Judy Blume

Judy Blume, born Judith Blume (née Sussman) on February 12, 1938, is an influential American writer known for her work in children's, young adult, and adult fiction. With a career spanning from 1959, Blume has published over 25 novels. Some of her most well-known works include 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.' (1970), 'Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing' (1972), 'Deenie' (1973), and 'Blubber' (1974). Blume's books have made significant contributions to children's and young adult literature. In 2023, Time magazine recognized her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Blume graduated from New York University in 1961. She began writing stories as a homemaker to entertain herself. Blume is known for being one of the first young adult authors to address controversial topics such as masturbation, menstruation, teen sex, birth control, and death in her novels, which have sold over 82 million copies and have been translated into 32 languages. She has received numerous awards for her work.