Her funny and frank books for kids, tweens, teens and young adults have sold more than 90 million copies worldwide, resulting in a loyal, multigenerational fandom. So how did Judy Blume, a mother and homemaker, become one of the most successful and beloved children’s authors in history?
In his latest book, “Judy Blume: A Life,” author Mark Oppenheimer traces the life of Blume from her birth in 1938 to today, detailing the challenges Blume faced as she created a writing career for herself.
“She was in her 20s, married with two little kids, and had never written a word of fiction when she got it in her mind to begin writing children’s literature,” Oppenheimer said. “And within 10 years, she had kind of changed the whole world of children’s literature.”
Blume’s work includes novels like “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret,” “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,” “Superfudge” and “Forever,” among many others. She’s also written picture books and novels for adults.
“There was a period in the 1980s — if you looked at the bestseller list at a chain bookstore like Waldenbooks or B. Dalton … seven of the top 10 bestselling children’s books were Judy Blume’s books,” Oppenheimer said. “She was completely dominant. And she’s still a powerful figure today.”
And what makes her work still relevant, despite being written decades prior, are the universal themes of growing up and adolescent woes, alongside candid discussions about taboo topics like puberty, menstruation, teenage sex and bullying.
“From the moment she started publishing in 1969-1970, her fans came from all walks of life — different races, boys and girls. She definitely had young gay fans who identified with her characters who were obviously straight, who were having straight crushes and straight sex and things like that. And she also had fans in other countries,” Oppenheimer said. “She understands the human condition, and they would read her books and they would feel seen.”
Blume, who’s 88, is now known not just for her books but for her advocacy for the freedom to read and against book bans. She’s also helped and mentored writers like Tayari Jones, author of “Silver Sparrow,” “An American Marriage” and “Kin.”
Ultimately, what Oppenheimer hopes readers take away from the biography is that Blume isn’t just an icon or a name — she’s a real person who had a tremendous uphill climb toward achieving her dreams.
“She suffered and endured and persevered through so much uncertainty and just kept plugging away,” Oppenheimer said. “That level of industriousness and of resilience and grit is just something incredibly admirable. This was not fated; this was not necessarily meant to be. This was something that through hard work, she made happen.”
“Judy Blume: A Life” by Mark Oppenheimer is the May selection for Bookmarked: the “Under the Radar” book club.
Guest
- Mark Oppenheimer, journalist, scholar and author of “Judy Blume: A Life.”
