Judy Blume

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Judy Blume
Born: February 12, 1938
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Occupation: author, novels and short stories
Genres: Children's books, Young adult, novels
Website: http://www.judyblume.com

Judy Blume (born February 12, 1938) is a popular American author. She has written many novels for children and young adults. She was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey and received a B.S. degree in Education in 1961 from New York University (NYU).

Contents

[edit] Career

Blume's novels for middle schoolers were among the first to tackle such controversial matters as racism (Iggie's House), menstruation (Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret), divorce (It's Not the End of the World), bullying (Blubber), masturbation (Then Again, Maybe I Won't) and teenage sexuality (Forever). Fans of Blume's novels have praised her use of real-life settings, ambivalent endings and gentle humor. Her allegedly ambiguous treatment of moral issues made her at one time a regular target of school library censors and the religious right. Her books are still often challenged in school libraries; in fact, Forever was the second most often challenged book of 2005, according to the American Library Association. She is recognized as one of the most banned children's authors in the United States [1] which eventually led her to edit a collection of short stories about censorship (Places I Never Meant to Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers).

After publishing novels for young children and teens, Blume tackled another genre -- adult fiction. Her novels Wifey and Smart Women met with luke-warm receptions. But her breakout hit Summer Sisters (1998) was widely praised and sold more than 3 million copies.

In 2004, Blume was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. In 1996 the American Library Association selected Blume for its Margaret A. Edwards Award for her contributions to young adult literature [1]. Blume received the Library of Congress Living Legends award in the "Writers and Artists" category in April 2000 for her significant contributions to America's cultural heritage.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ SDSUniverse: Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read

[edit] References

  • Judy Blume. (1999) Authors and Artists for Young Adults (Gale Research), 26: 7-17. Summarizes and extends 1990 article, with more emphasis on Blume's impact and censorship issues. By R. Garcia-Johnson.
  • Judy Blume. (1990) Authors and Artists for Young Adults (Gale Research), 3: 25-36. Incorporates extensive passages from published interviews with Blume.

[edit] External links

Books by Judy Blume

Superfudge series: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing • Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great • Superfudge • Fudge-A-Mania • Double Fudge

Other books: The One in the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo • Iggie's House • Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret • Then Again, Maybe I Won't • Freckle Juice • It's Not the End of the World • Deenie • The Pain and the Great One • Blubber • Forever • Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself • Wifey • Tiger Eyes • The Judy Blume Diary • Smart Women • Letters to Judy: What Kids Wish They Could Tell You • Just as Long as We're Together • Here's to You, Rachel Robinson • Summer Sisters • Places I Never Meant to Be
Persondata
NAME Blume, Judy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION American author of novels and short stories
DATE OF BIRTH February 12, 1938
PLACE OF BIRTH Elizabeth, New Jersey
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
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