Judy Blume Quotes

Powerful Judy Blume for Daily Growth

About Judy Blume

Judy Blume (born Judith Sender Blume on February 12, 1938) is an eminent American writer known for her poignant and thought-provoking novels that explore themes of adolescence, identity, and family dynamics. Raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, she was the eldest of three children born to Ruth and Maurice Blume, a housewife and a pharmacist, respectively. Blume's early influences stemmed from her family and community. Her Jewish upbringing imbued her work with elements of cultural identity. Moreover, her parents' open-mindedness about discussing sensitive topics like menstruation and sexuality fueled Blume's commitment to writing about these issues in a way that resonated with young readers. After graduating from Boston University, Blume began her career as a writer for educational publications before publishing her first novel, "Secret Life of Amy Adams" (1962), under the pseudonym Virginia Kraus. However, it was her fourth book, "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" (1970), which established her as a literary sensation among young adults. The novel, centering around a girl navigating puberty, faith, and self-discovery, sparked controversy due to its frank portrayal of sexual maturation, but remains a cornerstone of contemporary YA literature. In the following decades, Blume published numerous works that continued to captivate audiences, including "Deenie" (1973), "Then Again, Maybe I Won't" (1978), and "Blubber" (1974). Her novels often tackled taboo subjects such as divorce ("Divided in Two," 1989) and teenage drug use ("Forever," 1975), earning her a reputation as an author who fearlessly addressed the complexities of adolescence. Throughout her prolific career, Blume's impact on contemporary literature has been immeasurable. Her unique ability to address the struggles and triumphs of young people continues to resonate with readers around the world, solidifying her status as a literary icon.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Are you in there?" - From "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret"

This quote from Judy Blume's novel "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" reflects the protagonist's longing for a connection with a higher power, her search for answers about her own identity during adolescence, and the struggle to find guidance in a world that often feels confusing and overwhelming. The question "Are you in there?" is Margaret asking if God exists, listens, and cares about her concerns as she navigates the challenges of growing up.

"Nobody's perfect." - From "Deenie"

Judy Blume's quote from her novel "Deenie" emphasizes the universal imperfection of human beings. It serves as a gentle reminder that no one is flawless, and everyone has their own set of weaknesses or shortcomings. This understanding can help foster empathy, humility, and acceptance among individuals, recognizing that our uniqueness lies in our imperfections, rather than striving for an unattainable perfection.

"I thought my life was over when I failed that test. But sometimes you don't know how strong you are until you have to be." - From "Forever"

This quote by Judy Blume highlights the resilience of human spirit, particularly during difficult times. It suggests that one may not fully understand their own strength until they are faced with a challenge or failure. The failed test symbolizes an adversity that the character perceived as life-ending, but in reality, it served as a catalyst for personal growth and self-discovery. This quote encourages readers to embrace challenges and learn from failures, as these experiences can help individuals discover hidden reserves of strength within themselves.

"You can't just wish a person away, not even if they're annoying." - From "Blubber"

This quote underscores the idea that it's unrealistic and unfair to simply dismiss or eliminate someone from our lives, even when they are bothersome or irritating. It suggests that instead of wishing them away, we should strive for understanding, patience, and empathy, as everyone deserves respect and kindness, regardless of their personality traits or actions.

"The worst thing about secrets is keeping them inside." - From "Then Again, Maybe I Won't"

This quote highlights that carrying secrets can be burdensome. The emotional weight of not sharing one's truths with others often leads to feelings of isolation, discomfort, or guilt. Secrets can create a barrier between individuals and their relationships, fostering an environment where trust is weakened, communication breaks down, and personal growth may be stunted due to the inability to seek guidance or support. The sentiment encourages openness and honesty as key elements for personal well-being and stronger, healthier connections with others.

The '50s were a secretive time.

- Judy Blume

Time, Were, Secretive

When I was young, I loved a series of books by an author called Maud Hart Lovelace and the series, which is still around, I'm happy to say, is - they're the 'Betsy-Tacy' books.

