Blubber

So, unfortunately I don't have the book on me, but recently I reread Blubber by who else but..... Judy Blume! It was super different than I remembered when I was little, but still fantastic.

The reason I reread Blubber is because I had a run in with book banning at work. I don't feel like getting into big details, but a member of the community genuinely felt that she had the town's best interest at heart when she demanded that a book be removed from my bookshelves. Needless to say, I was bent. That's putting it mildly. It made me think about banning books in general, and I always felt that Blubber was the most ridiculous book to ban on earth. It's always on the top of those lists, and I still think it's crazy. To all those moms out there who feel that they are protecting their children by cutting off everyone's freedom to read - give it a rest - you aren't protecting anyone.

But on another note, this book was way more cruel than I remembered. For those of you that need a recap.....

Wendy is the queen bee of the elementary school. Jill (the main character) is definitely "middle class" in the grammar school hierarchy, and is terrified of Wendy. Wendy leads a campaign against Linda Fisher, aka "Blubber", the class target. The book follows them through the school year, and poor Blubber's demise. A few things really struck me as I was reading:

1. Blubber isn't even the fattest kid in the class! It's all about attitude kiddos - show kids you're weak and they will terrorize and tease you, even if there are other people who probably deserve it more. So not only is Linda a moron for crying so much and all, but what fat or chunky girl doesn't think "hmmmm if I do a class presentation on a whale, that may come back to haunt me in the future". It really made me sad to see how she reacted to the teasing, especially since it really does happen. I don't know, I'm pretty sensitive too, but you have to make it out of the room before the tears begin. That's not just common sense; it's a survival skill.

2. Those kids were AWFUL! One part, in the girls' bathroom, surprised me more than any others. Wendy and her cronies gang up on Blubber in the bathroom (I think) and literally try to take her clothing off just to embarrass her. Did these things really happen? I'm often off in my own world, but I feel like I would have known if geeky girls often got strip searched in the elementary school bathroom. Please let me know if this happens for real - I'm genuinely curious.

3. This book reaffirms my belief that places like the bathroom, school bus, recess, etc. are by far the most dangerous places for children. Overprotective moms out there take note: Kids will hear far worse things on the school bus than in most books or on television. I may be biased due to several years of school bus fear and trauma, but I'm pretty sure it's not just me that feels this way.

4. The reasons this book gets challenged are some real gems, including characters that swear (all very mild - nothing worse than most moms or dads say) and the best - the ringleader of the cruelty never gets punished! Guess what? They almost never do! That's not worth banning - that is reality!

I'm sorry, I know this wasn't a funny entry like I've done before, but I really needed to vent. I've always been very against banning books, but this was the first time I'd had to deal with it in a professional context. Luckily, the board, local media, and community supported my decision to keep the book on the shelf. Even so, I don't like people infringing on the freedoms of others. Don't get me wrong, I totally encourage parents helping their children choose books that they feel are appropriate, but I don't get why they think they get to parent the whole community. I know that she genuinely thought she was doing the right thing, but really, I just don't get it.

So in closing, I will be in a better and lighter mood next time. But in the meantime, I hope all of you go read a book that has been challenged somewhere. You have a lot to choose from. I feel much better now, after writing here and submitting a formal notification of a challenge to the office of intellectual freedom at ALA.

Seriously people, don't fuck with my library :)

Ok, I think I officially have my ass back in gear now! I recently gutted the teen section of the library I work at - omg there was so much super cheesy 80’s crap in there! You would have been salivating at the sight of so much Sweet Valley, Christopher Pike, RL Stine, Girl Talk, BSC, etc.. all in one place. Plus, you can’t forget those one hit wonder 80’s teen authors who always have some kind of cheesy cover with a Tom Cruise from Risky Business lookalike. Finding all those books actually reminded me to blog again. Is it bad that I’m probably going to reread most of those books before I withdraw them from the library?

Next up is going to be Blubber I decided, and it WILL be up next week, I promise this time! The whole new job thing really got in the way of my geeky blogging, so thanks for checking back :)

Quick Update

Hi everyone! I've been a bit hectic lately, with starting a new semester of classes and a new job, but I'll have another book up within a week. I hope there are still some people who stop by, cause I get a HUGE kick out of doing this.

Check for new stuff in a few days!

Just As Long As We're Together AKA Jeremy Dragon Book # 1

For those of you who haven't read it....

Rachel and Stephanie are best friends. Rachel is abnormally intelligent and Steph is abnormally optimistic. Alison, a new girl, becomes friends with them, but three is definitely a crowd. Between Steph's lying about her parents being divorced, the stick up Rachel's ass, and Alison's neverending cluelessness, the three get in a monster fight. But of course, they are able to make up by the end of the book, thank god. But the MOST important part of the book is the very hot ninth grader they are all in love with, named Jeremy Dragon.

