Basics
This pathfinder is intended for use by students or any person, who is interested in using the materials when researching the early life, main books of influence, and major accomplishments of Judy Blume. It is primarily for use in an academic setting.
Written Resources
Judy Blume’s Story is a biography of the life of one of the most influential authors of today and yesterday. The book entails the life of the young author and how real life experiences played a major role in her stories. The author of Judy Blume’s Story captures a young Blume and delves into her psyche to expose her innermost thoughts and ideas about her books and how she perceives her career as a writer. The book also offers a glimpse into the early stages of development for one of the world’s most controversial, popular authors to date. Information in this book is compiled from information supplied from the author herself. This book would be an excellent resource for anyone needing information about the life of Judy Blume. A wealth of information on the author, this book is somewhat dated. Published in the 1980s, recent developments on the author may not be included.
Presenting Judy Blume is a literary criticism of the author’s works. This book is not a biography of Judy Blume's life and career. It does tell where Blume was born, of her early childhood and her marriages, however the main focus of this book is the critical impact of the author’s work. This book evaluates Judy Blume’s works in relation to her readers and what here writings mean to them. The material goes into great depths of analyzing the perception of the author and what contributes to the persona of the infamous Judy Blume. The material addresses the debate of the literary value associated with Blume’s writing. This book offers both a critical and personal overview of each book she'd written at the time of this book’s publication. The information is enhanced by color photos, shots of book covers, and is presented in systematic, readable, visually inviting ways, and will leave both confirmed and potential fans with insight into each author's gifts and enduring appeal. This book would be helpful in research about the main books that have impacted society, written by Blume.
This journal article written by Blume herself entails the author’s experience with censorship. In this article bloom elaborates on how she emerged to become one of the most censored authors of all times. Blume speaks of a time when censors of literature appeared out of nowhere. Blume shares experiences of confrontations suffered at the defense of her work. In the article Blume indicates that none of her stories where meant to be offensive, she was simply writing about experiences similar to her own childhood. In this article, Blume shares a story about being called a communist after her noted book Are you there God? Its Me Margaret! was published. This article gives a straight from the horses mouth account of Blume’s take on how she feels about critic’s opinions, that say she should be censored. This article speaks of the time in literature when society very much wanted to control what people read, especially the youth.
Blume, J. (2012). Gentle Reader. Index On Censorship, 41(2), 182-183.
doi:10.1177/0306422012447739
Journal #2
This article is not solely about Judy Blume, however it highlights the author’s work as a means to encourage younger readers to read. The article tells the story of a teacher, who saw a decline in her student’s interest in reading. The teacher chose to introduce Blume’s Forever into the curriculum and watched her students begin to read again. The material notes the importance of breaking away from traditional reading assignment rules, and points out Judy Blume’s unique style of writing is definitely not ordinary. The article discusses the need for teachers to provide reading materials in literary appreciation with which students can easily identify themselves, which is the author’s claim to fame. Blume’s Forever, with sexual themes, increased student reading interest. The article suggests that the use of Blume’s work, further demonstrates her important place in literary history. This article would be helpful in the research about the lasting impact of the author’s contribution to literature.
Kaplan, J. S. (1994). Ted Hipple Was Right! How I broke the rules and lived
happily forever and ever!. English Journal, 83(5), 25.
Journal #3
This article focuses on the influence of Judaism and Jewishness in Judy Blume's writings. The content within the article examines Blume's two most Jewish-themed books, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret and Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself. Judy Blume’s writings offered alternative view of the Jewish family post Holocaust. The article discusses how between the 1950s and 1970s, American Jewish children's literature came into its own; and how Judy Blume’s writings helped shed the early stigmatism of Jewish juvenile fiction. The material suggests that Judy Blume’s literature gave voice to the contemporary Jewish child in suburbia. The article This article examination the "Jewishness" of Blume’s work as well as explores Blume's particular popularity with and influence upon young Jewish readers in the 1970s through the 1990s. The two books that the article focuses on are examples of the way Blume addresses the most controversial issues for contemporary American Jews.
Krasner, J., & Zollman, J. (2010). Are You There God? Judaism and Jewishness in
Judy Blume's Adolescent Fiction. Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal Of
Jewish Studies, 29(1), 22-47.
