41 pages • 1 hour read
Judy BlumeFudge-a-Mania
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1990A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Literary Context: Middle Grade Literature
Middle grade literature is still a relatively new genre of literature. At the close of the 1950s, birth rates in the United States dipped at the end of the baby boom. While young adult literature was already widely popular by then, this dip made room for middle grade literature to take the stage, as there were fewer teenagers around to fill the young adult market in the 1970s.
During the 1960s and 1970s, authors like Judy Blume, Madeleine L’Engle, and Robert C. O’Brien created works that are still loved and studied today and that remain relevant to the current cultural climate. Judy Blume’s characters, for example, are written to be relatable to readers from a variety of backgrounds. In Fudge-a-Mania, a family takes a three-week vacation to Maine, and wherever they go, chaos seems to follow. The story is multidimensional despite its short length, offering dynamic characters with deep problems stemming from sibling rivalry, friendships, first crushes, and other common issues for tweens and young teens. These relevant topics and characters, along with Blume’s use of timeless humor, is what allows her books to continue to resonate with middle grade readers. In Fudge-a-Mania, Blume also hints toward an appreciation of other middle grade authors of the 1980s and 1990s, such as when Peter enthusiastically thinks about how he “can finish [his] Gary Paulsen book” now that he has some free time (46). The middle grade genre is designed to foster a love of reading in children, and by featuring characters who also love reading, as well as suggesting other possible authors to look into, Blume sticks to this value.
Authorial Context: Judy Blume
Judy Blume is one of the most popular middle grade novelists of all time. She published her first book, The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo, in 1969. She has since written 33 middle grade novels, many of which continue to be popular today, including the Fudge series and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Her forthright portrayals of the particular problems and changes faced by the middle grade age group continue to serve as a source of comfort and honesty for children who are experiencing confusion and frustration in a time when they are transitioning from childhood to adolescence. Her decision to be open about topics such as sex and puberty have brought her continued controversy, and many of her books have been banned in various libraries across the country.
While the Fudge series is less controversial, it still centers around problems related to The Trials of Approaching Adolescence and looks at these problems through the lens of humor. Fans of the Fudge series might notice that there is a 10-year gap between Superfudge and Fudge-a-Mania. Blume wrote Fudge-a-Mania after the popularity of the first three books led to fans expressing their desire for more stories about the beloved characters in the series. Blume grew up writing stories in her head and always had a deep appreciation for storytelling. She then became a novelist and has since won dozens of awards for her work, and the overarching authorial award, the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Judy Blume continues to champion the middle grade genre and demonstrate a desire for openness and honesty with children.
Related Titles
By Judy Blume
