One of my first jobs was at a bookstore. The few years I spent at the bookstore were some of my favorite years. From sharing my love for certain books with the customers to learning about new authors, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. At the beginning of every school year, we always made sure there were certain books we had in stock. Amongst those books, Judy Blume’s books were on that list. Some of the teachers would come during the summer and provide us with the list of books they needed and we would order enough and put them aside for their classroom. I miss working at the bookstore.
Enough reminiscing. Even though I worked in a bookstore and taught middle school literature, I never read that many Judy Blume books. Some of the books I do remember reading were: Superfudge, Freckle Juice, and Double Fudge. Even when I taught school I had some of her books in my library but never really checked if my students were reading them or not. After watching Judy Blume Forever, I wish I would have done a unit on some of her books. Only now I am realizing the impact her books had and how I wish I read more of her books when I was younger.
Courtesy of Prime Video
Judy Blume Forever is a brilliant documentary that gives us an inside look into the life of Judy Blume. We are shown her humble beginnings and how this shy, quiet girl became the powerhouse she became in children’s literature. Judy shows us that her passion for writing was so strong that it resonated with the children who read her books. Judy’s books were written in a way that not only spoke to children but made them feel seen. This created lifelong fans that are highlighted in the documentary.
One thing I learned from this documentary is how much ahead of her time Judy Blume was. Her books tackled issues that were deemed controversial back then and today are in the news again. Judy became an advocate for banned books and the documentary spends some time focusing on her fight to stop books from being banned in schools and libraries. Judy is not only a creator of great books but also a fighter to keep these books in the hands of those that want to read them.
Courtesy of Prime Video
While we have a shorter video of the roundtable listed on our Youtube page we also want our readers to watch this longer version. During this conversation with the director Leah Wolchok a lot of great topics were covered from the importance of Judy Blume’s books to how they have become timeless. We talked about book banning and the difference between back then and now. I highly recommend you check out this conversation.
Final Thoughts: Judy Blume Forever is an excellent look into the life of this fantastic author and how she changed the game in young adult books. Judy made a connection with her readers and up until this day that connection can still be felt. This documentary gives us a great insight into how Judy became the powerhouse that she is and how her books should be read by everyone that watches this documentary.
Kid-Friendly: If you have read Judy Blume’s books then you know the contents of her stories. Some of these contents and some of the mature subjects she writes about are bought up. I think any kid will benefit from watching and would probably want to pick up a few of her books afterward.
Violence: If you want to call the banning of books violence then there are a few moments of violence in this film.
Generations of readers have found themselves in a Judy Blume book. Her name alone launches a flood of memories for anyone who’s gripped one of her many paperbacks. For decades, Blume’s radical honesty has comforted and captivated readers – and landed her at the center of controversy for her frankness about puberty and sex. Now the beloved American author candidly shares her own coming-of-age story. Emmy-winning filmmakers Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok trace Blume’s journey from fearful, imaginative child to storytelling pioneer who elevated the physical and emotional lives of kids and teens, to banned writer who continues to fight back against censorship today. Playful and poignant animations celebrate the magic and awkwardness of being young, while intimate conversations with acclaimed authors and artists reveal Blume’s profound impact on readers. Long-standing fans share open-hearted letters they wrote to Blume over decades. With humor, sensitivity, and a healthy dose of adolescent cringe, Judy Blume Forever tells the story of the woman whose trail-blazing books changed the way millions of readers understand themselves, their sexuality, and what it means to grow up.