I'm thirty-two and I STILL enjoyed this "kids" book!
Written: Sep 04 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: The usual Blume pros: realistic characters, good dialogue, believable plot, etc
Cons: A little depressing
The Bottom Line: This is not the lightest and funniest Blume book out there, but the high levels of quality and enjoyment are still there.
|
|
|
| redhead1's Full Review: Judy Blume - It's Not the End of the World |
When I was in elementary school, a teacher told me that Judy Blume claimed she remembered every detail of everything that happened to her since she was about nine years old.
Whether that's true -- or even possible -- is debatable, but it certainly explains why her books are the best of their kind.
The Story
Karen is in sixth grade. She has a youngest sister named Amy who has buck teeth and is constantly telling riddles, and an older brother named Jeff who calls his room "The Hideaway" and spends his time in there playing this strange thing called a record player.
Oh yeah, and she has two parents who fight. A lot. For example, last week her parents started arguing about what flavor icing was on a cake, and Karen's mother smashed the cake and its plate to the floor.
But then one day, things start seeming really wrong. Karen doesn't see her father for a few days, and her mother is vague about where he is. Karen's aunt and uncle come over and say they are all going out for a ride in the country and out to lunch.
And that's when Karen first hears it. While they're having lunch, her father is moving out, and her parents are getting a divorce.
What will happen to me if they get divorced? Who will I live with? Where will I go to school? Will my friends laugh? I want a mother and a father and I want them to live together -- right here -- in this house! I don't care if they fight. I would rather have them fight than be divorced. I'm scared ... I'm so scared. I wish somebody would talk to me and tell me it's going to be all right. I miss Daddy already. I hate them both! I wish I were dead.
From that point on, Karen's life and thoughts become a tailspin. Is her mother in love with someone else? Is her father? Her parents' problems began when Amy was born ... poor Amy! What if she gets sick on a day she's supposed to visit her father? Are her parents getting divorced because her mother isn't a good enough cook?
Not surprisingly, Karen also tries to think of ways to get her parents back together. Fortunately, these plans don't come across as "cute," but rather somewhat bittersweet. She mails each of her parents an anniversary card, hoping it will bring back good memories. She brings home a diorama she made for school, hoping it will get her father to come inside, look at it, and see how nice her mother looks.
But when Karen's brother Jeff runs away, it becomes clear that her parents are never getting back together.
Why I Like It
Fortunately, my parents are still together, but it's still easy to identify with this book. Reading it as an adult, I can see why both of Karen's parents would be difficult to live with, yet neither of them are portrayed as purely bad. Karen's denial, anguish, and final acceptance of the divorce all ring true and are not exaggerated or played for sympathy. And thankfully, this is not one of those books that seems to be trying to teach kids that a broken home is no different from an intact home. While there is acceptance, the divorce is still seen as a tragedy.
This book obviously isn't as light as other Blume fare, such as, say, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. But if you can stand the sadness of the topic, it is, as usual, an excellent read.
My Usual Extra Note
In all my Judy Blume book reviews, I mention a bookmark I received from the public library when I was in middle school, entitled, "If You Like Judy Blume, Try These." I read every single author on that list, and particularly liked Paula Danziger, Lila Perl, Susan Beth Pfeffer, and Ellen Conford. (Unfortunately, while Conford is my second-favorite children's author, most of her books are now out of print. Check your local library.)
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
redhead1
|
|
Member: Jen
Location: Marietta, GA (metro Atlanta)
Reviews written: 70
Trusted by: 11 members
About Me:
"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." -- W. Wonka
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.