***Virtual Event***
Everyone knows Judy Blume.
Her books have garnered her fans of all ages for decades and sold tens of millions of copies. Why are people so drawn to them? Why are we still talking about them in the 21st century?
In The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us, author Rachelle Bergstein explores Blume’s remarkable story, revealed as never before, beginning with her as a mother of two searching for purpose outside of her home in 1960s suburban New Jersey. The books Blume wrote starred regular children with genuine thoughts and problems. In these deceptively simple tales of children’s lives, she explored the pillars of the growing women’s rights movement, in which girls and women were entitled to careers, bodily autonomy, and more. She wasn’t trying to be revolutionary, but her honest stories created instant connections with her readers and resulted in a cohesive, culture-altering vision of modern adolescence that still connects with readers today.
Blume’s bravery in telling these stories provoked backlash, making her the country’s most-banned author in the mid-1980s. Thankfully, her works withstood those culture wars and it’s no coincidence that Judy Blume has resurfaced as a cultural touchstone now. This is the story of how a housewife became a groundbreaking artist, and how generations of empowered fans are her legacy, today more than ever.
Rachelle Bergstein is a lifestyle writer, author, and editor, focused on style, pop culture, and families. Her work has appeared in the New York Post, The New York Times, NPR, and more. She is the author of three books: Women from the Ankle Down, Brilliance and Fire, and The Genius of Judy. She lives with her husband and son in Brooklyn. Find out more at RachelleBergstein.com.
This event is online only. Registration required.
Zoom link will be sent to all registrants an hour before the program starts.