Women Who Rock: Judy Blume

March is National Women’s History Month, and we’re celebrating by sharing a lady we admire each weekday.

JUDY BLUME (1938- )

Born Feb. 12, 1938, Judy Blume is one of the best known authors in America. She has written numerous novels for children and young adults, including Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, Deenie, Forever, and Blubber. Her total U.S. book sales exceed $80 million.

Blume was born and raised in New Jersey. She graduated with a degree in education from New York University in 1961. During her college years, she met her future husband, John Blume. The two married in 1959; she gave birth to their first two children in 1961 and 1963. She began her married life as a homemaker, but started writing as a pastime, targeting most of her subject matter at children and teenagers. (In 1987, Blume married her second husband, George Cooper, and they live in Key West, Florida.)

Blume tackled many difficult topics that were considered taboo at the time she started writing, like masturbation and other sexual topics. She is highly respected because she kept writing about these subjects despite the criticism she received from critics and parents who opposed her books. This opposition eventually led to censorship of her books in schools and libraries across the country.

However, Blume refused to back down, deeming it important to discuss such topics as racism, religion and sexuality with young adults. Blume continues writing to this day, having expanded her work to include books for adults, including the novel Summer Sisters.

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