Judy Blume

The definitive, all-access biography of one of the world's most beloved literary voices, showcasing a life as triumphant and inspiring as the stories she crafted.

To know the name Judy Blume is to know and love literature. Her influential novels turned classics—including Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing; Deenie; and Summer Sisters—touched the lives of tens of millions of readers. For more than fifty-five years, her work has done something revolutionary: it rewired the world's expectations of what literature for young people can be—frank, candid, earthy, and unafraid to show the messier sides of humanity. But little has been written about the real woman behind the iconic persona and the unlikely journey of her literary ascension, until now.

In Judy Blume, journalist, historian, and longtime Blume aficionado Mark Oppenheimer pens a beautiful, multidimensional portrait of the acclaimed author through extensive interviews with Blume herself, invaluable access to her papers and correspondence, and thoughtful analysis of Blume's beloved novels, including early, unpublished works that shed light on the pathbreaking writer she would become. Oppenheimer goes deep, exploring Blume's middle-class 1940s upbringing, complicated childhood, varied relationships and marriages, unabashed sexual experiences, bouts of heartache and loss, and enduring legacy as a champion of free speech and contemporary literature. He pulls back the curtain to reveal the woman behind the literary empire in all her complex, multifaceted glory—a true gift for anyone who grew up reading and loving these extraordinary books.

'At last—a biography of Judy Blume that is worthy of its subject. Oppenheimer is a masterful chronicler of Blume's remarkable life and extraordinary impact. Writers and readers alike will leave this work emboldened, inspired, and encouraged.' – Tayari Jones, bestselling author of An American Marriage

'Paints a picture of a diligent, driven writer seeking a unique voice ... A buoyant biography of a writer who redefined young people's literature.' – Kirkus Reviews

'If you are one of the millions of Judy Blume's readers who ever wondered, "What is she like in real life?" this book is for you. Judy Blume—a life is charming, candid, thoughtful, and funny, and perfectly tuned to the zeitgeist of her time, just like her bestselling novels.' – Debby Applegate, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, author of Madam—the biography of Polly Adler, icon of the jazz age