- Judy Blume

Young, Still, Which, Hart

After each book, I get panicky. I don't love the reviews. I don't like going through all that, and you would think that, after almost 40 years of writing, I'd have got the hang of it.

- Judy Blume

Love, Think, Through, Reviews

I'm thinking of sending out censorship packets: information to share with those who want to defend my books when they come under fire. I'll tell why I wrote them and include reviews and letters of support from children and their parents.

- Judy Blume

Thinking, Why, Tell, Reviews

I have a great T-shirt that I received at the New Jersey Hall of Fame when I was inducted. It says - it makes me choke up - it says, 'I'm a Jersey tomato'... I am. I am a Jersey girl and proud of it.

- Judy Blume

Proud, New, Makes, Choke

I think divorce is a tragedy, traumatic and horribly painful for everybody. That's why I wrote 'Smart Women.' I want kids to read that and to think what life might be like for their parents. And I want parents to think about what life is like for their kids.

- Judy Blume

Think, Everybody, I Think, Traumatic

I always have trouble with titles for my books. I usually have no title until the editor has to present the book and calls me frantically, 'Judy, we need a title.'

- Judy Blume

Need, Always, Editor, Judy

When I was growing up in the 1950s, sweaters were a huge thing.

- Judy Blume

Growing, Sweaters, Huge Thing

You know what I worry about? I worry that kids today don't have enough time to just sit and daydream.

- Judy Blume

Worry, Daydream, About, Enough Time

I don't deal with writer's block, I don't allow myself to believe that there is such a thing. I think that there are good days and a lot more less good days.

- Judy Blume

Think, Deal, Allow, Block

My mother's mantra was, 'How would it look to the neighbors?' And so you don't do anything because you're worried about how it would look to the neighbors.

- Judy Blume

Look, Mantra, About, Worried

The protests against Harry Potter follow a tradition that has been growing since the early 1980s and often leaves school principals trembling with fear that is then passed down to teachers and librarians.

- Judy Blume

Against, Been, Harry, Trembling

I'm very good at setting goals and deadlines for myself, so I don't really need that from outside.

- Judy Blume

Myself, Need, Very, Deadlines

I was twenty-seven when I began to write seriously, and after two years of rejections, my first book, 'The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo,' was accepted for publication.

- Judy Blume

Green, Middle, Rejections, Publication

I loved to read, and I think any child who loves to read will read anything, including the back of the cereal box, which I did every morning.

- Judy Blume

Think, I Think, Which, Cereal

When I was growing up, I dreamed about becoming a cowgirl, a detective, a spy, a great actress, or a ballerina. Not a dentist, like my father, or a homemaker, like my mother - and certainly not a writer, although I always loved to read.

- Judy Blume

Father, Becoming, Ballerina, Spy

Fear is contagious, and those who wish America to become a faith-based society are doing their best to spread it.

- Judy Blume

Best, Doing, America, Contagious

I used to read about people who'd say, 'I dream my books, and then I write them down.' And I was like, 'Oh, please.'

- Judy Blume

Like, I Write, Read, I Dream

My husband and I like to reminisce about how, when we were 9, we read straight through L. Frank Baum's 'Oz' series, books filled with wizards and witches. And you know what those subversive tales taught us? That we loved to read!

- Judy Blume

Through, Frank, Subversive, Witches

I am very sentimental, very emotional, but never in my writing; I am very tough.

- Judy Blume

I Am, Never, Very, Sentimental

Parents still have a big influence on their kids - just ask any therapist. No, really, I think the parent is the most important influence on children: It's how they learn to love and treat other people.

- Judy Blume

Love, Parent, Big, Big Influence

My mother told me once that she had her talk with God whenever she started a new sweater: 'Please don't take me in the middle of the sweater.' And as soon as she finished knitting a sweater, and it was blocked and put together, she already had the wool to start the next sweater so that nothing bad would happen.

