The Genius of Judy is a quick and easy look at the life and work of every Gen X and Millennial girl’s favorite pre-teen author, Judy Blume.

It tells the story of her life and rise to fame through the lens of her books, as well as the struggles against censorship she dealt with throughout her career.

With senseless book bans on the rise, and what feels like more disdain than ever before directed at women who tell women’s stories, the time feels right to learn more about an author who has dedicated her life’s work to a fairly radical job, telling unvarnished tales of women and children.

This was an easy read, which is both a plus and a minus. I wish a little that it had been slightly less surface level, perhaps comparing Judy Blume to similarly derided contemporary female storytellers such as Taylor Swift. (just an example!)

For readers who may have forgotten the plot of some of Blume’s books, the author does a good job of recapping them and winding those details throughout this book.

I’d suggest this book to any woman who grew up reading and loving “Deenie”, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” “Blubber”, or (gasp) “Forever”. It’s good to see that history is not forgetting the impact of Judy Blume.

3.5 stars

This was an interesting look at author Judy Blume and her life and the impact she has had on society over the years. If you’re a diehard for her books or if you you’re a child of the 70s or 80s, you’ll likely enjoy this. Though it is a bit slow in some places.

The book itself is pure biography with seemingly no direct connection to Judy Blume. I mention this because many of the sources are other books or articles written about Blume. Worth a read if you’re a Blume fan. Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

Major nostalgia alert!

I grew up on Judy Blume in the late 90s/early 00s and I adored this walk down memory lane. Revisiting some childhood favorites as an adult was a fun experience. The first part of the book was my favorite. I really enjoyed the book summaries that were woven in with biographical information. I found that the middle of the book lagged a bit, but the ending pulled me back in as it drew connections with the censorship Blume faced and our current political climate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved learning about Judy Blume through this lens. Wish it was longer and talked more about certain peoples interactions and memories with certain books

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC to review this book. I am so happy to be in a world that has Judy Blume in it. Growing up, reading her books made me feel like she understood me. Before my mom died when I was ten, I read Deenie and asked my grandma what was a period. She never answered me, but I was given the talk to read Dr Spock's books. I learned more from Judy Blume's vast library. Thank you, Rachelle, for the backstory of what happened to book bans and Judy's journey until today. Students in Grades 7 and up should read this book. My kids will be. I found myself diving into Rachelle's archives at the back of the book to compile this gem.

“She taught us about our bodies and our hearts through her stories. Periods are something that happens to a whole friend group. First teenage love affects the entire family. Boys experience heartbreak, too! Truly safe intercourse requires talking and planning. You can’t go back to holding hands.” - @rachellewb

This book is a brilliant recount of the absolute heroics @judyblume4real performed throughout her career. She pushed the envelope because she loved children enough to be honest and truthful, letting them see themselves in her characters. Bergstein said it best- “Her characters and stories were more than just entertainment. They were a roadmap of open communication, bodily autonomy, and even sexual fulfillment. They taught young readers that we were allowed to expect more from our lives than the women who came before us.”

Blume fought against censorship in a time where woman did not have equal rights as men and specific religion’s beliefs were supposed to be upheld by all others regardless of theirs- not unlike today. The war on books still goes on, but unlike in Blume’s time the youth of today have information at their fingertips. They will find out the answers to the questions they seek whether we like it or not. Adolescents will continue to behave as they have all throughout history- challenge adults and beliefs as they negotiate their way into their adulthood. As much as adults wish that wasn’t the case- it was the case when Blume grew up, in the 80’s, and today in the 2020’s. Blume knew this and her goal was to showcase different experiences and emotions so maybe one person wouldn’t feel so alone. She’s just the coolest. Bravo on this love story to Judy Blume @rachellewb

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks for this #advancedreaderscopy pub date is 7/16/24.

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This is the Genius of Judy! The book reads part biography and also part of a larger commentary on the social events that were happening as Judy Blume was writing her famous books. One of the most revolutionary things that Judy Blume did was have her books centered around ordinary children who had to overcome universal everyday problems which is one of the things that led to her books being banned. The books leads into bigger topics that are relevant to our world today.

