background and inspirations will enjoy this book. It may be less enjoyable for someone unfamiliar with her work, although things are clearly explained, no assumptions made. I was a huge reader of Judy Blume and Norma Klein books, so this book was so interesting and informative for me.
In 7th grade, Forever was being sneakily passed around from one person to the next, reading it in one day so the next person in line wouldn't have to wait long for it. It was amazing to know I share memories of this with other people.
Academic at times, I felt like I needed to memorize some facts for the upcoming big test. Not massively light hearted, this book tackled some very serious topics which are still around today, from persecution from religious groups, or parents who want to ban libraries from being able to lend out such books, to criticism from the publishing community.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. Definitely for fans of Judy Bloom. She is one of my childhood influences for my love of reading.
Fans of Judy Blooms books who are curious to learn the author's background and inspirations will enjoy this book. It may be less enjoyable for someone unfamiliar with her work, although things are clearly explained, no assumptions made. I was a huge reader of Judy Blume and Norma Klein books, so this book was so interesting and informative for me.
In 7th grade, Forever was being sneakily passed around from one person to the next, reading it in one day so the next person in line wouldn't have to wait long for it. It was amazing to know I share memories of this with other people.
Academic at times, I felt like I needed to memorize some facts for the upcoming big test. Not massively light hearted, this book tackled some very serious topics which are still around today, from persecution from religious groups, or parents who want to ban libraries from being able to lend out such books, to criticism from the publishing community.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. Definitely for fans of Judy Bloom. She is one of my childhood influences for my love of reading.
April 18, 2024
ARC for review. To be published July 16, 2024.
An examination of the life and work of Judy Blume, the iconic writer of young adult fiction including ARE YOU THERE GOD, IT’S ME, MARGARET, TALES OF A FOURH GRADE NOTHING, BLUBBER and FOREVER. Her books featured ordinary children facing regular, universal issues, and she made those problems seem surmountable…..which, naturally, led to her being one of the most banned authors of the 1980s and 1990s. Blume is now 85 years old.
The book is part biography (but not exhaustive) and part deep dive on just her “problem” books for young adults, so special attention is paid to select titles. Her critics get a lot of coverage here as do all forms of censorship, including other books and authors that were frequently banned during the time that her books were at the forefront of children’s literature. Judy Blume’s books were such an important part of my life; I read my copies to tatters, and I’m proud to have a signed edition of AYTGIMM. I loved reading this book about my favorites among her books, but if you are looking for the absolute seminal Judy Blume biography, that is not what this book is, or is intended to be. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
An examination of the life and work of Judy Blume, the iconic writer of young adult fiction including ARE YOU THERE GOD, IT’S ME, MARGARET, TALES OF A FOURH GRADE NOTHING, BLUBBER and FOREVER. Her books featured ordinary children facing regular, universal issues, and she made those problems seem surmountable…..which, naturally, led to her being one of the most banned authors of the 1980s and 1990s. Blume is now 85 years old.
The book is part biography (but not exhaustive) and part deep dive on just her “problem” books for young adults, so special attention is paid to select titles. Her critics get a lot of coverage here as do all forms of censorship, including other books and authors that were frequently banned during the time that her books were at the forefront of children’s literature. Judy Blume’s books were such an important part of my life; I read my copies to tatters, and I’m proud to have a signed edition of AYTGIMM. I loved reading this book about my favorites among her books, but if you are looking for the absolute seminal Judy Blume biography, that is not what this book is, or is intended to be. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 9, 2024
For many adults today, a simple utterance of the name "Judy Blume" instantly summons up childhood memories curled up with a book or listening to one being read aloud. Blume has become iconic in the world of children's and teenage literature, but not many truly understand the highs and lows that filled her writing career. How did Judy Blume become the household name she is today? In this book, Rachelle Bergstein traces Blume's prolific career and draws conclusions as to why she is so revered among readers, librarians, and authors.
This book was a fascinating read for me. I had a brief encounter with Blume as a young child in the Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing series and read a few of her other less controversial novels. Then, as an adult, I read Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret in an attempt to fill a gap I thought I missed as a child. As a result, I was quite shocked to realize all of the many controversial, albeit important, topics that she covered. What a trailblazer she was! My, how I'd missed out on some good stuff! If only the adults in my sphere growing up had made such a fuss, I would have read all of her works!
