A review by kelhutch68
Deenie by Judy Blume

emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I chose Deenie for a reading challenge this month because Judy Blume was a favorite author for me late elementary/early middle school.  It’s been years since I read this book, and my reaction was very different reading it now. 

As a kid, I loved it because there were things going on with Deenie that I could relate to:  never wanting to be the last one picked, avoiding things that made me uncomfortable, not getting along with my siblings, having the awkward sex discussions and dealing with your first crush/kiss. 

Reading it now as a mom, I was so mad Thelma, Deenie’s mom.  Her pushing the girls into what she felt they should be, not what they wanted, really did not sit well with me.  This need for Deenie to fit a certain mold really formed how she reacted to Deenie’s scoliosis.  Her actions and words made it harder for Deenie to come to terms with the situation.  Kudos to Frank though as I did feel like he truly had the girls’ best interest at heart. 

On this read, I also appreciated Deenie’s growth whereas I’m sure I didn’t even recognize it when I read the book as a kid.  She learned how to look past people’s outward appearance and to give them an opportunity as a person.  She realized that she and her sister were dealing with the same pressure from their mother, and it brought them closer together. All in conjunction with figuring out how to navigate a difficult medical situation.

I really hate that this, as well as other Judy Blume books, are consistently on banned lists.  Many years after they were written, I still feel like they are relevant to kids in the tween years.  I will never understand why people try to censor what is and is not appropriate for a mass group.  Let families make their own choices about what is appropriate for their children…..