In the novel, Margaret Simon, child of an interfaith but non-practising couple – Jewish father, Christian mother – develops a relationship with God. “ Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret,” the book begins. “ We’re moving today. I’m so scared God.” Deenie's mom has two daughters: the pretty one (Deenie) and the smart one (her older sister, Helen). That is who they are and their mom tells everyone that. The interesting thing is that it takes Deenie and Helen forever to be like, "Wait--that doesn't mean that Helen is ugly or that Deenie is stupid." (And honestly, it's so weird to see that dynamic play out. Helen has to get perfect grades but as long as Deenie doesn't fail, she doesn't get in trouble.) I don't think there is any Judy Blume book that I don't like. She is just that good at her craft. While I did like this one it was not my favourite one when I first read it. I think it had more to do with not really relating to the character as much although I sympathized with her.

Judy Blume’s time has come. Again - The Globe and Mail Judy Blume’s time has come. Again - The Globe and Mail

Showing Deenie’s initial distaste towards people with disabilities and injuries is useful only up until a certain point, beyond which it felt highly superfluous. In all honesty, these comments were enough to make me question recommending the book. The heartfelt message of its conclusion, when juxtaposed against this hateful start, is diminished, especially for young readers living with scoliosis who would have to wade through the early hurtful comments before they come to see Deenie’s journey unfold. Although the change in Deenie’s life as a result of her diagnosis with scoliosis is something I can certainly sympathize with, I found her character problematic. She isn’t sympathetic, at least not at first, with her mean-spirited and bitter internal thoughts about other children. The way she thinks and feels about those who are disabled or have even relatively minor health issues, especially prior to her own diagnosis, made me uncomfortable. After surviving a suicide attempt, a fragile teen isn't sure she can endure without cutting herself. Blume, who speaks her mind, was criticized recently after a U.K. newspaper published an interview with her with the headline: “I’m behind JK Rowling 100 per cent.” Blume clarified with a tweet that her words were taken out of context; her point was that she can empathize with a person who has been harassed online. “I stand with the trans community and vehemently disagree with anyone who does not fully support equality and acceptance for LGBTQIA+ people.” Cool Big Sis: Helen winds up this in the end, being one of Deenie's biggest supporters after she gets her brace and tells her that she doesn't have to live to their mother's expectations.I was desperate, I needed a creative outlet. I wasn’t happy. I wasn’t,” she says. After publishing two books, she thought, “Okay, hmmm, now I know how to do this thing. Or I think I know how to do it. Now I’m just going to let it rip.” Did I remember Deenie's preoccupation with intercourse and how startled she is to learn that her 16-year-old sister still hasn't had sex yet? This book, like many others written by Blume, has been banned in schools for themes deemed inappropriate for adolescents; in this case, talk about masturbation and sexuality. Deenie is on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2000 at forty-sixth.

Deenie – Judy Blume on the Web Deenie – Judy Blume on the Web

Another one of everyone's childhood favorite, that I read too late in life, and thus failed to get on board the rave train with everyone else. I probably need a middle-grader to explain all the hype, or just stop reading any more books aimed at this age group.This is the craziest, scariest time. It makes the eighties look like nothing compared to what’s going on now, because it’s coming from the government, it’s coming from legislators,” Blume says. “We live in a state with a governor who is just making everything really dreadful,” she says, when asked what she might say to the people in power. “I have a lot to say about this governor. I don’t know that saying it to him would make any difference at all.” She adds that it’s not just Ron DeSantis, but a wider U.S. problem. “Elected officials who are drunk with power and using their power in an evil way.” An unmistakable coming of age story by the all-time best-selling children’s author, Judy Blume. Since the 1970’s, Judy Blume has been exploring controversial subjects such as; personal development, teenage sexuality and religion. Proving the spirit of adolescence hasn’t changed in over 30 years, bravely giving answers to some of their greatest questions. When I arrived, breathless, late on a Sunday after that long scenic drive, I learned the dreadful news: Blume regularly works at the bookstore on Sundays and yes, she had been in that day. I had missed her. I would never have ambushed her for an interview, but it would have been great to just say hello. When I finally got to interview her – a month later, over Zoom – and told her a (very condensed) version of this story – she seemed genuinely dismayed. “Oh I’m so sorry!” she said. “Did I know you were coming?” Deenie is named after the character Natalie Wood played in Splendor in the Grass. The movie itself was mentioned in description in the book, though the name of the movie was not. At some point, I did acquire a copy of Deenie. In that novel, Blume wrote about Deenie touching her special place. Where was this place, I wondered. On her leg? Her shoulder?