* Steph hangs a picture of a teenage Richard Gere over her bed, cause she thinks he's hot. I couldn't track down a picture of Richard Gere at that age, but I have a hard time picturing it. She names him "Benjamin Moore", after the brand of paint.

* How does Stephanie surprised when her parents finally announce their separated?
Steph, her mom, and brother moved to a new house
Dad doesn't talk to mom on the phone even
Dad won't go to dinner with mom when he gets home for the holidays
Dad has a Thanksgiving morning breakfast meeting? I hate how Steph's parents lie to her, and then get mad when she believes the lies
Steph's mom goes to Venice for Christmas, instead of spending it in CA with her husband and children, and Steph STILL doesn't get that this is permanent!
Steph's dad has a new girlfriend, and she STILL doesn't get it!
Mom goes out to a party in NYC all dressed up, and Steph decides to tell her dad all about it to make him jealous. I think she's FINALLY getting it...

* Facts about Jeremy Dragon AKA the many reasons why we all love him:
Wears a chartruese jacket that belonged to his dad
Plays left wing on the soccer team
His family bought Stephanie's old house and he sleeps in her room!
Has very hairy legs
Is smart enough to be in enriched math, but dumb enough to think Macbeth is a tv show
Dates another 9th grader named Dana Carpenter
He plays Joe, as in the earthly father of Jesus, in a holiday play
He gave Dana his ID bracelet (like a hospital bracelet? I don't know?), and wears her favorite pin, pinned on his underwear
Cheated on Dana with Marcella, the 8th grade slut, in both a closet and at the movie theater

* I've gotta admire the balls these girls have, because it takes serious guts to be 13 years old, go out on Halloween, trick or treat at Jeremy Dragon's house, and recite verses from Macbeth instead of saying "trick or treat"

* I have never seen anyone stress eat like Steph, some of the many examples I found:
Doughnuts
Most of the thanksgiving left overs (pumpkin pie, stuffing, turkey)
Potato chips
When she was in CA, she went out with her Dad for "huge dinners and finished every mouthful"
Peanut butter
Rye bread and cream cheese (ewww!)
It's mean when Eric calls her El Chunko, but that is some crazy stress eating!

* I love how Steph imagines her doctor talking about her at the dinner table, with her two sort-of bf that is in Steph's class . I've included some dialogue for your enjoyment:
"I could hear Dr. Klaff saying, Stephanie Hirsch was in for her yearly check-up today. Her breasts are beginning to develop.
It's about time, Peter would say, between mouthfuls.
She's probably going to get her period soon, Dr. Klaff would say, helping herself to more linguini.
I'm glad you mentioned that, Mom, Peter would say. From now on I'll keep a look-out for anything red on the back of her pants.
That's very thoughtful of you, Peter, Dr. Kalff would say. So many boys your age act foolish about menstruation. Here, have some more bread."
In other words, Stephanie is NUTS, and it's HILARIOUS!

* OUTFITS! Judy Blume books are not really known for their fashion attempts, but this book does not let the reader down:
* Alison: "Gauzy blue shirt and skirt", okay, that sounds fairly normal.
* Rachel: "She was all in white. I couldn't tell if her white pants were the designer jeans she tried on...but I know we hadn't seen her top, which was pleated and shaped like a lampshade. She had a white flower in her hair too. A gardenia, I think." We're getting weirder. I'm not a huge fan of white jeans, and how is a shirt "shaped like a lampshade". I can picture the pleated thing (sort of), but is Rachel really wearing a lampshade? I keep picturing something like a hoop skirt, but that goes around your torso? How did Max Wilson ever get close enough to dance with her in that getup?
* Steph: "a dark green skirt and top, made of something that felt like sweatshirt material. The skirt swirled around and the top had a lacy collar and little animals marching up and down the sleeves" Where to begin?!?! So she's wearing a sweatsuit with a lace collar (sounds like something Martha Stewart would wear to clean house), with animal print? I don't even think it's animal print, I think it's something like little mini giraffes and elephants printed up and down the sleeves of the sweat suit. All I can think of is the My Little Pony sweatsuit I had when I was in kindergarten. Yeah, I thought it was awesome, but I was also FIVE!

* Rachel may be brutally honest, but at least someone finally calls Steph out on what's going on with her parents. I don't like how Steph wants her friends to be all honest with her, but then blatantly lies to her them.

* Steph got her first period at the dance! I love how Judy Blume made menstruation trendy!

* All three girls got their first kisses at the dance!

Yes, that is my recap of 296 fabulous pages of teenage angst and hormones. Judy Blume, if you ever read this, I am not being sarcastic, I seriously LOVE your books. When I was younger I felt like they were written just for me, and if I didn't love them so much, I would never spend this much time writing about them. Plus, it's nice to know that I'm not the only nerd out there still reading 1980's YA lit while in their twenties. But I'm a children's/YA librarian, so at least I can pretend it's work related!

Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret.

I am pretty sure that Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret is my very favorite book that I love to hate. Quick plot overview, for those of you that are not familiar:

Margaret is twelve years old, and just moved from New York City to Farbrook, New Jersey. When she lived in New Jersey, no one questioned the fact that she was "no religion", and she had yet to be engulfed in the throes of prepubescent drama. But when Margaret moves, EVERYTHING CHANGES! She makes friends with three other girls, who spend their entire lives agonizing over boys, boobs, religion, and getting their periods. All in all, quality reading that I loved when I was younger, and still (yes, I'll admit it) love today.

However, the more absurd points of this book escaped me when I was younger. For example...
* How is it possible that Margaret NEVER got questioned about her religion when she lived in NYC? I just find it hard to believe that no one ever asked her if she went to Sunday School before. Apparently everyone in NJ is pretty obsessed with finding out what religion everyone else practices.

* Nancy won't let members of her club wear socks. That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard! What kind of club is anti-
socks?!

* Laura Danker is the token well developed girl in the sixth grade class. Word on the street is that she "goes behind the A&P" with Nancy's brother and his friend Moose. Now I am willing to bet a lot of money that no characters in this book have any idea what goes on behind the A&P. In fact, I am willing to admit that I still do not know what you would do behind the A&P! I mean, I've heard of fooling around at the movies, parties, cars, playgrounds, empty classrooms. Hell, every once in awhile we catch kids making out in the library. I just can't buy the fact that in suburban NJ, the best place to sneak off and fool around is in some back alley or near the dumpster at the A&P. Isn't an A&P a convenience store of some sort? I still just don't understand.

* Speaking of Laura Danker, why does having boobs mean you are a slut? I had boobs well before I should have, but I'll be damned if any prepubescent boys were going to be touching them! Nancy seriously needs to get a life, because I am pretty sure it is her spreading all these rumors. I bet Nancy would go behind the A&P before Laura would.

* Mavis is really not a sensational name. but as I write this, I'm hoping no one named Mavis reads this. It's not a bad name, I just wouldn't choose it if I could pick any name in the world. But I also wouldn't choose Veronica, Kimberly, or Alexandra, either.

* We must, we must, we must increase our bust! nuff said.

* Why would someone's boobs look particularly large while wearing a sweater?

* The PTA runs a square dance for Margaret's class. I can't believe that a bunch of sixth graders were willing to go along with having a square dance!

* Norman Fishbein, the class creep, has a supper party. From what I understand, his mom has the entire class over for supper, tells them all to wear their best clothing, and then serves them sandwiches, hot dogs, and beans. Isn't that picnic
food rather than formal dress fancy food?

* Margaret stuffed her bra!

* All the sixth grade girls have to go to a class about getting their period presented by the "Private Lady Company", which is supposed to be like Kotex or Always. "Private Lady" sounds more like some creepy porn shop or strip club to me.

* Since when do drugstores make home deliveries of "Teenage Softies" pads, or anything else for that matter?

* Nancy lied about getting her period, and then is humiliated when her secret is blown in front of Margaret. If I were Margaret I probably would have told everyone. That's what you get for being a catty liar, bitch!

* Page 116: Confirmation that no one knows what happens behind the A&P, and that Nancy is indeed a liar. Poor Laura Danker, I'd have kicked Margaret's ass.

Finally, the most important thing about rereading a newer edition of this book:
Judy Blume finally got rid of the belted menstrual pads! I remember reading this when I was little and having no clue what a belt had to do with your period. Thanks to Google images, I now know. Thank god I was not alive during the belted pad phase, because I'm pretty sure I would have been traumatized. Below is a menstrual belt ad from the 1960's.


Margaret and Janie still buy pads for practice, before they get their periods. This isn't so necessary now because sticky strips are pretty intuitive, but I think it's hilarious that Margaret locked herself in the closet to practice standing there wearing a pad. I am just so happy that Judy finally realized that young girls should no longer be terrified and confused by the idea of a belted pad! That alone made this worth rereading.

That's about it for this book, but I think I'm going to read Deenie or Then Again, Maybe I Won't next. I was originally going to read Forever, but I think I'm going to hold off on that one because it is so fantastic. I am totally reliving my childhood through Judy Blume and loving every second of it!

Introduction

I have never done this blogging thing for fun, only when required for various classes. But after I found several blogs that chronicled some of my favorite books growing up (namely the Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley High), I think I want to give it a shot. I'm thinking (as if the title of the blog isn't enough of a clue), that I'm going to start with an old favorite, Judy Blume...