I enjoyed learning more about Judy Blume. It has a strong focus on the history of censorship and how Blume's works were (ad still are) challenged so often.

The Genius of Judy
How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us
by Rachelle Bergstein
Pub DateJul 16 2024
Atria Books |Atria/One Signal Publishers
Biographies & Memoirs| Nonfiction \(Adult\)



Atria Books and Netgalley provided me with a copy of The Genius of Judy for review:


In 1938, Judy Blume was born Judith Sussman.





Judith Sussman graduated from NYU College in 1961 while married and pregnant. She had married John Blume in 1959.


Her books have captivated readers of all ages and sold millions of copies. What attracted people to them? In the 21st century, why are we still discussing them?


Judith's remarkable story, beginning with her search for purpose outside her suburban New Jersey home in the 1960s, is told for the first time in The Genius of Judy. She wrote books about real children with real problems and thoughts. Despite those deceptively simple tales, Blume explored the pillars of the women's rights movement, where girls and women were entitled to careers, bodily autonomy, fulfilling relationships, and even sexual pleasure. By telling honest stories about adolescence, Blume articulated a cohesive, culture-altering vision of adolescence.



She became the country's most-banned author in the mid-1980s because of her bravery. It's no accident that Blume has resurfaced as a cultural touchstone now because her works survived those culture wars. It is still common for young girls to be cat-called, sex education curricula to be dismissed as pornography, and entire libraries are being closed down. It's only natural we look to Blume, the grand dame of dirty books, as we face these challenges. It is the story of how a housewife became a groundbreaking artist, and how generations of empowered fans are her legacy today.


I give The Genius of Judy five out of five stars!

The Genius of Judy examines Judy Blume's influence on pre-teen literature. Judy Blume's "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" has one of the most iconic lines in literature: "We must, we must, we must increase our bust." Bergstein's "The Genius of Judy" chronicles Judy's wise and witty "Judy-isms" and the fascinating stories behind them. The real star of Blume's story is her journey from housewife and mother to author. It shows how she became a controversial author, tackling topics like divorce and sexuality - topics absent from children's books in the 1970s. In a way no one had done before, Blume bravely tackled the tumultuous realities of adolescence. I enjoyed the author's take on Judy Blume's life and her treasured classics.

The Genius of Judy examines the impact of Judy Blume’s works on the culture. It also looks at how her work was impacted by her personal life and what was going on culturally. Due to their mention of masturbation, teenage sex, etc., Blume’s books are among the most banned. Her focus was not to be scandalous, but to depict real people. Many pre-teens and adolescents, myself included, loved Blume’s books for that reason. I was lucky because, while I was growing up during the times of the book bans, I wasn’t really aware of them and they didn’t impact my ability to read whatever I wanted (a teacher mom who thought it was important to know about your body probably helped).

I was really excited to receive this because I adored Judy Blume and, with my eldest niece going into fourth grade, thought it could be time to see if she’d be interested in checking them out. Unfortunately, the book didn’t meet my expectations. It was ok, but it quoted so many other books, especially Blume’s own “Letters to Judy,” that I felt like I would have been better off reading one of those. While this book does go into Blume’s relevance today, that isn’t something I need a book to tell me. I do think that it is a good read if you want to get a general summary of Blume’s life, her work, and the things going on politically and socially.

Thanks to NetGalley and Rachelle Bernstein for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Atria publishing for an arc of The Genius of Judy.

Wow - this book blew me away. As someone who does not normally read biographies or novels that tackle larger cultural issues in our society, I was not sure what to expect from The Genius of Judy. This novel reads as part biography, part cultural exploration, and part textual analysis of Judy Blume's work. I did not read a lot of Blume's work growing up but always heard her name, so I was fascinated to learn more about the infamous author.

Bergstein's approach to this story is beautiful. She gives a quick synopsis of Blume's work, explores how it played into Blume's life at the time of her publishing, and then shows society's reception of the work. The backlash Judy Blume faced paired with the well reception of her audience was so delightful to read. It opened my eyes to difficult topics I was unaware of. I became so invested in the story, I devoured it in a day.

Blume was not only a pioneer for young women's sexuality, but she was also someone who young girls and boys could go to with their burning questions about the bodily changes in their lives.

I truly appreciate Atria for opening my eyes to another genre in literature and allowing me the opportunity to read outside of my comfort zone. I highly recommend you give this book a go if you are looking for a more critical look at how books are targeted to the younger audiences and how Blume paved the way for children's literature.

