Freckle Juice [Paperback]

Judy Blume (Author)

Book Description

Release date: July 15, 1978 | Age Range: 6 - 9 years | Lexile Measure: 370L (What's this?)

Nicky has freckles -- they cover his face, his ears, and the whole back of his neck. Sitting behind him in class, Andrew once counted eighty-six of them, and that was just a start! If Andrew had freckles like Nicky, his mother would never know if his neck was dirty.

One day after school, Andrew works up enough courage to ask Nicky where he got his freckles. When know-it-all Sharon overhears, she offers Andrew her secret freckle juice recipe -- for fifty cents. It's a lot of money, but Andrew is desperate. At home he carefully mixes the strange combination of ingredients. Then the unexpected happens...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Spontaneous humor, sure to appeal to the youngest reader." -- The Horn Book Magazine

From the Publisher

Nicky has freckles -- they cover his face, his ears, and the whole back of his neck. Once, sitting behind him in class, Andrew counted eighty-six of them, and that was just a start! If Andrew had freckles like Nicky, his mother would never know if his neck was dirty.

One day after school, Andrew works up enough courage to ask Nicky where he got his freckles. And, as luck would have it, who should overhear him but giggling, teasing Sharon. She offers Andrew her secret freckle juice recipe -- for fifty cents. That's a lot of money, but Andrew is desperate. At home he carefully mixes the strange combination of ingredients. Then the unexpected happens...

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 6 - 9 years
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Yearling; Reprint edition (July 15, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440428130
• ISBN-13: 978-0440428138
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.1 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #93 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction

More About the Author

Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, NJ, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places, doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Superfudge; Blubber; Just As Long As We're Together; and Forever. She has also written the best-selling novels Wifey; Smart Women; and, Summer Sisters. More than 75 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into twenty-six languages.
She receives thousands of letters each month from readers of all ages who share their feelings and
concerns with her.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year that American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. She has won more than ninety awards, none more important than those coming directly from her youngest readers.
She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild, currently as Vice President; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, where she sponsors an award for contemporary fiction; and the National Coalition Against Censorship, working to protect intellectual freedom. In Spring 2002, Judy was a spokesperson for the Cheerios "A Book for Every Child" literacy campaign which benefited Reading is Fundamental, America's largest literacy organization. She is also the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation.
Judy's first book in the Fudge series, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, was published in 1972. She is thrilled to be celebrating its 30th Anniversary with the publication of Double Fudge. Just as generations of fans have loved the Fudge books, generations of Judy's family have inspired them. Thirty years ago, Fudge was inspired by her son, Larry, and now Double Fudge was written at the request of her grandson, Elliot.
Judy lives on islands up and down the East Coast with her husband George Cooper. They have three grown children and one grandchild.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Reviews from seven-year-olds May 18, 2000

By A Customer

Format:School & Library Binding

The following reviews were written by four 7-year-olds in aclassroom book club I led. We studied reviews from Amazon.com beforethey wrote theirs to see how there can be many different opinions on one title:

Rachel says: This book is about a boy named Andrew Marcus and how he wants freckles. I think it is funny because when he gets sick and his mother sends him to bed, she gives him two spoonfuls of stuff that tasted like peppermint and he dreams that a monster makes him drink two quarts of freckle juice three times a day. I would recommend this book to a friend because it is funny.

David says: This book is about a boy named Andrew Marcus and how he want freckles. I like this book better than The One In The Middle Is The Green Kangaroo, also by Judy Blume, because it was more fun to read and I like the story better. I recommend a friend read this book.

Ashleigh says: This book is about Andrew wanting freckles like Nicky Lane. I think this book is very funny because I like drawing freckles on my face. I want everyone to have this book.

Annie says: Andrew Marcus wanted freckles like Nicky Lane. He put freckles on with a magic marker but his teacher, Miss Kelly, gave him soap and told him he was good without freckles. I don't encourage yo to buy this book with your money because it is not a good story. If you want to see what I mean, check it out at the library.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars This book is funny! April 8, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This book is interesting because Nicky has freckles and Andrew wants them. He wants them so he doesn't have to take a bath or wash his neck. Andrew asks Sharon for the secret recipe for freckle juice. Read this story to find out what happens. I am in second grade, and I felt that it was interesting and funny. I would read this book again.

30 of 38 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A curious freckle quest December 15, 2001

By Michael J. Mazza HALL OF FAME

Format:Paperback

Judy Blume's "Freckle Juice" is a short tale for young readers, with illustrations by Sonia O. Lisker. Blume tells the story of Andrew Marcus, a 2nd grade student who wishes he had freckles. Things get freaky when a classmate promises to sell him a "secret recipe for freckle juice."

Blume taps effectively into the culture of children's folk magic and urban legend with this tale. I was a bit turned off, however, by Blume's portrayal of Andrew's shrewish, hysterical, overbearing mother. After finishing the book, I thought, "When this kid grows up, he's going to have some serious issues with women!" I also didn't like the fact that the "villain" of the story essentially lies, swindles, and violates classroom discipline and suffers no consequences. Still, "Freckle Juice" is a fun story with a memorable "gross-out" factor.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A lesson in the problems of being dissatisfied with your looks July 22, 2006

By Charles Ashbacher HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Andrew is a young boy dissatisfied with his appearance. Specifically, he is jealous of Nicky because he has freckles, lots of freckles. Andrew thinks that his appearance would be perfect if only he had freckles like Nicky's and he will do anything to get them. Sharon is a devious girl in his class who acts like she knows everything. She is aware of Andrew's desire for freckles, so she offers to sell Andrew her secret formula for getting freckles.

Andrew pays Sharon and is given a recipe for a gross concoction containing among other things, ketchup, onions, vinegar and mustard. Andrew goes home, mixes the ingredients and then drinks it down fast. Shortly after that he gets so ill that he must stay home from school. He then discovers that he did not get a set of freckles, so in order to avoid embarrassment, he uses a marker to make some.

Everyone laughs, so his teacher lets him use her "magic freckle removing liquid." Once the class learns of Andrew's desire for freckles, Nicky then tells everyone that he wants to use the formula so that he can remove his freckles. His desire is to be free of freckles so that he can be more like the other children. At the end, Sharon is offering to sell Nicky her secret formula for removing freckles.

Andrew and Nicky are typical of children in that they think the features of others are better than their features so they have a desire to change. This story is a lesson in that reality of life, so it is a good one for children. A desire for change is sometimes good, but foolish when it is something that cannot be changed. Drastic attempts can lead to dire consequences and there will always be unscrupulous people who will offer you solutions that will not work and that may be dangerous.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet And Very Funny... March 15, 2001

By C. Cunningham VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

See story summary above.

Wonderful story about a grade school boy who desperately wants to look like someone else, and in the end learns to love himself just the way he is. Wonderful way for children to learn respect and self-esteem.

Should be required reading for grades K-3.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars LESSON WELL LEARNED AND HUMOR TO BOOT August 26, 2006

By D. Blankenship HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I enjoy books for the young ones that give them a good lesson on life and give them a chuckle or laugh while doing it. Be happy with the way you look, be satisfied with yourself and hidden in that message is one that well shows there are no free lunches in life. the 1971 edition I have has some very well done black and white drawings which are quite charming themselves. This is a great book to read to a class as it creates much discussion and allows the children to relate their own wishes and discuss them. This is one of those books that I hope does not go out of print as it has a timeless quality about it. Highly recommend.