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Judy Blume

ジュディ・ブルーム

Judy Blume

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1938-02-12 （Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Religion
Judaism
Residence History
Elizabeth, New Jersey → Plainfield, New Jersey → Scotch Plains, New Jersey → Los Alamos, New Mexico → Key West, Florida

Career

Occupations
Writer, Former teacher
Active Years
1969-2020
Affiliations
Authors Guild, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), Key West Literary Seminar, The Kids Fund (founder and trustee), Books & Books (non-profit bookstore, Key West)
Memberships
Authors Guild, National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)

Education

Boston University
Period: 1956（在籍、休学あり）
Country: United States
Diagnosed with mononucleosis during attendance; took a brief leave
New York University
Education
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (Education)
Period: 1959–1961
Year of Graduation: 1961
Country: United States
Received a bachelor's degree in Education in 1961

Awards

Margaret A. Edwards Award
1996
Work: Forever (and other works) — for contributions to young adult literature
Organization: American Library Association (YALSA)
Result: 受賞
Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
2004
Work: Medal for distinguished contribution to American letters
Organization: National Book Foundation
Result: 受賞
E.B. White Award
2017
Work: Lifetime achievement in children's literature
Organization: American Academy of Arts and Letters
Result: 受賞
Golden Plate Award
1994
Organization: American Academy of Achievement
Result: 受賞
Library of Congress Living Legend
2000
Work: Recognition for significant contributions to America's cultural heritage
Organization: Library of Congress
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

1970 Young adult, Realist

A coming-of-age story following Margaret as she navigates religion, friendship, and bodily changes during adolescence. Noted for its frank treatment of puberty.

AdolescenceReligion and self-discoveryFriendship
Adaptations
  • [Film] Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (film) / ケイティ・ロドリゲス等 (2023)
Translations
  • Translated into multiple languages (e.g. Japanese edition available)

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

1972 Children's book (family, humor)

A humorous children's story about a boy and his mischievous younger brother 'Fudge'; first in a series.

Sibling relationshipsFamily lifeChild's perspective

Forever...

1975 Young adult (romance, sexuality)

A frank portrayal of teenage romance and first sexual experiences; groundbreaking for its normalizing depiction of teen sex and subject to censorship debates.

Sex and romanceComing of ageMorality and choices
Adaptations
  • [TV film] Forever (1978 TV film) / テレビ版監督名不明 (1978)
  • [TV series (Netflix 2025)] Forever (Netflix series) (2025)

Tiger Eyes

1981 Young adult (grief and coming of age)

The story of Davey, a girl coping with the sudden death of her father and growing through grief; later adapted into a film co-written/directed with her son.

LossHealingSelf-discovery
Adaptations
  • [Film] Tiger Eyes (film) / ローレンス・ブルーム (Lawrence Blume) (2012)

Superfudge

1980 Children's book (series)

A sequel in the Fudge series that humorously explores family and sibling relationships.

FamilyHumorEveryday childhood

Bibliography

  • The One in the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo (1969)
  • Iggie's House (1970)
  • Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (1970)
  • Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (1972)
  • Blubber (1974)
  • Forever... (1975)
  • Tiger Eyes (1981)
  • Summer Sisters (1998)
  • In the Unlikely Event (2015)

Adaptations

  • Forever (1978 TV film)
  • Fudge (TV series, 1995–1997)
  • Tiger Eyes (2012 film)
  • Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023 film)
  • Judy Blume Forever (documentary, 2023)
  • Forever (Netflix series, 2025)

Translations of Works

  • Translated into multiple languages (around 32 languages)
  • Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. has multiple translations including Japanese

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Frank, approachable first-person narrationRealist depiction of everyday life
Recurring Motifs
Bodily and emotional changes of adolescenceFamily and sibling dynamicsFriendship and bullying

Health

  • Mononucleosis
    1956（大学在学中）
    Required a brief leave from university studies
  • Breast cancer
    2012
    Detected by routine ultrasound; underwent mastectomy and reconstruction and recovered

Legacy

Judy Blume is a pioneering author in children's and young adult literature for her frank treatment of real-life issues; she is celebrated across generations, an activist against book banning, recipient of numerous lifetime awards, and her papers are archived at Yale's Beinecke Library.

Museums

  • Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library (Judy Blume collection) Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA Opened in 2017

Academic Societies

  • American Library Association (ALA)
  • Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN)

Archives

  • Judy Blume papers at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University

In Popular Culture

  • Documentary 'Judy Blume Forever' (2023)
  • Amanda Palmer song 'Judy Blume' (2018)
  • Adaptations continuing including 'Forever' Netflix series (2025)

Quotes

  • I thought, this is America: we don't ban books. But then we did.
    Source: Interview with The Guardian (2014) (2014)

Trivia

  • Her books have sold over 82 million copies (as of 2020).
  • Works translated into roughly 32 languages.
  • One of the most frequently challenged authors in U.S. schools and libraries.