Judy Blume is a treasure from childhood/preteen/teenage me. Love reading about the backstories of some of my favorites and to know that Judy has brains and spunk just makes my day. I love this book. Thanks to Rachelle Bergstein, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it and share my thoughts.

I was sadly disappointed in this book. From the description of it, I thought I was going to mostly read about Judy Blume’s life.

The good:
The author does a good job explaining why Blume was revolutionary in helping pre-teens and teens
navigate through the sometimes difficult times of growing up.

The rehashing of familiar Blume’s books was a fun trip down memory lane. I was a huge Judy Blume fan, reading all of her books as I grew up as a pre-teen/teen in the 80’s. I remember one time my mom must have taken a peek at the book I was reading. It was either Forever or Wifey (which I picked up because I was such a fan of Judy’s books). I didn’t realize (though my mom quickly did!) that it had been accidentally filed in the youth section at our local library. My mom confiscated it, putting it in her bedroom (where I discovered it and snuck in to read it!!). Shhhh… lol!

The not so good (based off of the description of the book and what I expected going into it):

The book is less about Blume, more about the times she was writing in.

The description of books I was unfamiliar with (ie Smart Women) came off more like reading Cliff Notes on a book.

In general many parts were too dry, in my opinion: the author very frequently used quotes from other sources which made it choppy.

The latter half of the book was mostly related to book censorship (often times involving Judy’s books) and discussed how it came about. Thankfully I don’t recall having these books censored where I grew up, though it saddens me that politicians are making decisions on what can be available for people to read.


I felt the book started off strong and there was more written about Judy Blume’s life in the beginning. Then it kind of branched off. At the very end, there was another small piece about Judy Blume’s life, but it felt like it was just thrown in there. I really had hoped for more about Judy herself from the description. If readers are looking for more about how the times were changing and the women’s movement and censorship issues, they might enjoy it more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

The Genius of Judy is a fantastic look at Judy Blume, her books and the impact that Blume has had on the world, people and society as a whole. Bergstein shows Blume’s long lasting impact from movie adaptations to reprinting of her books to this day

This book is a wonderful homage to (as the title says!) the genius of Judy. Judy revolutionized and shaped girl's attitudes to our own bodies and sexuality. I think of the books and heroines that positively impacted me embracing my female identity -- Judy Blume - with "Are You There God, It's me Margaret." "Forever," and Marlo Thomas "Free to Be You and Me" and The Boston Women's Health Collective "Our Bodies Ourselves." Judy Blume was unfairly attacked by critics in the publishing establishment and conservatives who felt the subject matter was not appropriate for young adults. They were all wrong -- and my generation and future generations of women and men benefit from her work. As an adult, I have read all of her books aimed to us and also enjoyed these as well. I feel like I owe an incredible amount of gratitude to Judy Blume for demystifying menstruation and made it something to not be afraid of. Another thread in this book that I also appreciated is about her own struggles and questioning of societal expectations on her role as wife and mother and her courageous steps to find her own happiness.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

Judy Blume's novels had a huge impact on me growing up in the 70s and 80s. Through her writing, I realized that I wasn't alone, that others experienced many of the same thoughts and feelings as me. As a child of depression babies who married in 1950, we "didn't talk about those things", so seeing them written about in books was educational...and a bit thrilling! She was so important to so many of us girls (and boys!) growing up during that time. (side note: I still have ALL of my original Judy Blume books from my childhood!)

"Judy Blume understood that. She got it, instinctively, and was able to authentically challenge a pre-teen's perspective better than anyone else could. That was the thrust and the sparkle of her talent."

"Even today, very few parents and educators are prepared to discuss the way dynamics of care and safety and vulnerability all contribute to true intimacy, which is crucial for a satisfying love life. That is what Judy innately understood how to do. She taught us about our bodies and our hearts through her stories."

This is a compulsively readable, super engaging, absolute gem of a book. The author has taken material from multiple sources (fabulous references in the back of the book if you want even more Judy Blume info!) and woven it together in an extremely readable, fascinating, not-quite-biographical, but definitely personal, literary and cultural analysis of the Judy Blume canon and how it fits within her personal life. Bergstein generously shares the stories behind Blume's books, from inspiration to plot lines, to their effect on their readers and others in the broader community. At the same time, we understand more about key events in Blume's life and how each of the books fits into her story and within the wider cultural context.

Through the shifting social and political climates from when Blume first started writing until now, we are still dealing with many of the same issues...particularly around the right to information and knowledge and the desire for others to control girl's/women's bodies. The author clearly explains the through-line from censorship and book bans in the 1970/80s (Reagan, Shaffley, Moral Majority) to what is happening today, all over the US. Blume was on the frontlines of these attacks and the defense against them.