- Judy Blume

Bad, Next, Wool, Sweater

The creative process; I enjoy thinking up the stories and situations for my books.

- Judy Blume

Process, Stories, Books, Creative Process

I am a big defender of 'Harry Potter,' and I think any book that gets kids to read are books that we should cherish, we should be thankful for them.

- Judy Blume

Think, Big, I Think, Potter

I'm an e-mail junkie though I'm trying to read my in-box only twice a day and to answer all at once.

- Judy Blume

Twice, Read, Though, E-Mail

I am such a rewriter; I have so many notebooks filled with drafts you wouldn't believe.

- Judy Blume

I Am, Filled, Drafts, Notebooks

I used to love getting on planes. I loved the packing and going places. Now I don't because I've developed these really bad sinuses. I have to take a prednisone to fly, but it works, and I'm OK.

- Judy Blume

Love, Bad, Works, OK

I think the child I was until 12 was so much more interesting than the teenager I became.

- Judy Blume

Think, I Think, Became, Teenager

My characters live inside my head for a long time before I actually start a book about them. Then, they become so real to me I talk about them at the dinner table as if they are real. Some people consider this weird. But my family understands.

- Judy Blume

Book, Some, Before, Table

Nobody ever asks me why my characters don't text each other. Besides, as soon as you put something 'electronic' in a book, it's already out of date by the time it's published: everything will have changed. Human emotion, on the other hand, will never change.

- Judy Blume

Date, Other, By The Time, Electronic

When a parent comes into school waving a book and saying, 'Take this book away. I don't like this book.' I won't say in all cases, but in many cases, that will not happen anymore. It has to go through a proper review board. The complaining parent will have to fill out a complaint, you know, put it in writing.

- Judy Blume

Parent, Through, Away, Board

My father was the youngest of seven, and nobody lived to be 60. And so we were always sitting shiva in my house, and my father would say, 'Life goes on.'

- Judy Blume

Father, Goes, Always, Sitting

I discovered the National Coalition Against Censorship when I felt totally alone in my fight to protect intellectual freedom, and that group changed my life. I was no longer alone.

- Judy Blume

My Life, Against, Discovered, Changed

We can have our beliefs and still read and discuss things.

- Judy Blume

Still, Things, Read, Discuss

I am not sure that the inner world of teenage girls has changed. What's most important to kids today is still the same stuff.

- Judy Blume

Teenage Girls, Sure, Still, Changed

My father died when I was still in college, and it was sudden, and he was my beloved parent, and you just can't imagine what you life is going to be like.

- Judy Blume

College, Parent, Still, Beloved

Madeleine L'Engle's 'A Wrinkle in Time' has been targeted by censors for promoting New Ageism, and Mark Twain's 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' for promoting racism. Gee, where does that leave the kids?

- Judy Blume

New, Been, Promoting, Wrinkle

I'm an Obama chick.

- Judy Blume

Obama, Chick

In the early '70s - a very good time for children's books and their authors - editors and publishers were willing to take a chance on a new writer. They were willing and able to invest their time in nurturing writers with promise, encouraging them.

- Judy Blume

Invest, Very, Willing, Editors

I'm very lucky in that my agent and my editors know better. They don't push me. Because I don't take that well.

- Judy Blume

Lucky, Very, Agent, Editors

You should always go through the first draft of a book all at once, I think, to get the best results. You can take time off after the first draft and come back to it fresh.

- Judy Blume

Think, Through, Always, Fresh

I'm not the world's best mother, though kids always assume I must be.

- Judy Blume

Mother, World, Always, Assume

I didn't know anything about writers. It never occurred to me they were regular people and that I could grow up to become one, even though I loved to make up stories inside my head.

- Judy Blume

Inside, Anything, About, Regular

I can't relate to people who treat me as a 'famous person.' I only like to hang around with people who treat me as a regular person because that's what I am. All people are really just regular.