In the sense of all that I learned with this book, I was quite pleased. However, in terms of the structure and writing of this novel, there are a few areas in which it was lacking. For me, this entire book is a little off-kilter. It's not quite a biography of Blume, could be seen as a bit of a survey of her work, and then a little bit of social commentary. It didn't seem to fit one whole category enough for me and, as a result, felt a bit uneven. The second issue I take with this book is the general tone of the writing. Don't get me wrong, I'm a librarian in a public school and very much against book bans of any kind. Additionally, I live in the South (where the highest rates of STDs and teen pregnancies are) so I'm all for sexual education in schools. However, the tone of this book is written in a way that comes off as angry, heated, and sarcastic. For me, that kind of tone belittles the argument and takes away from the important message Bergstein is trying to communicate. A more detached and unbiased viewpoint in which the obvious conclusions can be made by the reader is one that I find to be much more convincing. However, I think any fans of Blume, no matter how many novels you have read of hers, will find this a truly fascinating read. Furthermore, it is one I'd encourage any librarian or lover of books to take a look at, as it raises so many good discussion points about book bans.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for my copy of this ARC!
This book was a fascinating read for me. I had a brief encounter with Blume as a young child in the Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing series and read a few of her other less controversial novels. Then, as an adult, I read Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret in an attempt to fill a gap I thought I missed as a child. As a result, I was quite shocked to realize all of the many controversial, albeit important, topics that she covered. What a trailblazer she was! My, how I'd missed out on some good stuff! If only the adults in my sphere growing up had made such a fuss, I would have read all of her works!
In the sense of all that I learned with this book, I was quite pleased. However, in terms of the structure and writing of this novel, there are a few areas in which it was lacking. For me, this entire book is a little off-kilter. It's not quite a biography of Blume, could be seen as a bit of a survey of her work, and then a little bit of social commentary. It didn't seem to fit one whole category enough for me and, as a result, felt a bit uneven. The second issue I take with this book is the general tone of the writing. Don't get me wrong, I'm a librarian in a public school and very much against book bans of any kind. Additionally, I live in the South (where the highest rates of STDs and teen pregnancies are) so I'm all for sexual education in schools. However, the tone of this book is written in a way that comes off as angry, heated, and sarcastic. For me, that kind of tone belittles the argument and takes away from the important message Bergstein is trying to communicate. A more detached and unbiased viewpoint in which the obvious conclusions can be made by the reader is one that I find to be much more convincing. However, I think any fans of Blume, no matter how many novels you have read of hers, will find this a truly fascinating read. Furthermore, it is one I'd encourage any librarian or lover of books to take a look at, as it raises so many good discussion points about book bans.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for my copy of this ARC!
May 14, 2024
I loved this book. It’s not only about Judy Blume and her life, but about how her work intertwines with feminism and inclusivity, how her work discussed taboo topics that everyone knows kids experience and talk about but few were writing and publishing at the time. It puts her work in a historical context, going over the events and the other books from the time. The book talks about censorship in the 50s, the 80s, in the 2020s...
I was constantly bookmarking and highlighting on my Kindle. The lessons this book offers are historical and current, contextual and universal. It was also easy to read in every sense- informative, fascinating, fun, relatable. I got an advance copy from NetGalley but honestly I am already planning to buy it for a few of my friends.
I was constantly bookmarking and highlighting on my Kindle. The lessons this book offers are historical and current, contextual and universal. It was also easy to read in every sense- informative, fascinating, fun, relatable. I got an advance copy from NetGalley but honestly I am already planning to buy it for a few of my friends.
May 4, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley, for the digital ARC of this new book about Judy Blume. Bergstein deeply dives into Blume's most popular titles: Forever, Deenie, and, of course, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, and how all three show feminism in action by talking about menstruation, masturbation, and birth control. She also writes about what was going on in Blume's life as she wrote all her books (Smart Women is based on her beginning relationship with the man who ended up as her third husband) and her ongoing fight with book banners. I wish Bergstein could've gone into more detail with the Fudge books, but otherwise this is a great look into the Blume canon.
May 11, 2024
Bergstein recounts how Judy Blume got started writing books for children and young adults, but more importantly, she puts Blume's work into the context of sex ed in schools, the changing political climate over the years, and the battle of censorship and book banning. So many of us grew up reading Judy Blume and our lives were forever changed because of her. A great deal of research went into the book, and I did spot one mistake, presumably a typo that attributed Flowers in the Attic incorrectly to V.S. Andrews (it's V.C. Andrews). A worthy analysis of an author who changed the literary landscape. Review from e-galley.
April 29, 2024
I received this as a digital galley from NetGalley.
I thought everything had been covered by the recent documentary on Judy but I learned a lot from this book.
It made me want to reread some Judy classics to see how they hold up.
I thought everything had been covered by the recent documentary on Judy but I learned a lot from this book.
It made me want to reread some Judy classics to see how they hold up.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews