Blume, Blubber and Book Bannings

 

The Atlantic has published an article about YA (young adult) writer Judy Blum, who is now 85.

Her books were part of our household when my skinny daughter was growing up, especially Blubber. 

We were a reading family. Most Friday nights found us in Harvard Square for dinner, listening to the street musicians and buying books to read during the week. These evenings were special. Between school, grad school, work, renovating a house and life, it was the only time to come together when we were all much too busy.

My daughter would buy any Blum book that was out. As for Blubber she read it so many times that even tape could no longer hold it together.

Blum still sells 100,000 or more books per year  decades after publication despite cultural changes.

Many of her books have been banned over the decade. Today her many books are still banable in some places. She writes the truth about what teens and preteens are thinking and feeling. They give them answers to questions and situations grownups don't feel they should be exposed to.

Book bannings are on the rise. Banning a book is a form of deprivation and an ignorance promotion. 

Blum's success is something that most writers only dream about. She touched on a need. She wrote with honesty. She added to the emotional needs of hundreds of thousands young girls, verified by the thousands of letters she has received. 

What writer could ask for more?