“A lively, important portrait of a true literary revolutionary, now 86, who matters even more today.”
—Los Angeles Times
The Genius of Judy
How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us
Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
This “lively and important portrait of a true literary revolutionary” (Los Angeles Times) explores Judy Blume’s life, work, and cultural impact, focusing on her most iconic—and controversial—young adult novels, from Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret to Blubber.
Everyone knows Judy Blume.
Her books have garnered her fans of all ages for decades and sold tens of millions of copies. But why were people so drawn to them? And why are we still talking about them now in the 21st century?
In The Genius of Judy, her remarkable story is revealed as never before, beginning with her as a mother of two searching for purpose in 1960s suburban New Jersey. The books she wrote starred regular children with genuine thoughts and problems. But behind those deceptively simple tales, Blume explored the pillars of the growing women’s rights movement, in which girls and women were entitled to careers, bodily autonomy, fulfilling relationships, and even sexual pleasure. Blume wasn’t trying to be a revolutionary—she just wanted to tell honest stories—but in doing so, she created a cohesive, culture-altering vision of modern adolescence.
Blume’s bravery provoked backlash, making her the country’s most-banned author in the mid-1980s. Thankfully, her works withstood those culture wars and it’s no coincidence that Blume has resurfaced as a cultural touchstone now. Young girls are still cat-called, sex education curricula are getting dismissed as pornography, and entire shelves of libraries are being banned. As we face these challenges, it’s only natural we look to Blume, the grand dame of so-called dirty books. This is the “ground-breaking” (BookPage) story of how a housewife became an artist, and how generations of empowered fans are her legacy, today more than ever.
Reviews
“A fiery and inspiring look at one of our culture's most defining voices and her remarkable life story. Told with Bergstein's characteristic rigor and wit, The Genius of Judy reads like one of Blume's best, breaking our hearts and putting them back together again.”
—Marisa Meltzer, New York Times bestselling author of Glossy
“The Genius of Judy interlaces biography, textual analysis, and cultural history so deftly and so entertainingly that you don’t even realize how much you’re learning while you enjoy it. A tour of Blume’s life, work, and various contexts as approachable, wise, humane, and honest as the master herself.”
—Isaac Butler, author of The Method: How the 20th Century Learned to Act
“Bergstein’s ground-breaking book is analytical, smart and accessible, ultimately demonstrating how Blume’s work has contributed to ongoing cultural shifts across multiple generations of women.”
—Bookpage, starred review
“A thoughtful take on how Blume’s life and books translated for young people the gains of the women’s movement. Blume’s fans will treasure this.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A timely appreciation of an author who indeed 'represent[ed] something much bigger than herself'—and still does.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Affectionate... Bergstein's biography does ample justice to this national treasure.”
—Booklist
“Insightful and thoughtful, The Genius of Judy is a fantastic companion to Blume’s books and a fascinating look at American culture through literature.”
—The Book Reporter
“If you don’t typically go for nonfiction or history-based books, don’t turn this down. Bergstein’s narrative writing style moves like fiction.”
—The Skimm