I remember loving this book when I was 13.
Nowadays... it’s fine. ( )

I probably wouldn't actually have given this four stars if this were my first time reading it...but there is a ton of childhood nostalgia wrapped up in this one. Now that I'm a Christian mother, I can see how much Judy Blume influenced me, opened doors that didn't need to be opened at my young age. I guess I sort of resent her for that. I don't get adults who purposefully take away kids' innocence. Seems abusive to me.

Anyway, back to 1988 or so... I always loved this story and that's saying something because I've never really been into the setting (American Southwest) and setting played a big part in this one. Weirdly, I was also obsessed with Barbara Kingsolver's The Bean Trees---similar setting. Anyway, I always felt for Davey. I thought it was pretty messed up that she had the worst experience of all the family members on the night her father died but no one thinks to get her help for months. She just sort of drifted, having to find healing in her own way. Blume makes that out to be ok. As a mother, I think that's a pretty messed up thing to do to your kid. At the time I read this, I was having my own issues with a self-absorbed mom so I guess that's why I found Davey relatable.

Reading this today, I figured out what's always bugged me about Judy Blume's writing (besides the crudeness)... She writes choppy thoughts. Like Dr. Seuss for teens. Trying to imagine her characters' conversations in my head makes them all sound really robotic.

Other annoying flaws that I didn't pick up on the first time include the "nowhere" character of Wolf. That went nowhere...what was the point of bringing in that character? I can't even see how he caused Davey to grow or change. Same with Jane, really. I mean, it gave Blume a chance to preach at her readers about the issue of teen alcoholism but we find that Davey has her own reasons for not drinking so why bring her in? Better yet...why not flesh these characters' stories out and make them a little more important to the storyline.

You know what? Now that I wrote all that out, I'm more annoyed than I was when I started. This book is getting three stars instead. Ha! ( )

I never read this one when I was younger. It was not my favorite Judy Blume but it was a nice walk down memory lane. I'm glad that books have progressed (some what) in terms of racism because this one had some definite issues in that department. Not to mention some abuse. It was kind of insane. ( )

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Love love love this book! It touched me when I was younger and it still resonates with me today. The story is beautiful and I relate so much to the main character. ( )