As Judy Blume consistent says: "Parents have a right to control what their own children read, but cannot unilaterally make those decisions for other families."

This book is a must read for any Judy Blume fan, but honestly also anyone who wants to understand more about censorship - how easily it happens and how important it is to fight against. Judy Blume is a national treasure.

Please note: I received a digital copy from Netgalley & Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

In news to nobody, Judy Blume and her books that focused on the interior lives of young women were totally revolutionary. I loved how the author tells Judy's story from homemaker to one of the most important authors our time. The best 5 grand ever spent indeed!

I have loved Judy Blume since I read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Just As Long As We're Together was my childhood favorite. This book is a love letter to Judy and the young girls she influenced. Tracking her career and her life through her books, Bergstein explores how feminism and the culture wars shape Blume and in turn her readers. The chapters on banning her books really resonate in today's climate. I loved this book as a life-long fan of Judy!

I grew up reading Judy Blume books that I read and reread multiple times through that time. So when I saw this book I knew I needed to read more about Judy! It was awesome to "meet" the author behind the stories. This is definitely a book that other fans should be reading.

I enjoyed this book as someone who has only read one Judy Blume novel, and that's been as an adult. I felt like the book did a good job of explaining Blume's books without being over descriptive. My only issue was that I got confused about which character was from which book when they were mentioned casually later in the book, but that's probably because I wasn't familiar with Blume's books in the first place.

Who doesn't remember the iconic line, "We must, we must, we must increase our bust," from Judy Blume's "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret"? Rachelle Bergstein's "The Genius of Judy" delves deeper, revealing a wealth of "Judy-isms" and the fascinating story behind them.

While I knew Blume's books often faced bans, "Genius" unveils the why and the how. It's a captivating blend of biography, literary analysis, and personal narrative. Bergstein's writing is so engaging, I found myself racing through the pages while savoring each chapter.

What truly shines is Blume's journey. We see how she became a beloved yet controversial author, tackling themes like divorce, sexuality, and bullying – topics absent from the sanitized children's books of the 1970s. Blume dared to write about the messy realities of adolescence, resonating with a generation in a way no one else had.

"Genius" doesn't shy away from Blume's personal life either. We learn about her marriages, divorces, and the challenges she faced. It explores her friendships with fellow banned authors and her tireless advocacy for children's literature.

This book is a must-read for any Judy Blume fan. It's an insightful look at the genius who dared to give voice to a generation's unspoken experiences.

Thank you Atria Books for my #gifted copy of The Genius of Judy! #AtriaPartner

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐲: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐟 𝐔𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

When someone asks me about my favorite books growing up, some of the first ones that come to mind are books by Judy Blume. I loved going to the library and picking out Judy Blume books. Her books were fun when I was young, and as I grew older, I feel like they taught me something. Now, as an adult, I know how controversial her books were, and still are, making her the most-banned author in the mid-1980s. I found this book to be an interesting look at both the life of Judy Blume and a closer look at book censorship. I loved learning about her bravery amidst all the backlash. If you are a fan of Judy Blume, I think you will enjoy this book. The author did an excellent job honoring a well-loved author who paved the way for so many others.

Posted on Goodreads on July 14, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around July 14, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on July 16, 2024
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For lovers of books within books, "The Genius of Judy" weaves her life with her published works. How characters and plots were somewhat molded from her past and then-present experiences. Judy normalized intimate subject matters that were at one time too taboo to discuss, let alone write about. A must read for 70's and 80's babies growing up trying to figure out life and love, friendships, disappointments, excitement and overall what it was to be young.

**Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.**

I love Judy Blume and have for most of my life. This book manages to say everything I've always wanted to say about Judy's influence over women over generations.

Judy can do know wrong. (please don't disappoint me like Alice Munro)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.

Happy to include this title in “Engrossing Lives,” a recent round-up highlighting notable new memoirs and bios, in the Books section of Canadian national culture and lifestyle magazine Zoomer. (see column and mini-review at link)

I really enjoyed this one, as I think any Gen X woman will. I grew up with Judy Blume! This is not so much. biography, though we get a lot of facts about her life, but how her books reflected society at the time, and how she pushed the boundaries because she felt like that's what kids needed. It focuses on her more "controversial" books: Deenie, Forever, Blubber, Wifey, rather than the Fudge series and others. The author shares a lot about the history of book banning, starting in the early 80's and society's view points on sex and masturbation. It's a quick read, and it made me realize I need to go back and read more of Blume's catalog. Somehow I missed some of these.