A review by gabmc
Deenie by Judy Blume

4.0

I think every adult should read a Judy Blume book - especially if they never got to read one as a child. Although this book is almost fifty years old, it still holds up today as an exploration of coming of age, disability and overbearing parents. Thirteen year old Deenie has always been praised by her mother for her looks and her older sister Helen for her brains. Deenie's mother takes her to modelling agencies and really wants her daughter to become a model. During cheerleading tryouts, Deenie's PE teacher notices something unusual about her posture and recommends she go to her doctor. She is eventually diagnosed with scoliosis and fitted with a back brace she has to wear for the next four years. At an age where appearance is so important, Deenie struggles with the idea of the brace. She also struggles with her concept of herself, particularly when she thinks about her former classmate who now has a brain injury because of a car accident and has to take the 'special bus' to school.