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thestoryowl's review against another edition
5.0
This book shocked me as a child, I loved the way the teasing wasn't glossed over and "prettified" for kids.
mschrock8's review against another edition
4.0
I adore Judy Blume's books! I noticed "Blubber" wasn't on my Good Reads list, so I pulled it off the shelf and read it.
I liked that Jill and Tracy collected stamps. I remember never hearing about Unicef until reading books by this author.
I liked that Jill and Tracy collected stamps. I remember never hearing about Unicef until reading books by this author.
jenlynnhill's review against another edition
2.0
This is one of those books I felt like I should have read when I was younger...and I probably would have enjoyed it more if I was.
daisy_angel75's review
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mommyre's review against another edition
2.0
I remember loving Judy Blume books as a child, but I do not recall reading this one. I am reading through a list of banned books. Many of those books are children's stories. They are also not usually much to be banned. I do understand why parents might want this banned, though I don't believe in book banning. It's a book about bullying. The book is harsh at times. Children who behave as these girls do can often cause severe emotional trauma to their peers. These are the girls that trigger suicidal thoughts in middle school girls. I think that this book is quite realistic, but as someone who has experienced verbal abuse, I found it hard to listen to in parts.
mbrandmaier's review against another edition
3.0
Re-reading this as an adult, I was amazed by how the teacher turned such a blind eye to the bullying going on right there in the classroom... she sounded like she needed to retire. The bullying reminded me of my own school days, when teachers often turned a blind eye then as well.
kmcneil's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up Blubber for the first time since I was in elementary school to remind myself why I liked Judy Blume's books so much as a kid. I remember loving Are You There God, It's Me Margaret, Then Again Maybe I Won't, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Deenie, and many of her other titles. When I was older, I read Forever (in secret, no doubt). As an adult I read Wifey and Summer Sisters. Basically, Judy Blume has been around all my life, and she has written books that have appealed to me throughout the years.
Clearly, Blume isn't a hot new author on the literary scene. The copyright date for Blubber is 1974, which means it came out when I was just 7 years old. But do her tales endure? Absolutely. Her novels for children reflect the struggles of kids in the 1970s as much as they reflect them today. When we read her books as kids, we felt an immediate connection. When we read them as adults, we get how her stories are just as true for kids today as they were years ago. What a gift to be able to tap into kids' psyches - to really understand the dilemmas they face, and make them feel less alone. Blume has managed to tap in the universality of childhood experiences.
Blubber, for those of you who might not remember (I didn't) is a story about bullying. Linda is a sixth grader who is a tad overweight. She is mercilessly teased by her classmates, with number one bully Wendy as the ring leader. Jill, the main character, thinks nothing of getting in on the taunts. She has no remorse for it. In fact, she doesn't really even think about it and just jumps on the bullying bandwagon. But, throughout the story, you find yourself liking Jill, and knowing that somehow she will turn around. Indeed she does, but it takes a very painful lesson for the turnaround to happen. Blubber isn't a didactic tale. Rather, it presents a story that gets kids thinking, and allows them to make their own decisions about what's right and wrong. Like many of Blume's books for children, Blubber it is written at a level that is perfect for upper elementary school students, and possibly even some middle school students. And that's exactly the time that they may be facing issues like bullying.
So, thank you Judy Blume, for good writing, books that are still relevant today, and, most importantly, books that keep kids engaged in reading.
Clearly, Blume isn't a hot new author on the literary scene. The copyright date for Blubber is 1974, which means it came out when I was just 7 years old. But do her tales endure? Absolutely. Her novels for children reflect the struggles of kids in the 1970s as much as they reflect them today. When we read her books as kids, we felt an immediate connection. When we read them as adults, we get how her stories are just as true for kids today as they were years ago. What a gift to be able to tap into kids' psyches - to really understand the dilemmas they face, and make them feel less alone. Blume has managed to tap in the universality of childhood experiences.
Blubber, for those of you who might not remember (I didn't) is a story about bullying. Linda is a sixth grader who is a tad overweight. She is mercilessly teased by her classmates, with number one bully Wendy as the ring leader. Jill, the main character, thinks nothing of getting in on the taunts. She has no remorse for it. In fact, she doesn't really even think about it and just jumps on the bullying bandwagon. But, throughout the story, you find yourself liking Jill, and knowing that somehow she will turn around. Indeed she does, but it takes a very painful lesson for the turnaround to happen. Blubber isn't a didactic tale. Rather, it presents a story that gets kids thinking, and allows them to make their own decisions about what's right and wrong. Like many of Blume's books for children, Blubber it is written at a level that is perfect for upper elementary school students, and possibly even some middle school students. And that's exactly the time that they may be facing issues like bullying.
So, thank you Judy Blume, for good writing, books that are still relevant today, and, most importantly, books that keep kids engaged in reading.
alisebarr5's review against another edition
The FRIENDS & FICTION Official Book Club with Brenda & Lisa
2024 Book Club Challenge January
A book published in the year you were born. 1974
Blubber - women of a certain age if you would like to revisit the trauma of middle school I would recommend re-reading Blubber. Goodness I love Judy Bloom. I didn't know how to rate this. I'm sure my rating as a 12 year old would be different than now!! January complete.
2024 Book Club Challenge January
A book published in the year you were born. 1974
Blubber - women of a certain age if you would like to revisit the trauma of middle school I would recommend re-reading Blubber. Goodness I love Judy Bloom. I didn't know how to rate this. I'm sure my rating as a 12 year old would be different than now!! January complete.
canuckmum's review against another edition
3.0
Sometimes, the bully doesn't get their comeuppance. I get that's frustrating for a lot of reviewers, but look at the current President of the United States.
In my recent re-reading of Judy Blume books, this has been my least favorite, and the one I think is the least relevant/most outdated. (For example, can you imagine the lawsuits if all the students were weighed in front of each other in the nurse's office during class?)
In my recent re-reading of Judy Blume books, this has been my least favorite, and the one I think is the least relevant/most outdated. (For example, can you imagine the lawsuits if all the students were weighed in front of each other in the nurse's office during class?)