By Judy Blume
Genre Middle grade/coming of age
Format ebook
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis
When Margaret's family moves from New York to New Jersey she's anxious to fit into her new group of friends. They've formed a club to talk about boys, bras and getting their first periods. None of her new friends can believe she doesn't go to any church but why does Margaret need religion? She's been talking to God her whole life.
First Sentence
We moved on the Tuesday before Labor Day.
Can you believe I've never read a Judy Blume book? This used to be a much bigger deal than it is now, believe me. My mom was never a fan of Judy Blume so I was "forbidden" from reading them. I could have if I wanted, I guess, but I never cared enough to bother.
So I decided I'd see what they were like and why my mom hated them so much. I think I must be imagining me mom's loathing for them because there was nothing in this book my mom would have cared about.
Yes, it's a coming of age book and it talks about all the things little girls reaching puberty think about: Getting bigger chests, starting their periods and first time crushes but I didn't find anything too shocking in these pages...unless you find it shocking that a girl would actually WANT to start her period. Because, yeah, I do find that a tad bit shocking.
This one was well written and entertaining even for someone my age but I did find it very dated. The lack of technology and the references to party games etc. stood out. I don't think young girls from today's generation will relate to it very well.
And then there's the whole religion thing. I actually loved that Margaret was raised without religion and that she tried different churches but had her own personal relationship with God.
Nothing mind blowing or overly special but this one was cute and I enjoyed it.
I was forbidden from reading Judy Blume too. I've never read one of her books. I want to just to see why. But, I've never done it.
ReplyDeleteReally? I wonder what it was they didn’t like.
DeleteFunnily enough, I was highly encouraged to read Judy Blume as a child. I even went to an author event where she spoke when I was really little (I think I was 8 or 9) which was really cool. I remember reading this book when I was around that age and really enjoying it. I've actually been wanting to reread it but I'm a little wary because I'm sure I'll end up tainting my memory of it with my significantly taller view of the world :)
ReplyDeleteLaura @BlueEyeBooks
Yeah. I probably would have loved it more as a kid.
DeleteI don't know how I'd feel about it now, but I loved this book when I was a kid. For some reason I feel like it was a little outdated then, but maybe I'm thinking of a different book. *shrug*
ReplyDeleteI think it was first published in 1970 so it is pretty outdated.
DeleteI think my daughter read this one; I can't remember. Then again, she read several of her books so she must've enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteI think it's kinda fun reading books which were written some years back so we can compare all the differences and hopefully make the kids appreciate more about their life now, with the technology and all.
I agree. I loved it seeing the differences. I’m glad your daughter enjoyed it.
DeleteMy parents didn't pay much attention to what I read, but I know there was a lot of backlash against this and other Blume books when I was a kid. I don't remember whether I liked this one or not when I read it. I wonder what I would think of it now??
ReplyDeleteYeah, it’s been challenged many times. Or at least the author has. I’m glad your parents let you read whatever you wanted.
DeleteI read this book over 30 years ago. It was sort of taboo, but required reading for all adolescent girls. I will never forget the choruses of "I must, I must...". And then there was Forever, which I now recognize as sort of teen erotica. XD
ReplyDeleteYes, I laughed at that part. Maybe Forever is why my mom was so against Judy Blume???
DeleteI feel like I've read a Judy Bloom novel but for the life of me, I can't seem to remember any!Just for nostalgic reasons I would read this for the lack of tech!
ReplyDeleteRight? It’s kind of nice.
DeleteI'm surprised any mom would hate Judy Blume. Her books are so cute. I haven't read this one though.
ReplyDeleteI’ve heard some are a little promiscuous. Not sure but I remember my mom being really against them.
DeleteI have fond memories of reading this one as a young girl.
ReplyDeleteYeah? Cool!
DeleteI LOVED this one when I was younger. But it's definitely one I'd be too nervous to re-read now that I'm older. Awesome review!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I find rereads of childhood favorites not usually a good idea.
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