I loved reading books by Judy Blume while growing up. I did not know about the book bans and Judy’s personal life. This book gave me a new appreciation for all that Judy Blume endured and what she represents. Censorship is not acceptable. If you don’t approve of a subject matter then don’t read it but don’t say that others can’t read it. Lots of research went into this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book. Rachelle Bergstein does important work in setting Judy Blume’s fiction in a historical and cultural context. Drawing from a rapidly changing America infused with second-wave feminism, Blume’s novels changed middle grade and young adult literature irrevocably. This will be of interest to anyone who loved Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret as well as teachers, librarians, and scholars of American and juvenile literature.

I proudly grew up reading Judy Blume's books and always felt seen by her and her writing. This book really was beautifully written and hit the nail on the head about Judy's impact on girls, teenagers, and women everywhere. Judy Blume is an icon and I loved reading this book about her legacy.

I adored this book. It is a well researched, compelling story about why Judy Blume’s books resonated with readers and how her story themes intersected with her life. I was a huge Judy Blume reader as a kid and enjoyed reading about how she got her start. It was also interesting to read about how the book bans impacted her, and how much it mirrors what is happening again today.

If you grew up in the 70’s like I did, you knew who Judy Blume was at a young age. Her books for younger readers were easily obtained through school book orders, bringing waves of joy as teachers dug into the boxes and distributed the purchased items. Her other books were available in libraries, or at long-defunct stores like Walden’s or B.Dalton.
Then, as the author of “The Genius of Judy” points out, things began to change in the ‘80’s. Blume’s novels were attacked and denounced as, “pornographic”, “too sexually explicit”, “dangerous for children to read”. Many of the books were challenged and removed from school libraries, and those actions are still occurring today. Ironically, the controversies and book-bannings have made Blume’s books even more interesting and attractive, so they are still being checked out, bought, and read, and enjoyed by new generations of readers.
This was a well-written non-fiction book, about one of the most beloved and most controversial writers of all time.

Memorable Quote:
“Parents have a right to control what their own children read, but cannot unilaterally make those decisions for other families”. (Judy Blume’s go-to line on censorship ).
* I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

Judy Blume has been writing for children, tweens/teens and adults for what often seems like forever. Her books are loved and controversial all at the same time, with many being pulled from the shelves of libraries in many areas of our country. They have also been passed, with good reason, from person to person. In this book, we find out why, and what caused her to move from beloved children’s books and into areas that contain subjects thought by some to be inappropriate.

As one of many women who grew up on Judy Blume, I greatly enjoyed this book, getting some behind the scenes information on her works, and the effects she’s had on the world. Much of the young adult genre has Judy to thank for expanding the genre, the kinds of stories that can be told, and the issues that can be discussed. It remains somewhat galling that even to this day, talking about periods, aka something most girls will experience, remains sooo controversial. But the fact it does only goes to show how much we still need her books.

Have to admit, when it comes to the trio of “Just As Long As We’re Together,” Stephanie, Rachel, and Alison, even as an adult, I remain a little annoyed as to why we never got a book from Alison’s perspective. We received one from Stephanie and Rachel; it only makes sense that we get one from Alison too.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one and it made me want to go back and reread all the Judy Blume books! There was a little too much emphasis on censorship for me - though of course I understand why, it’s just that as a librarian it honestly feels like sometimes I’m drowning with all of the news on recent challenges. Which of course means there is still so so much more work for us to do. Anyway, I loved reading about each book and the world’s reaction to it. I still remember in 4th grade when my teacher said “I think you’re ready for Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret,” and my friends and I were delighted and couldn’t believe she had recommended a book about periods! Very nostalgic feelings tied to Ms Blume.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Where to even begin! Like many others, Judy Blume was a large part of my childhood. From reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing as I entered fourth grade to dashing to the shelves in library class to make sure I could check out the coveted Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret in fifth grade, Judy Blume has been there for it all. Bergstein does an excellent job weaving literary analysis with social commentary as she presents a sweeping overview of Blume's life and work. They say that life imitates art, and Bergstein made it clear that Blume was doing her best to write stories that would appeal to all children. I appreciated the social commentary Bergstein made alongside Blume's work as she moved through the decades. I will be recommending this to everyone I know, and especially to the people who I know loved Blume's work as much as I did.

