judy blume | Imamother

leomom ↓

Thu, Nov 13 2008, 10:00 pm

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is pretty pareve, from what I remember. Most/all of Judy Blume's other books get into themes that wouldn't be appropriate for a seven-year-old (in my opinion). I don't know whether your son gets into an author once he reads something and then wants to read other books by that author, but if so, I'd stay away from Judy Blume books completely.

Or at least read each one yourself before approving it for him.

elf123

Fri, Nov 14 2008, 12:37 am

We had a little problem with this a couple of years ago when DS, an avid reader, read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (the first in the "Fudge" series) and before he continued with the series, either me or DH skimmed the next one he wanted to read...not sure if it was "Superfudge" or "Fudge-a-mania" or Hot Fudge Sundae or something (okay, I made that last one up). Anyway, I believe the mother is pregnant in the book, and somehow a neighbor "educates" the younger son, so that he is going around telling people, "Do you know how that baby got in my mother's stomach" or something along those lines. So OP, if your son has read all the "Fudge" books, he probably read that part already...chances are it went right over his head, but you might want to check into it....

Hatemywig

Wed, Dec 03 2008, 2:05 pm

I read all the Judy Blume books mentioned here when I was 12/13 ( I sneaked them into my house and hid them under my mattress Smile

I personally dont think they are appropriate for Jewish Children growing up according to Torah and Halacha but if you do want your child to read them take into account that it has in them:

A girl receiving her period, talk about wearing bras and about boys and crushes - G-d are you there, its me Margaret.

A little boy who's told by his parents at the age of 4!!!! how the baby got into his parents stomach and goes round telling everyone he meets how it happens - the fudge stories.

chanchy123

Wed, Dec 03 2008, 2:15 pm

Hatemywig wrote:

I read all the Judy Blume books mentioned here when I was 12/13 ( I sneaked them into my house and hid them under my mattress Smile

I must have misunderstood, according to my knowledge Jewish girls growing up according to halacha get their periods and wear bras, hopefully they have questions about their religious beliefs, and they might have some feelings regarding boys. So this might not be appropriate for a seven year old boy, but I hope my daughter will read this book by the time she is eleven.

Not to mention that Jewish women living according to halacha don't become pregnant (ever). Again, maybe not suitable for a seven year old boy, but I sure hope by the time my kids are ten or twelve they know the facts of life from a reliable source.

As for OP's question, obviously, one must read the books one gives young children to read prior to the giving to read. Second, you might want to try Beverly Cleary, I think her themes are more suitable for that age group.

DefyGravity ↓

Wed, Dec 03 2008, 2:33 pm

elf123 wrote:

Anyway, I believe the mother is pregnant in the book, and somehow a neighbor "educates" the younger son, so that he is going around telling people, "Do you know how that baby got in my mother's stomach" or something along those lines. So OP, if your son has read all the "Fudge" books, he probably read that part already...chances are it went right over his head, but you might want to check into it....

It's in Superfudge where Fudge's mother is pregnant with his baby sister. In the book, Fudge wants to know where babies come from, so I believe his mother gave him a book to explain the process. All Fudge says in the book is, "I know what's in your stomach and I know how it got there!" (The quote's a little off, but it's almost correct). The book doesn't go into length about pregnancy and how babies are made, they just address the fact that Fudge knows, IIRC.

As far as I can remember, the Fudge books are all very tame. Just cute reads.

"Are You There G-d, It's Me Margaret", "Starring Sally J. Friedman as Herself", "Then Again, Maybe I Won't", "Deenie" and "Wifey" (adult book) are some Blume books that have themes you might find questionable if you care about things like that.

Barbara

Wed, Dec 03 2008, 2:39 pm

DefyGravity wrote:

elf123 wrote:

With the caveat that we're MO, and may allow things that the OP doesn't ... my son read all of the Fudge books in second grade, and IIRC even did a book report on one. They may even have read one of the books in reading groups. I don't recall them being objectionable.

↑ cassandra ↓

Wed, Dec 03 2008, 3:56 pm

Hatemywig wrote:

I read all the Judy Blume books mentioned here when I was 12/13 ( I sneaked them into my house and hid them under my mattress Smile

I personally dont think they are appropriate for Jewish Children growing up according to Torah and Halacha but if you do want your child to read them take into account that it has in them:
.

Good enough for you but not good enough for your kids? How exactly were you corrupted by them?

P.s. Sorry you hate your wig. I know how that can be.

Isramom8 ↓

Wed, Dec 03 2008, 4:07 pm

Definitely read every single word of each book before giving it to your child, because what may be okay with one mother may not be okay with you (or vice versa). While the Fudge books are more or less okay in my opinion, many of her other books are Very Not Okay for frum kids, in my opinion. One thing I worried about by allowing the Fudge books is that my kids could get hooked on the author and want to read all her books. As far as corruption, there are most definitely passages in Blume's books that I wish I'd never read. Her writing is so vivid that it gets inside your kishkes! I love her writing, but I think it's no favor to a kid to hand him or her books that describe young teen s@xual behavior and detailed s@xual thoughts.

shosh

Wed, Dec 03 2008, 4:23 pm

I read a couple of Judy Blume books when I was at my non-Jewish high school, only on the recommendation of my friends. And I really hated them as I thought they were obscene. But there again, I think they were her rather racy teenage ones. So I was not exactly a fan of hers, even then.

↑ Isramom8 ↓

Wed, Dec 03 2008, 4:29 pm

cassandra wrote:

That book is Forever, and that's the worst one, and it wasn't intended for the same audience as the Fudge books. Judy Blume has also written adult novels, as have other children's authors. You have to teach your children to be discerning.

Excuse me. There are explicit s@xual thoughts and behaviors in Tiger Eyes, Then Again Maybe I Won't, and Deenie and Margaret to some degree. Deenie, Margaret and Rachel Robinson all experience getting periods in detail. There is boy-girl kissing in Margaret, Deenie and Tiger Eyes. Forever is about a s@xual realationship between teenagers.

It's all really a shame, because there are some really quality themes and good writing in these books. But if I saw them in my kids' hands I would offer my firm opinion that they are inappropriate.

↑ cassandra ↓

Wed, Dec 03 2008, 4:37 pm

Tiger eyes, yes. I forgot that was Judy Blume. Deenie less so as is the Rachel Robinson book (what was that called again?) There are developing feelings of s-xuality as an undertone but I don't even remember that because that wasn't the point of the book for me at all, and I certainly don't think those books are inappropriate for 5th or 6th grade girls. But I grew up very differently, my parents never told me what I could/could not read which I'm thankful for.

(As a side question-- do frum, pubescent kids not have s-xual feelings because they are not exposed to this material?)