Blubber Written by Judy Blume When overweight Linda gives an oral report on whales, the cruel and power-wielding class leader, Wendy, starts calling her "Blubber." The name-calling escalates into more intense bullying and humiliation. The novel's narrator, Jill, is a full participant from the start. Over time, though, she comes to question everyone's behavior, including her own. Finally, she challenges Wendy's power and learns that there are consequences, as well as rewards, to taking a stand. [Grade Level: 4 - 6]
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Iggie's House Written by Judy Blume This re-issue of Judy Blume's classic 1970 novel dealing with racism and housing segregation still strikes a chord. 11-year-old Winnie is quick to make friends with her new neighbors, the Garbers, who are the first African-American residents of the neighborhood (“The Garbers were black and Grove Street was white and always had been”). Winnie is distressed when another neighbor organizes a petition to pressure the Garbers into moving, and frustrated that her parents are initially ambivalent on the issue. Winnie tries to help her neighbors, and the Garber kids accuse her of befriending them only because she thinks it is “cool” to have black friends. The story has a positive resolution when the racist neighbor decides to move and Winnie makes up with the Garbers. [Grade Level: 4 - 7]
