Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned From Judy Blume

If you were a girl growing up in the 1980's, chances are you read Judy Blume's books. And if you read Judy Blume's books, chances are even better that you still remember one or more of them better than many books that you have read subsequently. Who doesn't remember Are You There God, It's Me Margaret? And of course, everyone passed Forever around to read the juicy bits. I personally identified with Iggie's House although I was always the kid moving, not the one left behind to befriend the new family in the house. I still have my original Judy Blume books and have passed them along to my older children (and it's about time to pass the less girlish ones along to the small boy as well). And really, the way that these books captured a show more generation is unique and the very thing that this collection edited by Jennifer O'Connell celebrates.

This is a collection of essays written by current YA and chick lit writers is nostalgic and familiar. Their essays on the work or works that meant the most to them as they developed as girls and young women could have been written by your best girlfriends. As Blume's books are pretty universal, so are the essays in this book. The authors have chosen a wide range of the Blume canon about which to write. The ways in which these stories have impacted their lives, the extent to which they remember the stories, and the breadth of the debt some of their own writing owes to the stories varies but it's likely that you'll find yourself nodding your head in agreement with most, if not all, of them. It is amazing how this shared cultural experience still forms us so many years later. This is very much a love letter and a thank you note to Ms. Blume and I admit that I read it with a huge smile on my face. I might be an adult now, but just reading about others' Blume experiences as preteens and teens had the power to take me back to that more innocent time in my life. And we can all use a little more innocence these days. show less

Oh how this book brought back memories! I had to check out Judy Blume books from the library and sneak them home to read because my mother didn't approve of them. The appreciative essays from the female writers in this work show the range of impact that Blume had on anyone growing up in the 1980s.

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 show more 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. show less

This is a nice assemblage of reminiscences. It's neat to see how different readers related to different aspects of Judy Blume's works for entirely different reasons. I especially liked how Beth Kendrick discussed re-reading Blume's teen books as an adult and focussed in on the mom characters. Again, Judy Blume meant something different, to the same reader, but at a different time. For myself, I remember reading all the Judy Blume books and somehow enjoying them but I'm now left wondering why I did enjoy them. I was the antithesis of Margaret, suffering through early puberty and begging my mother not to make me wear a bra (I was 8, at the time). I certainly couldn't relate to Karen from It's Not the End of the World, who experiences her show more family's split as her parents divorce. Mine had been separated since before I could remember. Nor could I relate to Peter and how he felt having a little brother (Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing & Superfudge) since I was not only being raised by a single parent, but I was an only child to boot. And so on. Yet, despite not finding a kindred spirit from among Blume's characters, her books compelled me and I read them all voraciously. As I did these essays. show less

Jennifer O'Connell edits Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned From Judy Blume, a book of captivating essays on the impact of iconic coming-of-age girl-lit author Judy Blume, written by contemporary female authors.

Judy Blume is one of the best known and most beloved authors of our time. Not only has she written countless books for children/pre-teens/teens, but she also has penned some wonderful adult novels as well. Her characters are lovable, and her story lines incredibly easy to relate to. Over the last forty years, millions of readers of all ages have been charmed by books like Deenie, Blubber, and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret."

This collection of 24 intriguing essays highlight the kind of "Judy Blume show more moments" we all had growing up as girls in America. The intensely personal essays offer the reader an insight into the immeasurable influence that Judy Blume has had on the American girl.

As an enormous Judy Blume fan (I even named a cat Judy Blume 19 years ago,) I really enjoyed this collection. It was a true nostalgic treat, taking me back to those fun (and sometimes painful) days of young adulthood. In reading the essays of some of my favorite authors, I was alternately laughing-out-loud and cringing at some of the recollections. It was so much fun to read, that I feel the need to revisit my Judy Blume favorites in the near future. show less

Many readers have fond memories of Judy Blume's books. In this essay collection numerous writers reflect on how Blume's books helped them get through adolescence. I always appreciated Blume's willingness to write about topics other writers wouldn't touch. Generally these reminisces focus on the topics of divorce and sex, with a bit of teenage awkwardness thrown in. While I certainly appreciated the topic, there were enough similar essays that they started to seem repetitive and a bit like overkill. Also, all of the essay writers were drawn from the chick lit and young adult genres. As a result, many of the essays had the same tone and focus. I would have liked some more variety.

I enjoyed this book of essays different female writers compiled about their experiences reading different Judy Blume books growing up. However, most of the essays revolved around books I hadn't read such as Deenie, Then Again, Maybe I Won't and Starring Sally J. Freedman as herself. Of course, I went looking for them right after I finished the book.

The book made me want to write my own essay but it would be about the book Summer Sisters, one of Ms. Blume's adult books.

The book also brought back a small but vivid memory: when I was in elementary school, my mother gave me money for the school book fair and told me to pick out Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. I asked the librarian for it and she wouldn't let me buy it. Go figure. My show more mother went back and bought it for me. I still have that copy on my shelf. show less