tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post907647059547798259..comments2024-03-20T08:13:24.605+01:00Comments on Bingeing On Books: BOOK REVIEW: Blubber by Judy BlumeCynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-66417353571963320972018-01-29T01:34:59.519+01:002018-01-29T01:34:59.519+01:00I spent reading this book emotionally. I actually ...I spent reading this book emotionally. I actually feel like wringing some of the characters' necks! This would be one of the good books out there to introduce to the kids the problem of bullying and how to handle them in such a young age. Nevertheless the ending is kind of disturbing to be since there doesn't seem to be a justification to the story itself.<br /><br />Zia <br /><a href="http://www.soundreverse.com/_reverse-mortgage-seattle-wa.php" rel="nofollow">Heard about Seattle Reverse Mortgage</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06531016075469050040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-13202880455081062312016-08-28T19:59:29.958+02:002016-08-28T19:59:29.958+02:00Kristyn, I don't have kids but I completely ag...Kristyn, I don't have kids but I completely agree. And honestly, I think there are much better books dealing with bullying out there. I am really glad that this book was able to lead you to have an open conversation with your child. I love when books are thought provoking like that. I still think this is not one of her better books, but I do think there can be a little merit in reading it.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-25391408987277422972016-08-22T17:16:15.941+02:002016-08-22T17:16:15.941+02:00I just finished reading this book to my 9 year old...I just finished reading this book to my 9 year old and I'm just appalled at open ending, the ending where the main character finally feels right about her life after being on the receiving end of the bullying, and then....she still treats Linda horribly by refusing to sit with her and still calling her blubber (in her mind, but still!!!)<br />What is this teaching our kids? <br />The type of bullying Linda endured was so awful. Mental, emotional, physical, sexual! And guess what? we don't have to change it because we should only worry about not being bullied.<br />It allowed me to have an open conversation with my child to determine how she felt about it, and that was positiveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12454540159767250143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-26090747062583486752015-11-09T18:07:12.718+01:002015-11-09T18:07:12.718+01:00You're welcome! I've read this book as a ...You're welcome! I've read this book as a kid and as an adult, and I still consider it one of the best books out there that deals with bullying. I was bullied as a kid and a bystander-bully as well (that is, I was Jill although I was never Wendy) and I know from personal experience that it's terrible to be bullied. I think Judy Blume realizes that too. <br /><br />But I don't think there is any way to write about bullying without someone suggesting that the author is "teaching kids bullying techniques" or for it not to be disturbing. Trying to sanitize kids' or YA books like that just don't work. Kids learn bullying techniques regardless of whether they are in books, and they are going to be disturbing no matter what.KeenReaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07124678578143780665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-53999617330223211462015-11-08T19:05:44.439+01:002015-11-08T19:05:44.439+01:00KeenReader, thank you so much for your comments. I...KeenReader, thank you so much for your comments. I do agree with you. When I said skip it, I think I was talking more about the adult side of me than the kid side. If my child wanted to read this, I would not stop them and I would use it to start a conversation about bullying. And I do agree that an ending where everything worked out and everyone lived happily ever after would not have been realistic. The ending that Judy Blume wrote did make a lot of sense. Thanks again for your comments!Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-90634541098596015082015-11-06T17:25:17.637+01:002015-11-06T17:25:17.637+01:00I don't agree with your advice to skip it. Ra...I don't agree with your advice to skip it. Rather, I'd bear in mind that it was not written with an adult audience in mind. You as an adult find the bullying upsetting, but sadly, that's not how kids who witness and participate in bullying feel when they're watching it and doing it.<br /><br />I also think it works better as a story that Judy Blume did not embrace the "Jill suddenly realizes that bullying Linda is wrong, she stops bullying Linda and embraces her as a best friend, and Wendy and the other bullies go down" approach. Many kids (remember, that's who Judy Blume writes for and about) would be turned off by that approach because it isn't true to their lives and experiences and would probably have come off as too preachy.<br /><br />What Judy Blume did in this novel is to address kids who find themselves in Jill's position: Do I join in the bullying or not? Jill has fun temporarily bullying Linda, but when she finds out that she too can be the victim of bullying, she starts to change. At the end of the novel, while nobody is directly punished for bullying Linda, Jill realizes that she needs to be more tolerant of people and expand her own circle of friendship. And those are important lessons for any kid to learn. Sure, she could have had adults come down harder on the kids, particularly Wendy, but sadly, that doesn't happen often enough in real life that her kid audience would be able to relate to that.KeenReaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07124678578143780665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-88107844419809368872015-07-08T07:14:21.554+02:002015-07-08T07:14:21.554+02:00Thank you! I read Are you there God? a long time a...Thank you! I read Are you there God? a long time ago, but I loved that book. I am so glad you enjoyed your first Judy Blume book! I may need to reread that one as well. :)Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-46457473835402687372015-07-06T18:21:30.499+02:002015-07-06T18:21:30.499+02:00Wow, great review! I haven't read Blubber. I t...Wow, great review! I haven't read Blubber. I think I'll be skipping it. <br /><br />I actually just finished reading mt very first Judy Blume novel as an adult!! I read Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret and I enjoyed it a lot. <br /><br />Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret has also been challenged as well. I read this book for the 2015 Banned Book Challenge.<br /><br />Happy reading!! Captivated Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15789205839634527219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-26888287491397664152015-02-13T07:20:43.084+01:002015-02-13T07:20:43.084+01:00Her other books are all really good, from what I r...Her other books are all really good, from what I remember. I think it's interesting to read them again as an adult to see if your views change at all.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-17550692779848891582015-02-13T03:59:49.080+01:002015-02-13T03:59:49.080+01:00This book sounds familiar and I am pretty sure I r...This book sounds familiar and I am pretty sure I read it but for some reason, I cannot remember at all :/ I have read other books by her and have liked them so far :)Genesis Shelihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00747341162267071158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-63839616637776560832015-02-12T07:40:49.078+01:002015-02-12T07:40:49.078+01:00Yes, I read all of her books as a child too Kimba....Yes, I read all of her books as a child too Kimba. It is interesting to read these books again as an adult. I am interested to read some of her other stuff too just to see if I would love them just as much.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-23614052721295327932015-02-12T07:39:24.249+01:002015-02-12T07:39:24.249+01:00Thanks Giselle! You definitely need to read Judy B...Thanks Giselle! You definitely need to read Judy Blume. This is not one of the best, but most of her books are great.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-5903993310380964452015-02-12T00:08:57.900+01:002015-02-12T00:08:57.900+01:00I read this in like the 4th grade and oh lord don&...I read this in like the 4th grade and oh lord don't even ask me how many years ago. It was sad what occurred. I am not sure what opinion i would have now. I do know back then I read all of her books. Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15658833731713991138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-44106339889235040282015-02-11T21:37:49.325+01:002015-02-11T21:37:49.325+01:00Oh wow this sounds like a very raw book and an imp...Oh wow this sounds like a very raw book and an important one, too. I think censoring only puts kids in an unrealistic bubble, and I'm glad there are books out there that can maybe help kids in this situation you know! Giving them hope is all some might need! Though sadly it sounds like this might not be one I would give my teenage kid O_O I think he bullies not getting any consequence is terrible!I have never read a Judy Blume book but I def need to give one a try!Gisellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16953187386418088952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-57041343289021958722015-02-11T21:22:07.728+01:002015-02-11T21:22:07.728+01:00Oh you should really read some of her books Kindle...Oh you should really read some of her books Kindlemom! Of course they were meant for younger kids but still . . . Are you there God? It's Me Margaret is a great one. And yeah, I was not super fond of this ending. HaCynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-91712559610707764812015-02-11T15:35:24.314+01:002015-02-11T15:35:24.314+01:00I have never read a book by this author but I am c...I have never read a book by this author but I am curious about this. Sad that there were no consequences for the bullies though, that makes me sad.Kindlemomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09084577342034704304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-2696703487292129982015-02-11T07:15:12.385+01:002015-02-11T07:15:12.385+01:00You are so very right Kathryn. If my child chose t...You are so very right Kathryn. If my child chose to read this book, I would use it as a jumping off point for some very important conversations. Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-73212184891989896882015-02-11T01:44:35.158+01:002015-02-11T01:44:35.158+01:00I haven't read this book but I wouldn't st...I haven't read this book but I wouldn't stop young people reading it - although it would be good to talk about and tease out the issues in it for young readers. I think young people are savvy enough to form their own opinions these days and wouldn't become bullies because of it. Kathryn Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08964951326616144323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-46687773700019777992015-02-10T20:10:49.347+01:002015-02-10T20:10:49.347+01:00Thanks Cleo! You are so right about that. As a chi...Thanks Cleo! You are so right about that. As a child, I may have liked the book but I still didn't become a bully because of it. And even though I didn't like this one, I hate that it is banned. Kids should get to read whatever books they want and form their own impressions.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-22994277618925765142015-02-10T20:09:39.125+01:002015-02-10T20:09:39.125+01:00Thanks Sheila! I love Judy Blume.Thanks Sheila! I love Judy Blume.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-70154604524727218522015-02-10T19:36:38.421+01:002015-02-10T19:36:38.421+01:00I remember this book when I was growing up - I thi...I remember this book when I was growing up - I think these things are viewed differently when viewed from an adult perspective, perhaps why adults shouldn't censor books for children? Great post even if you would skip it. Cleopatra Loves Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15752724698249497274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-59812089516420384522015-02-10T18:02:40.712+01:002015-02-10T18:02:40.712+01:00I remember this book! I was such a Judy Blume fan...I remember this book! I was such a Judy Blume fan growing up. Love that it was read for Banned Books!Sheila (Bookjourney)https://www.blogger.com/profile/05354184020340930630noreply@blogger.com