Judy Blume - Blubber

Pros: Real, relatable and highly readable scenario for kids; excellent discussion material 
Cons: It will make you cringe as a parent

When I was in elementary and middle school there were all sorts of kids.  Tall and short, fat and skinny, outgoing and shy, nice and mean and more others than can be counted.  But when you're in those years there are traits and attributes that ...

Pros: This story will be with you forever.
Cons: Some adults may find content innappropriate

Where would I be without the wisdom and writings of Judy Blume? I believe I started reading about Fudge and Margaret when I was in third grade. Then came Sally J and eventually, Blubber. For whatever reason, (and I know many of you reading this ...

Pros: Writing, enduring relevancy, great discussion starter
Cons:

Very sad when relating the cruelty of kids

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 ...

Pros: Strong message about social dynamics
Cons: Ending is a little weak

This is part of the Banned Book Week Write-off. More information on the top 100 banned books can be found at:

http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/top100bannedbooks.html


Ah, the fifth grade… My first painful crush, my first...

Pros: An almost identical look at 5th grade life.
Cons: None.

What really turns me on into movies and books is incredible realism. If it's about thirteen year olds, I'd much rather see younger actors and incredible, tiring research, even a young writer (see: Nikki Reed). Judy Blume was forty when she wrote this ...

Pros: Excellent writing in every sense
Cons: Some mildly questionable kid behavior and language

As a writer for kids and teens myself, it is fair to say that a lot of us would not be where we are today if it were not for Judy Blume. She is truly the master of the genre of realistic kids' fiction. As an adult, I have re-read and analyzed many kids'...

Pros: Realistic and honest
Cons: Bad language, rebellious attitude toward authority

I remember the first time I read "Blubber." I was, in fact, in the fifth grade, and the recent victim of the "popular" clique. I recall reading and thinking, "My gosh! That's MY class she's writing about!" For Judy Blume, though I don't always agree...

Pros: One of the f irst books I read
Cons: Well, its a kids book

Blubber, is a realistic fiction novel by Judy Blume. It is a novel that deals with the nastiness and cruelty that is involved in a young girl’s life.

The characters of this story are Jill Brenner, Tracy Wu, Wendy, Linda Fischer and...

Pros: speaks for many girls
Cons: none

I had just turned nine when this book was published and still remember portions of it.

Judy Blume was my favorite author as a pre-teen and still remains memorable nearly twenty years later.

As for this particular book, what I...

Pros: It's how school really is, and explains what adults didn't see.
Cons: None.

From the cover,Blubber was a book I was never really was interested in until actually I read the fir ...

Pros: teaches a lesson in how mean people can be
Cons: none

A fifth grade student tends to go with the flow in making fun of a girl who is over weigh in the class until one day she stands up for her. As she stands up for her she realizes who the girl feels because her friends turn against her. This book is easy...

Pros: a timeless classic
Cons: brought back painful memories

This past weekend I was staying at my parents house and ran across Blubber by Judy Blume. I was having trouble sleeping so I picked it up and started reading. It amazes me that although it has been almost fifteen years since the first time I read it I...

Pros: inspiring,
Cons: goes a little slow

This story, of a chubby young girl, is a story that most of us can relate to. It doesnt mean that we have all been chubby, however, at one point in our lives, we have all been outcasts, freaks. This girl felt that she was an outcast, because she was...

Pros: There's 2 side of the story
Cons: no proper ending

The story is surrounds the experiences of being a bully and being bullied by them. The main character is Jill, who is in the group of girls who bullies this girl, Linda who they dubbed as "Blubber" because of her essay about whales. It grew from just an inside joke to the rest of their peers, making Linda's life a living hell.

I spent reading this book emotionally. I actually feel like wringing some of the characters' necks! This would be one of the good books out there to introduce to the kids the problem of bullying and how to handle them in such a young age. Nevertheless the ending is kind of disturbing to be since there doesn't seem to be a justification to the story itself. The adults too doesn't seem to be much involved in trying to work out the bullying problem, which is kind of a shame. Nevertheless it's a good read.