- Judy Blume

Treat, Hang, Around, Regular

I'll always be grateful for 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.' It brought me many, many, readers.

- Judy Blume

Grateful, Always, Brought, Margaret

I wrote 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' right out of my own experiences and my own feelings when I was in sixth grade.

- Judy Blume

Own, My Own, Wrote, Margaret

The list of gifted teachers and librarians who find their jobs in jeopardy for defending their students' right to read, to imagine, to question, grows every year.

- Judy Blume

Imagine, Grows, Read, Jeopardy

I hate first drafts, and it never gets easier. People always wonder what kind of superhero power they'd like to have. I wanted the ability for someone to just open up my brain and take out the entire first draft and lay it down in front of me so I can just focus on the second, third and fourth drafts.

- Judy Blume

Focus, Superhero, Entire, Open

I'm really quite bad at coming up with plot ideas. I like to create characters and just see what will happen to them when I let them loose!

- Judy Blume

Bad, Happen, Like, Loose

I know it's working when I'm writing a book if I'm laughing or crying.

- Judy Blume

Book, Writing, Crying, Laughing

Nobody talks about housewives anymore! This is what we were supposed to do in the '50s. Not everybody, but in my milieu. My crowd. You went to college, and you got a degree in case, God forbid, you ever had to work. And you better find somebody to marry while you're there, because otherwise, what's going to become of you?

- Judy Blume

College, Crowd, Housewives, Case

I don't think people change; electronics change, the things we have change, but the way we live doesn't change.

- Judy Blume

Change, Think, Electronics, People Change

When I lock myself up to write, I cannot allow myself to think about the censor or the reviewer or anyone but my characters and their story!

- Judy Blume

Myself, Think, Allow, Censor

If only there was a vaccine to protect against breast cancer, we'd be lining up - wouldn't we?

- Judy Blume

Against, Breast Cancer, Vaccine

Let children read whatever they want and then talk about it with them. If parents and kids can talk together, we won't have as much censorship because we won't have as much fear.

- Judy Blume

Want, About, Read, Together

When I was first writing, my little prayers were, 'Please, please, please. Let something be published someday.' Then it went to, 'Please, please, please. Let somebody read this.'

- Judy Blume

Please, Read, Published, Prayers

A novel is about people.

- Judy Blume

People, About, Novel

I'm never doing a long novel again, truly.

- Judy Blume

Doing, Never, Again, Novel

I was wildly interested in puberty as a child.

- Judy Blume

Child, Interested, Wildly, Puberty

Telling kids the truth isn't always entirely possible, but talking to them is.

- Judy Blume

Truth, Always, Telling, Entirely

I still have such a thing for leather jackets. I have a closet full of them, and my husband is always saying to me, 'Why do you need another jacket? You have plenty of jackets.'

- Judy Blume

Need, Always, Still, Such A Thing

If those of us who care about making our own decisions about what to read and what to think don't take a stand, others will decide for us.

- Judy Blume

Think, Making, Read, Decisions

As a child who loved to read, I had trouble finding honest stories. I felt that adults were always keeping secrets from me, even in the books I was reading.

- Judy Blume

Always, Stories, Read, Secrets

I'm not good at keeping secrets.

- Judy Blume

Good, Keeping, Secrets

The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.

- Judy Blume

Will, Always, Read, Readers

I have the most loyal readers in the world.

- Judy Blume

World, Loyal, Most, Readers

I'm an optimistic person, so I like to leave my readers with a sense of hopefulness.

- Judy Blume

Person, Like, Optimistic, Readers

I do quite a bit of traveling. But sometimes I just want to stay at home!

- Judy Blume

Want, Sometimes, Quite, Quite A Bit

In 1970, somebody once asked me whether I thought my books would still be around in 40 years, and I thought, 'How would I know, and why would I care?' Well, it turns out I really do care.

- Judy Blume

Thought, Why, Still, I Care

I was so inspired by Beverly Cleary's funny and wonderful books.