Web site #1
http://www.judyblume.com/
This website has a plethora of information about the noted author. The site offers updated biographical information, a photo gallery of Blume, background information on her books, a comprehensive annotated book list, articles on censorship, biographical resources, a list of the author’s accomplishments, and other supplemental provided by the author. There are interviews with the noted author, audiobook information, links to other information about the author and translations of her work. The website is a welt of information identified by various tags, which are links to insurmountable information about Blume. The website offers essays written by the author and various tips the author offers to future writers. The website also hosts a kid’s page just for the young reader that offers help with projects, trivia, and more information about the author from a more adolescent point of view. The site is easily navigated and would be a helpful resource for research on the author. This is the official Judy Blume website.
Judy Blume on the Web is a website completely dedicated to the author
Web site #2
http://censorshipandjudyblume.weebly.com/index.html#/
This site explores the reasons why author Judy Blume's books are so frequently challenged and banned. While the site offers some biographical information, the website offers an extensive critical analysis on Blume’s book Forever, answering who, what, where, when and why it is challenged and banned. The site has a list of Blume’s most challenged books, as well as video recorded interviews on the author. The creators of the site include several articles on censorship, and censorship in relation to Blume. There are excerpts from various journals that discuss censorship and its effect on the noted author. The website is used as a platform against censorship, and Judy Blume is the vehicle used to support the argument. Judy Blume’s advocacy against censorship is documented on this website; there is a link on this website that connects the reader with the most recent writings and comments the noted author has made about and against censorship.
Weebly. 2013. Censorship & Judy Blume. Rerieved April 27, 2013, from
Web site #3
This website is a blog written by the author that is updated regularly. The author talks candidly about everyday life on this blog. Blume discloses personal issues, such as her cancer diagnosis and treatment on the web site, Launched in 2007, the website gives a more up to date view of the noted author. There are recent photos of the author, and news about her most recent accomplishments. The website offers a real life perspective from Blume herself. There are several entries from the author, where talks about revising one her classic books, Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret! The site offers pertinent information and photographs of the author. There are entries from the author where she modestly boasts about being inducted into Harvard’s prestigious Lampoon. This site is geared towards the diehard Judy Blume fan, or the researcher searching for current and pertinent information on the author.
Blume. J. (2012). Judy’s Blog. Retrieved April 26, 2013, from
Web site #4
This site is about Judy Blume’s contribution to the development of the adolescent population. The website is an excerpt of an article from an author that has done extensive research on the noted author. The material suggests that Blume presents her readers with a vision of adolescent sexuality stripped of shame and danger. The site recounts Blume’s argument that kids start thinking about both the biological and the emotional aspects of sex far earlier than anyone wants to admit. The author coins the phrase “the Queen of Adolescents”, when referencing the noted author. The page also offers many famous quotes from the author’s classic collection. The website shares information about times when Blume’s books have been removed from the shelves of libraries. In response to being called a pioneer in children’s literature, Blume replies simply by saying I’m a storyteller, period. The website seeks to show the author’s important role in the development of the adolescent population, past and present.
The Boston Phoenix. ( May 21-28, 1998). Retrieved April 26, 2013, from
This video is an in depth interview of Judy Blume with Chelsea Clinton. The video showcases a post cancer Judy Blume,in good spirits and full of life. Bumes freely talks about her pioneering career as one of the most censored authors. The author tells of how all her books where not written to be risqué, but that they she wrote them based on real life experiences. The video allows the view a rare opportunity to actually see the noted author and witness her carefree appeal in person. Chelsea Clinton asks Blume question after question about her controversial career. Blume candidly answers each question with ease and doesn’t shy away from the personal and probing questions. The video is accompanied by a short summary of the interview and photographs of Blume and Clinton. Clinton expresses the importance of the author she interviews and asks important and pertinent questions about the author. This video is geared toward anyone seeking a visual account of the noted author.
Clinton. C. (2013, February 20). On Assignment: Chelsea Clinton reflects on Judy
Blume's impact on her childhood. NBC News. Retrieved April 26, 2013, from
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Summary
I chose this particular topic because Judy Blume has always been an interesting and influential author of my generation. She has been a pioneering voice for adolescents that has transcended and endured time and countless critics. I found her story to be interesting one. I read her books as a teenager and as an educator have enjoyed introducing her to new readers. Her writings are an embodiment of adolescent though put on paper. The mere resistance she has met gives an insightful view of the changes literature and libraries have faced. A mere artist Blume never considered herself an advocate; however was thrust into the position defending her work. I feel as if my pathfinder is a great collection of resources on the author. I found creditable resources on her life, thoughts on censorship, awards she’s received, and information on her most noted books. Blume being such a timeless artist cannot be placed into any certain age range. I feel these resources may be used by anyone of any age range seeking information about Blume.
