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sharonfalduto's review against another edition
Essays written by current female authors who recount how Judy Blume's books helped them navigate their adolescence, and how those books still resonate today.
choirqueer's review against another edition
5.0
I really like books that are about other books; especially books about books that I really like(d). I devoured Judy Blume books as a kid, always profoundly appreciating her willingness to explore stories that other authors would shy away from. Reading this book was like finding a secret club of adults who felt the same way...and then went on to become writers too. It made me really want to go back and re-read those books I enjoyed so much when I was young (which I've now begun to do!) and also check out the work of some of these other writers who were inspired by her. A very enjoyable book that has now exponentially increased my to-read list? All-around winner!
mhall's review against another edition
3.0
Short essays by women, most of which focus on a single Judy Blume title: popular choices are Deenie, Forever, and Then Again, Maybe I Won't. One of the interesting things I picked up from this is that girls are now forced into reading these books by their mothers, who remember reading them back in their own childhoods.
tree_star's review against another edition
5.0
I could not help but laugh at all of these women reminiscing about reading Judy Blume, and thinking 'yeah! I remember thinking that, too!'
It was a great mix of essays, only one of which I actually did not like (I was never obsessed with my boobs).
I forgot how much I gleened from JB, but these authors take me right back.
It was a great mix of essays, only one of which I actually did not like (I was never obsessed with my boobs).
I forgot how much I gleened from JB, but these authors take me right back.
writergirl70's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed many of these essays, the stroll down memory lane and even the talk about Judy Blume books I'd never read (hard to believe there are such a thing!) But, I would have liked it more if each essay was about a different book. Many of them focus on Margaret-each with a personal take-but how many essays can you read about the same book before you start to feel like an English teacher. Still love that this homage to the great Judy Blume is out there.
ejdecoster's review against another edition
2.0
A few good selections, but not enough overall to recommend the collection. Much of the language was repetitive, and a few essays were barely tangentially related. I also think the collection is really mis-titled - there's almost nothing in here about "being a girl" and much more about growing up, and markedly enough that 'girl' seems misleading.
xtinamorse's review against another edition
5.0
A fitting tribute to a true heroine. It makes me want to reread all of Blume's books.
familywithbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I think I would have enjoyed this book more if it focused on different books by Judy Blume and sectioned them out. Here are the ones about Margaret, here are the ones about Forever..., and so on and so forth. After a while I felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again. Yet when I first started the book, I was touched by some of the stories that were shared - absentee parents, abusive relationships, falling out with friends, never fitting in, etc. But as the book went on, I felt the stories became less and less serious and more silly. One felt like a book report on one of the books (I forget the title right now that is how little it touched me).
susanbevans's review against another edition
5.0
Jennifer O'Connell edits Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned From Judy Blume, a book of captivating essays on the impact of iconic coming-of-age girl-lit author Judy Blume, written by contemporary female authors.
Judy Blume is one of the best known and most beloved authors of our time. Not only has she written countless books for children/pre-teens/teens, but she also has penned some wonderful adult novels as well. Her characters are lovable, and her story lines incredibly easy to relate to. Over the last forty years, millions of readers of all ages have been charmed by books like Deenie, Blubber, and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret."
This collection of 24 intriguing essays highlight the kind of "Judy Blume moments" we all had growing up as girls in America. The intensely personal essays offer the reader an insight into the immeasurable influence that Judy Blume has had on the American girl.
As an enormous Judy Blume fan (I even named a cat Judy Blume 19 years ago,) I really enjoyed this collection. It was a true nostalgic treat, taking me back to those fun (and sometimes painful) days of young adulthood. In reading the essays of some of my favorite authors, I was alternately laughing-out-loud and cringing at some of the recollections. It was so much fun to read, that I feel the need to revisit my Judy Blume favorites in the near future.
Judy Blume is one of the best known and most beloved authors of our time. Not only has she written countless books for children/pre-teens/teens, but she also has penned some wonderful adult novels as well. Her characters are lovable, and her story lines incredibly easy to relate to. Over the last forty years, millions of readers of all ages have been charmed by books like Deenie, Blubber, and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret."
This collection of 24 intriguing essays highlight the kind of "Judy Blume moments" we all had growing up as girls in America. The intensely personal essays offer the reader an insight into the immeasurable influence that Judy Blume has had on the American girl.
As an enormous Judy Blume fan (I even named a cat Judy Blume 19 years ago,) I really enjoyed this collection. It was a true nostalgic treat, taking me back to those fun (and sometimes painful) days of young adulthood. In reading the essays of some of my favorite authors, I was alternately laughing-out-loud and cringing at some of the recollections. It was so much fun to read, that I feel the need to revisit my Judy Blume favorites in the near future.
herwitchiness's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book once before when I was 18 & while I enjoyed it then, there was much I didn't understand until re-reading it now. It felt as if I was having a girls day out, discussing all the secrets & stories we'd kept hidden & quiet about until that day of bonding, all the various ages of adult-women, enjoying learning who we had become. I don't view it as "chick lit" as another reviewer did, but rather an enjoyable discussion on what it is to grow up a girl, a book loving girl, with Judy Blume as a close friend the entire time. It is one I'll definitely re-read again as the years go on.