Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself [Paperback]

Judy Blume (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1996

While spending the winter of 1947-48 in Miami Beach with her family, ten-year-old Sally makes up stories, casts herself in starring roles in movies, and encounters a sinister stranger.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Who do you tell when you're certain that Hitler is alive, retired, and living in Miami Beach?

It's 1947, and Sally J. Freedman full of wild ideas. She's got her eye on handsome Peter Hornstein, the Latin lover of her dreams...on hold Mr. Zavodsky, who looks suspiciously like Hitler in disguise...and on her father, who Sally misses terribly. There are so many things to worry and wonder about. But whatever happens, Sally's school year in Miami Beach will certainly be exciting--and absolutely unforgetable. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

When Sally?s family moves to Miami Beach for the winter of 1947, she is excited and nervous at the same time. What will school be like in Florida? Will she make any friends? Will she fit in so far away from home?

Miami Beach has so many things to worry and wonder about, Sally is in for one unforgettable winter! --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Bantam Dell Pub Group (Juv) (August 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440911893
• ISBN-13: 978-0440911890
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,749,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read, March 21, 2001

By 

Molly P. (Portland, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself (Paperback)

Many young people, upon hearing the name Judy Blume, immediately think of the 'Fudge' books or Blume's famous 'Are You There, God? It's Me Margaret?'-- 'Starring Sally J. Freeman As Herself' is a book that is often overlooked. Some kids might be wary of a piece about a girl growing up in the 1940s, but aside from references to the war ending and 40s pop culture, Sally is just your average 10-year-old; no different than 10-year-olds you might find today. She has a terrific imagination, loves to play games, swim, hang out with friends, dance, dream of being a star, and occasionally think about boys. Sally is one of the sweetest, most interesting little characters you'll ever read about in children's literature. The book flows from one of Sally's adventures to another. Once you get into it, you won't want to put it down. Older readers (teenagers and above) might enjoy the advanced humor that younger readers may miss. All in all, a great book, one you can read again and again.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A view of a girl little girl's life after World War II., October 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself (Paperback)

Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself witten by:Judy Blume

Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself is a view of a girl living her life after World War II.

Think about being a very imaginative girl after World War II. In this book,Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself,that is exactly what Sally is. She's a girl who lost her cousin Lila and aunt Tante Rose during the war. She then had to move from where she lived all her life.Sally had to leave everybody and everything she knew. For any young girl that would had been a lot, but for Sally it was an adventure. The setting of Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself is very interesting.It took place in Sally's apartment building where there are a lot of unique people and things. Sally's life is very exciting. It makes readers wonder what is she going to do next.I personally recommend this book for everybody to read;it's very ammusing. I give it five stars. Read Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself and I promise you won't put it down.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely not just a children's book, August 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself (Paperback)

Much like Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Starring Sally J. Friedman contains a portrait of an era. The novel contains more than mere descriptions; I could actually feel what it was like to live in Miami right after World War II. Sally's neighborhood, the school, the beach...all were so perfectly created that I felt that I was there, spending time with Andrea and Shelby along with Sally.

Probably the descriptions in this novel are so apt because this is largely an autobiographical tale. I read that Judy Blume really did spend one school year in Miami with her mother, brother and grandmother, and that many stories contained in Sally J. Friedman really happened to Judy Blume.

The novel realistically addresses true concerns and fears concerning adolescence. While most people no longer worry about one of their neighbors turning out to be Adolph Hitler, children often fear things that they learn from newspapers. Their understanding of current events is often one-sided and uninformed, as they are shielded from all the facts by well-meaning adults. They fill in the gaps with their imaginations. Additionally, kids and adults alike have concerns about fitting in, keeping and making friends, and mortality.

I especially enjoyed Sally's relationship with her mother and father. Her mother is a worrier...to the point that she lets much of the joy in life pass her by. Her father is more free spirited, and tries to explain to Sally why her mother behaves the way that she does. One beautiful scene in the novel occurs when Sally's dad explains that one can worry so much, that they don't enjoy what they have when they have it. Sally struggles to be more like her father, while appreciating the concerns and motivations of her mother.

While this book paints a picture of an era, it contains smart prose and human insight that is timeless. As all good historical fiction does, it teaches us something about the past while involving us in a story that is universal.