- Judy Blume

Wonderful, Inspired, Books, Beverly

Many of my books are set in New Jersey because that's where I was born and raised. I lived there until my kids finished elementary school. Then we moved to New Mexico, the setting for 'Tiger Eyes.'

- Judy Blume

Eyes, New Mexico, Moved, Jersey

The women's movement was slow in coming to suburban New Jersey.

- Judy Blume

Slow, New, Suburban, Jersey

I don't think it's realistic to say kids shouldn't watch any TV. I just wish the shows would be better. And that kids would watch less. Get out there and do things, kids! Don't become couch potatoes!

- Judy Blume

Think, Potatoes, TV, Realistic

When I began to write and used a typewriter, I went through three drafts of a book before showing it to an editor.

- Judy Blume

Through, Editor, Began, Drafts

I dread first drafts! I worry each day that it won't come, that nothing will happen.

- Judy Blume

Worry, Will, Happen, Drafts

My husband is a feminist!

- Judy Blume

Husband, Feminist

I was a fearful kid and, for some crazy reason, a pretty fearless writer.

- Judy Blume

Reason, Some, Pretty, Fearful

I never thought about writing. I was married young, I was still in college, as we did then, and I had two babies before I was 25, and I loved them, and I loved taking care of them, but I was a little bit cuckoo, staying at home and not having a creative outlet.

- Judy Blume

College, Thought, Young, Outlet

When I see kids standing next to their mothers at book signings, clutching a copy of 'Forever,' I know what's coming. They'll say to me, 'How old do I have to be to read this?' hoping I'll give them permission. But I can't do that.

- Judy Blume

Book, Next, I See, Permission

When I started to write, it was the '70s, and throughout that decade, we didn't have any problems with book challenges or censorship.

- Judy Blume

Book, Challenges, Decade, Censorship

My kids both had acne, and I never saw a book dealing with the subject.

- Judy Blume

Never, Dealing, Subject, Acne

The child from nine to 12 interests me very much. And so, those were the years that I like to write about, when I'm writing.

- Judy Blume

Like, Nine, Very, Interests

Everything they say a girl should get from her father in terms of total acceptance and love, I got all that from my father. But then I married a man just like my mother - so phlegmatic.

- Judy Blume

Love, Father, Got, They Say

The best books come from someplace inside. You don't write because you want to, but because you have to.

- Judy Blume

Best, Want, Books, Someplace

I can't see an autobiography in my future. But who knows what might happen.

- Judy Blume

Future, See, Happen, Autobiography

I wasn't that good at science, and I gave up on math long before I should have. I like to think if I were in school today that would be different.

- Judy Blume

Think, Like, Before, Math

At the time I wrote 'Forever,' I had a 14-year-old daughter, and she was reading a lot of books about young love.

- Judy Blume

Love, Young, Wrote, Daughter

Anyone who thinks my life is cupcakes is all wrong.

- Judy Blume

Life, My Life, Anyone, Thinks

I don't want to repeat myself.

- Judy Blume

Myself, Want, Repeat

When I'm writing a book, you can't think about your audience. You're going to be in big trouble if you think about it. You're got to write from deep inside.

- Judy Blume

Think, Big, Audience, Trouble

We're supposed to be uncomfortable when we read something. That's how we learn.

- Judy Blume

Learn, How, Read, Uncomfortable

In sixth grade, I made up books to give book reports on.

- Judy Blume

Give, Books, Reports, Sixth

Ideas seem to come from everywhere - my life, everything I see, hear, and read, and most of all, from my imagination. I have a lot of imagination.

- Judy Blume

My Life, I See, Read, Everywhere

I was always a storyteller. I just didn't know it. I never shared the stories I made up inside my head when I was growing up. I never wrote them down, either. But I can't remember a time when they weren't there.

