User:Nicolelamp/Judy Blume

Blume was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and graduated from New York University in 1961. As an attempt to entertain herself in her role as a homemaker, Blume began writing stories. Throughout her life, Blume has been married three times. As of 2020, she has three children and one grandson.

Blume’s novels are very popular and widely loved. Many praise Blume’s novels for teaching children and young adults about their bodies. However, the mature topics in Blume’s books have caused criticism and controversy. The ALA has named Blume as one of the most frequently challenged authors of the 21st century. There have also been several media adaptations from Blume’s novels. The most well-known adaptation is of her novel Tiger Eyes which was turned into a movie in 2012, with Willa Holland starring as Davey.

Early Life
Her family was culturally Jewish. Blume witnessed hardships and death throughout her childhood. In third grade, Blume’s older brother had a kidney infection that led Blume, her brother, and her mother to temporarily move to Miami Beach to help him recover. Blume’s father stayed behind to continue working.

Throughout her childhood, Blume participated in many creative activities such as dance and piano.(my 11) Blume attributes her love of reading as a trait passed on by her parents.(add source) She has recalled spending much of her childhood creating stories in her head.(almanac 500 years)& Despite the love of stories, as a child Blume did not dream of being a writer. (my 15)

Adult Life
After college, Blume's daughter Randy Lee Blume was born and Blume became a homemaker.(org 27) In 1963, she gave birth to her son, Lawrence Andrew Blume. Blume began writing when her children began nursery school. (org 32) John M. Blume and Judy Blume divorced in 1975.

Six weeks after her diagnosis, Blume underwent a mastectomy and breast reconstruction. (org 35 source) Blume was cancer-free following this surgery and able to recover. (my 14)

Randy Blume became a therapist with a sub-specialty in helping writers complete their works. (my 26)

Career
Following two years of publisher rejections, Blume published her first book, The One in the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo, in 1969.(can be my 12 or 32 or 34) Only a year later, Blume published her second book, Iggie’s House (1970), which was originally written as a story in Trailblazer magazine but then rewritten by Blume into a book. (my 12)

Her third book was Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (1970) which was a breakthrough best-seller and a trailblazing novel in young adult literature. (my 8). Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret established Blume as a leading voice in young adult literature. (my 11) Some of Blume’s other well-known novels during this decade were Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (1972), Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great (1972), and Blubber (1974).

In 1975, Blume published the now frequently banned novel Forever, which was groundbreaking in young adult literature as the first novel to display teen sex as normal. (my 3)Blume explained that she was inspired to write this novel when her daughter, 13 years old at the time, said she wanted to read a book where the characters have sex but do not die afterward. (my 32)  These novels tackled complex subjects such as family conflict, bullying, body image, and sexuality. (my 8). Blume has expressed that she writes about these subjects, particularly sexuality because it is what she believes children need to know about and was what she wondered about as a child. (my 8)

In addition to writing books, Blume has been an activist against banned books in America.(add source)  In the 1980s when her books started facing censorship and controversy, she began reaching out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, to join the fight against censorship. (add source)

Awards and honors
The ALA Margaret A. Edwards Award recognizes one author who has made significant contributions to young adult literature.(add source)

Blume received an honorary doctor of arts degree from Mount Holyoke College and was the main speaker at their annual commencement ceremony in 2003 (my 29, 30)

In 2009, the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) honored Blume for her lifelong commitment to free speech and her courage to battle censorship in literature. (my 29) Blume also received the 2017 E. B White Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters for lifetime achievement in children’s literature. (my 15 and 28) In 2020 Blume was named an Honoree for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community by the Authors Guild Foundation. (my 29)

Other awards include: (my 29)


 * 1970: Outstanding Book of the Year from New York Times for Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
 * 1974: Outstanding Book of the Year from New York Times for Blubber
 * 1981: Children’ Choice Award from the International Reading Association and Children's’ Book Council for Superfudge
 * 1983: Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award
 * 1984: Carl Sandberg Freedom to Read Award, from the Chicago Public Library
 * 1986: Civil Liberties Award from the Atlanta Civil Liberties Union
 * 1988: South Australian Youth Media Award for Best Author
 * 2005: Time Magazine All-Time 100 Novels List for Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
 * 2009: University of Southern Mississippi Medallion for lifelong contributions to children’s literature
 * 2010: Inducted into New Jersey Hall of Fame
 * 2010: Inducted into Harvard Lampoon
 * 2011: Smithsonian Associates: The McGovern Award
 * 2013: Chicago Tribune: Young Adult Literary Prize
 * 2013: New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA) Legacy Award
 * 2013: The NAIBA Legacy Award
 * 2013: Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN) Award
 * 2013: National Coalition of Teachers of English (NCTE) National Intellectual Freedom Award
 * 2015: Catholic Library Association: Regina Award
 * 2018: Carl Sandburg Literary Award from the Chicago Public Library Foundation