If you are looking for a great non-fiction book to read this summer, I highly recommend this book! It reads super quickly, is easy to grasp and understand, and will leave you with even more appreciation for Blume.

"The Genius of Judy" offers an intimate and expansive look at 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." As an educator whose Blume titles lined my classroom shelves to my own well read personal copies of her books I devoured as a teen, learning about Blume's bravery as a wife, mother, and ground-breaking visionary and writer was inspiring.

Kids in high school would benefit from learning about the "story behind" Blume's storytelling.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

This was an interesting overview of Judy Blume’s career and work, her impact on culture and her readers across the span of decades. As a GenX-er/Xennial, Blume and her books were quite endearing to me as an adolescent. I have not read any of her adult novels, but now I really want to!

The general commentary on literary gatekeepers and book banning is timely and informative. Bergstein offers insight into how this affected Blume but also how steadfast the iconic writer remains on the value of her books for her audience. When few writers were doing so, Blume addressed real and complicated topics that young readers were wondering about, talking about, and grateful to explore in characters and situations in Blume’s books.

Ratings
Quality of Writing 4/5
Value for Intended Audience 5/5
Pacing 4/5
Overall Enjoyability 4/5

I still remember my first introduction to Judy Blume's writing, when I was a kid—I got a box set of her books as a gift and quickly became hooked. She just had this knack for creating relatable, real characters, and even though I discovered them decades after their stories had been published, I still felt like they could have easily been my classmates or friends, too. As an avid reader and budding writer, I dreamed of doing what Judy Blume did. Needless to say, I was so excited to receive an ARC of THE GENIUS OF JUDY! It was a delight to revisit these stories and characters that were such a huge part of my childhood—and, most importantly, to honor the author who brought them to life, and who has inspired me and so many other people.

Judy Blume was a total trailblazer, and Rachelle Bergstein makes that clear throughout the informative and well-written THE GENIUS OF JUDY. She dives into Blume's life and career, her path from stifled housewife to successful author, and all of the ups and downs she experienced along the way. I also appreciated how Bergstein relates Blume's journey to the larger cultural context surrounding the work she was doing, and the world she lived in. From the evolution of feminism over the years, to censorship and book banning, Bergstein emphasizes why Judy Blume and her books were so important to young readers, especially young women, and how impressive it was that she wasn't afraid to tackle difficult topics in her work—which, while that may have attracted controversy from certain groups, it ultimately had such a positive impact on countless lives. I did feel like sometimes the book veered off-topic a little bit, focusing more on the outside issues and other authors, when I felt like it could have centered Blume and her writing a little bit more in those discussions. Still, I really enjoyed THE GENIUS OF JUDY overall—not only is it the perfect trip down memory lane for any Judy Blume fan, it's also an important read for anyone, as many of the issues Bergstein covers are still relevant and timely today. Absolutely pick it up this summer! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC, provided in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I grew up reading Judy Blume so I was so thrilled to read this ARC. I loved reliving Blume’s books and her characters and the historical events that were relevant to the era her books were written in. Judy Blume wrote books that made me want to hide them from the world - my friends, my parents, my teachers. She brought controversial topics to books and “was one of the most banned authors of the 1980s”. She wrote such authentic characters that and the families were not your typical “all American family” with the dynamics they navigated.

This book discussed how Blume wrote about a lot of feminist issues that influenced or were connected to her life - divorce, the work force, maternity leave, sexuality, death, and generational tension. Highly recommend this if you like feminist topics and milestones throughout American history, are a fan of Blume’s writing and characters, and you like to read banned books 👏

4.25 ⭐️