Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret ¦ Deenie ¦ Superfudge

Are You There God? now, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Blubber to come - Judy Blume's paperback canon is improving at last! Are You There God? undercuts the view of Ms Blume as an agent for US capitalism/establishment - there's a gently mocking adult behind the first person account of 12-year-old Margaret's search for a religion, blood in her underpants and a bigger bust. Perhaps humourless critics or young fans made the author take herself too seriously because this element shrinks in some later books like Deenie (1973) which stretches to a marginally more teenage audience. Ma is pushing Deenie into modelling - until it's discovered that she's developing a crooked spine. Deenie needs four years in a brace to correct it. Added extras: a budding romance and a few lines (literally) on masturbation. Still, Deenie has more to her than some other Blume characters. Superfudge is a 1980 follow-up to Fourth Grade Nothing. Peter Hatcher recounts more of 4-year-old Fudge's mischief against a background of a house/school move, changing parental sex roles and a new baby sister. It improves as it goes along but it's not as funny as the first book. All Judy Blume's books are easy to read and essential for schools. They aren't aimed at a single audience, though. Some, like Are You There God? and Superfudge, are OK for top juniors/early secondary. Deenie is more 12-14. Get to know them - you could easily read all nine in a weekend.