Banned books and I have a very long history. Attending catholic school, it was considered ultra chic to sneak copies of Judy Blume books and pass them around the class, either during recess, or if one was more daring, during the middle of class. The idea of censoring anything, banning any books, reeks of "think like I do, and whatever else you do, no NOT think for yourself." This year's banned book write-off couldn't have come at a more opportune time. Besides the fact that it's banned book week, we've recently learned how certain vice presidential nominees feel about removing books from library shelves.
This year, I chose my banned book with great deliberation. I knew I wanted to reread a banned book from my past, and then share it with nine-year-old DramaGirl. Judy Blume's Blubber is the book that kept sticking in my mind as a perfect first banned book. And after we've both read it and discussed it, we both agree that it is as relevant today as it was when it was published in 1974, and it's just a darn good book.
Fifth Grade Cliques
First person narrator Jill Brenner lives a pretty average life. Her parents both work, her younger brother Kenny is annoying, and her best friend Tracy Wu lives across the street. In the beginning of the story, her fifth grade classmates are taking turns giving reports. Overweight Linda Fischer gives an oral report on whales, and makes the mistake of mentioning how useful whale blubber is.
Wendy is that girl that everyone remembers from their youth, the girl who smells weakness and hesitates not for a second before seizing the moment to assert her petty superiority by laying that weakness out for all to see. Wendy is the leader of all groupthink mentality. She immediately begins calling Linda "Blubber." She leads the rest of her classmates, who are easily led, in taunting poor Linda. They force her to call herself Blubber, to eat what she believes is a chocolate covered ant, to show her underpants to the boys, to kiss a boy. Nothing is too humiliating.
At first Jill is just like the rest of the class. She has zero respect for Linda and likes knowing that she's on Wendy's good side. There are a few interesting side stories, including egging on Halloween, and meeting Linda at a bar mitzvah, but the book mainly consists of Jill, Wendy and Linda, and culminates when Jill finally stands up to the bully, and finds her and Linda's roles swapped.
DramaGirl's Thoughts
DramaGirl ripped through this faster than any book she's read before. The writing style was perfect for her level, challenging enough that she had to think about context and ask a few questions, but easy enough that she was able to comprehend and appreciate what she was reading. She loved that Jill had an annoying little brother and was very sympathetic to that. She was also moved to tears at how awful the class was to Linda. During our post-book coffee, hot chocolate and cookie critique, she was mainly concerned with how easy it is for "normal" kids to get sucked into being mean to a weaker kid.
DramaGirl is still young enough to snicker at the bad words in Blubber but old enough to know that, while I'm fine with her reading the words, I don't approve of her using them. The two offending words, as she pointed out, were *itch and dumb *ss. The other thing that was appalling to DramaGirl is that Jill's mom was a smoker. Jill is constantly making health references, and mom does try to quit during the book, but the fact still remains that she's a smoker.
Mom's Thoughts
Besides the memories that came rushing back while rereading Blubber, I couldn't be happier with the discussions that resulted from reading this book with DramaGirl. It was nice to have a solid example, whether or not it's a fictional example, of how mean people are usually just plain mean and if someone is mean to one person, odds are good that eventually they'll turn and be mean to you. DramaGirl knew a few Wendys from her own limited experience.
As an adult, I wish that the drama once the tables were turned was played out a little longer, and I wish that we knew more about Linda, or that Linda was able to outsmart Wendy on her own. But Blubber is written almost perfectly for a nine to eleven-year-old girl. It's not too long, it's not too deep, it's just what it is and it teaches a lesson well needed to be learned.
Banned Books Blurb
I urge you not only to read Blubber with your ‘tween girl, but read any banned book. Don't allow someone else, anyone else, to tell you what to read or think! Visit our host Pestyside's banned books write-off page to find your next banned book.
Blubber is a good name for her, the note from Wendy says about Linda. Jill crumples it up and leaves it on the corner of her desk. She doesn't want to...More at HotBookSale
Blubber is a good name for her, the note from Wendy says about Linda. Jill crumples it up and leaves it on the corner of her desk. She doesn t want to...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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