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jennnafziger's review against another edition
2.0
I came across this book when searching for another book by Judy Blume. I like reading stories that feature fat characters in positive ways. The cover drew me in. I guess I have now learned my lesson… indeed, you cannot judge a book by its cover. I HATED THIS BOOK!
In fact, it physically PAINED me to read it. I wanted to scream out loud in defense of poor Linda. The main bully in this book, Wendy, makes Regina George seem like a saint. The way the kids treat Linda, aka Blubber, is not teasing, or even what I would consider bullying… it is hate and torture. They should be in jail. The main protagonist, Jill, is a brat who only feels sorry when the tables are turned and she gets bullied. NONE of the kids seem to feel shame, remorse, or empathy. The adults turn a blind eye and don’t even believe Linda when she tells the truth.
I really considered abandoning the book, but I wanted to hope that there was a lesson in it… Something redemptive. Even Blume’s personal note about bullying is vapid. There isn’t! I don’t care that this book was published in 1974 and times were different. There is nothing redeeming about the story. I hope no young people I know ever read it.
In fact, it physically PAINED me to read it. I wanted to scream out loud in defense of poor Linda. The main bully in this book, Wendy, makes Regina George seem like a saint. The way the kids treat Linda, aka Blubber, is not teasing, or even what I would consider bullying… it is hate and torture. They should be in jail. The main protagonist, Jill, is a brat who only feels sorry when the tables are turned and she gets bullied. NONE of the kids seem to feel shame, remorse, or empathy. The adults turn a blind eye and don’t even believe Linda when she tells the truth.
I really considered abandoning the book, but I wanted to hope that there was a lesson in it… Something redemptive. Even Blume’s personal note about bullying is vapid. There isn’t! I don’t care that this book was published in 1974 and times were different. There is nothing redeeming about the story. I hope no young people I know ever read it.
ajay913's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
katyw622's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Torture, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Racism, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Vomit
jemimaannie's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
labunnywtf's review against another edition
5.0
My third grade teacher read this aloud to us. I remember halfway through the book (around the red-cape-bathroom incident) her pausing and saying, "This is not a very good book."
I believe she never read the book to another class again. I loved it, though.
I believe she never read the book to another class again. I loved it, though.
lay_kone's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Vomit, and Eating disorder
Minor: Addiction
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
4.0
Linda, an overweight girl in fifth grade, gives a report about whales one day. Someone passes around a note that "Blubber is a good name for her" and Linda has a new nickname. The other kids start to tease and harass her and just generally make her life miserable. Our narrator, Jill, watches all this and even takes part in it.
Holy cow, what mean little kids these are! This was hard to read, even as an adult. Or maybe it's because I'm an adult and unconsciously prefer to look back at childhood with rose-colored glasses. We definitely had a pecking order in our class and the kids at the bottom of it were picked on but I don't remember it being this bad! The sad thing is that it all feels real though. I tended to keep to myself so there could have been mean girls cornering other girls in the bathroom and stripping them off and making fun of them mercilessly for all I know. And even if my class wasn't that mean, just the act of avoiding someone or always choosing him or her last for teams was damaging enough. There may be degrees but bullying is still bullying.
The beauty of the book is that the reader first has enough distance to see how cruelly the other kids treat Linda and then, when the tables are turned, learn how it feels to be tormented. It definitely teaches a lesson about how destructive bullying is without being too preachy.
I don't know if there are better books about bullying out there but this one has become a classic. Children should have to read it or something like it so that they can learn how hurtful their actions can be. And if a child is being picked on, it lets them know that he or she is not alone.
Holy cow, what mean little kids these are! This was hard to read, even as an adult. Or maybe it's because I'm an adult and unconsciously prefer to look back at childhood with rose-colored glasses. We definitely had a pecking order in our class and the kids at the bottom of it were picked on but I don't remember it being this bad! The sad thing is that it all feels real though. I tended to keep to myself so there could have been mean girls cornering other girls in the bathroom and stripping them off and making fun of them mercilessly for all I know. And even if my class wasn't that mean, just the act of avoiding someone or always choosing him or her last for teams was damaging enough. There may be degrees but bullying is still bullying.
The beauty of the book is that the reader first has enough distance to see how cruelly the other kids treat Linda and then, when the tables are turned, learn how it feels to be tormented. It definitely teaches a lesson about how destructive bullying is without being too preachy.
I don't know if there are better books about bullying out there but this one has become a classic. Children should have to read it or something like it so that they can learn how hurtful their actions can be. And if a child is being picked on, it lets them know that he or she is not alone.