Children’s books

 * The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo (1969)
 * Iggie’s House (1970)
 * Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (1972)
 * Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great (1972)
 * It’s Not the End of the World (1972)
 * The Pain and the Great One (1974)
 * Blubber (1974)
 * Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself (1977)
 * Freckle Juice (1978)
 * Superfudge (1980)
 * Just as Long as We’re Together (1986)
 * Fudge-a-Mania (1990)
 * Here’s to You, Rachel Robinson (1993)
 * Double Fudge (2002)
 * Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One (2007)
 * Cool Zone with the Pain and the Great One (2008)
 * Going, Going, Gone! With the Pain and the Great One (2008)
 * Friend or Fiend? With the Pain and the Great One (2008)

Young adult books

 * Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (1970)
 * Then Again, Maybe I Won’t (1971)
 * Deenie (1973)
 * Forever (1975)
 * Tiger Eyes (1981)
 * Places I Never Meant to Be (1999)

Adult books

 * Wifey (1978)
 * Smart Women (1983)
 * Summer Sisters (1998)
 * In the Unlikely Event (2015)

Collaborative short stories

 * It’s Fine to Be Nine (2000)
 * It’s Heaven to Be Seven (2000)

Non-Fiction books

 * The Judy Blume Diary (1981)
 * Letter to Judy: What Your Kids Wish They Could Tell You (1986)
 * The Judy Blume Memory Book (1988)

Reception
Blume’s novels have been widely beloved by millions and have flourished throughout generations. (add source) What many readers have loved most about Blume’s work is her openness and honesty regarding issues like divorce, sexuality, puberty, and bullying. (my 10) Her first-person narrative writing has also been applauded for its relatability, and its ability to discuss difficult subjects without judgment or harshness. (my 12) Following the publishing of ''Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret'' (1970) Blume received many letters from young girls telling her how much they loved the book and identified with Margaret. (my 12) Female novelists have praised Judy Blume for her “taboo-trampling” literature that left readers feeling like they learned something about their bodies from reading her books. (my 33). For example, Deenie (1973) explained masturbation and Forever (1975) taught young women about losing their virginity. (my 33) Blume’s children’s books have also been praised for their delicate way of portraying hardships kids can face at a young age. (my 35) It’s Not the End of the World (1972) helped many kids understand divorce and the Fudge book series explored the various aspects of loving siblings despite the rivalry. (my 35)

Accompanying this popularity, Blume’s novels have faced much criticism and controversy. (my 10). Many parents, librarians, book critics, and political groups want her books banned.(my 6) When first publishing her books in the 1970s, Blume recalls facing little censorship. With the election of Ronald Regan in 1980, the number of book censors rapidly grew. (my 10) Since 1980, Blume’s novels have been a central topic of controversy in young adult literature. (my 2) Critics of Blume’s novels say that she places too much emphasis on the physical and sexual sides of growing up, ignoring the development of morals and emotional maturity. (my 6) Four of Blume’s books made the top 100 on the ALA’s list of most banned books of the 1990s, with Forever (1975) coming in eighth on the list. (my 1) Forever (1975) is censored for its inclusion of teen sex and birth control. (my 12) Blume recalls that the principal of her children’s elementary school would not put ''Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret'' in the library because the story involves menstruation. (my 2) Conservative and religious groups continuously attempt to ban ''Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret'' for the novel's portrayal of a young girl going through puberty claiming that it violates certain religious views.(my 12) (my 6). Blume’s children’s novels also face this criticism, especially Blubber (1974), which many believed sent the message to readers that kids could do wrong and not face punishment. (my 6)

Media adaptations
The first media adaptation of Blume’s novels was the production of a TV film based on Blume's novel Forever that premiered on CBS in 1978. Forever is the story of two teenagers, Katherine Danziger and Micheal Wagner, in high school who fall in love for the first time. The film starred Stephanie Zimbalist as Katherine Danziger and Dean Butler as Michael Wagner. A decade later, in 1988, Blume and her son wrote and executive produced a small film adaptation of Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great. The film was later shown on ABC. In 1995 a Fudge TV series was produced based on Blume's novel Fudge-a-Mania. The show ran from 1995 to 1997 with the first season aired on ABC and the second on CBS. The series starred Jake Richardson as Peter Warren Hatcher, the storyteller, and Luke Tarsitano as Farley Drexel "Fudge" Hatcher.

In 2012, Blume’s 1981 novel Tiger Eyes was made into a movie.(my 24) This was the first of Blume’s novels to successfully be made into a film shown in theaters. (my 24) Tiger Eyes is the story of a teenage girl, Davey, who struggles to cope with the sudden death of her father, Adam Wexler. (my 20) The screenplay was co-written by Blume and her son, Lawrence Blume, who was also the director. (org 25).