- Judy Blume

Down, Inside, Shared, Growing Up

What can happen if a young reader picks up a book he/she isn't yet ready for? Questions, maybe. Usually, that child puts down the book and says, 'Boring.' Or, 'I'm not ready for this.' Kids are really good at knowing what they can handle.

- Judy Blume

Young, Maybe, Reader, Ready

It's good to have fantasies and creative fantasies, especially.

- Judy Blume

Good, Fantasies, Creative

I wish I'd gone to a small liberal-arts college where I'd have read the great books instead of a large university where I majored in early-childhood education.

- Judy Blume

College, Small, I Wish, Gone

When I was young, my parents had a library in our living room. I was always free to browse and read.

- Judy Blume

Living, Always, Read, Living Room

You're supposed to be challenged in college.

- Judy Blume

College, You, Challenged, Supposed

It embarrasses me to flaunt anything good written about me or my books. I don't know what we're supposed to do about that.

- Judy Blume

Good, Anything, About, Supposed

Life goes on if you're one of the lucky ones.

- Judy Blume

Life, Lucky, Goes, Life Goes On

I never thought I wanted to write about the '50s, because I thought it was the most boring and bland decade to grow up in, and I never wanted to go back there.

- Judy Blume

Thought, Grow, Decade, Grow Up

It's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written.

- Judy Blume

Worry, Never, Books, Written

By the time I was 12, I was reading my parents' books because there weren't teenage books then.

- Judy Blume

Books, By The Time, Were, Teenage

Everybody wants to share life and be in love and be loved.

- Judy Blume

Love, Loved, Everybody, Share

I loved 'Moneyball,' I thought that was a great Hollywood movie. I like baseball, but I don't know that you have to like baseball to like that. I thought it was really well done.

- Judy Blume

Thought, Hollywood, Movie, Baseball

I believe that 'The Artist' is the kind of movie you see and you don't forget. I know it's going to stay with me.

- Judy Blume

Artist, Movie, Going, Stay

I don't think I could set a book in a place without knowing it really well.

- Judy Blume

Think, Could, Set, Knowing

I don't have anything new to say about teenagers.

- Judy Blume

New, Say, About, Teenagers

I meet people on the street or at book signings and they tend to treat me as if they know me, as if we're connected. It's great.

- Judy Blume

Book, Treat, Book Signings, Meet

Here's the thing: If you don't want your kids to read a book, fine. You can tell them not to read a book, and maybe they will and maybe they won't. But you can't say what other kids can read.

- Judy Blume

Here, Other, Read, Other Kids

Anybody who says, 'My childhood was completely happy,' is a person who isn't remembering the truth.

- Judy Blume

Truth, Childhood, Anybody, Remembering

A good writer is always a people watcher.

- Judy Blume

Good, Always, Writer, Good Writer

I've never been one to let others decide what's right for me or my children.

- Judy Blume

Children, Never, Been, Decide

What I remember when I started to write was how I couldn't wait to get up in the morning to get to my characters.

- Judy Blume

Wait, I Remember, Started, Characters

I wanted to write what I remembered to be true.

- Judy Blume

Be True, True, Wanted, Remembered

I can't read fiction when I'm writing fiction, because I get intimidated if I read something really good.

- Judy Blume

Good, Fiction, Read, Intimidated

It's all about your determination, I think, as much as anything. There are a lot of people with talent, but it's that determination.

- Judy Blume

Think, I Think, About, Determination

I love to watch movies.

- Judy Blume

Love, Movies, Watch, I Love

I wish I could prevent my kids from making all the mistakes I've made. But I can't do that. No parent can.

- Judy Blume

Parent, I Wish, Making, Wish

When I'm writing, I'm never trying to teach anything - maybe I'm trying to illuminate.

- Judy Blume

Writing, Trying, Never, Maybe

People need stories; they want stories. They always will.

- Judy Blume

Will, Need, Always, Stories

I don't do issue writing. I do character writing.

- Judy Blume

Character, Writing, Issue

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