Superfudge [Hardcover]

Judy Blume (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2002 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

He knows a lot of big words, but he doesn’t know where babies come from. He’s never heard of a stork, but he plans to be a bird when he grows up. He’s Superfudge, otherwise known as Farley Drexel Hatcher. And, according to his older brother Peter, the biggest pain ever invented. Among other things.

As fans of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing already know, nothing is simple for Peter Hatcher. He is far from overjoyed at the turn the family fortunes are taking. It looks as if Peter will be spending the sixth grade far from Central Park, Sheila Tubman, Jimmy Fargo, and Henry the doorman. (He won’t miss Sheila). And it also looks as if Fudge will no longer be the baby of the family. How will Peter ever survive if his new sibling is a carbon copy of Fudge?

But as Fudge fans also know, bad news for Peter generally means good news for Judy Blume’s readers—in the form of a very funny story.

They won’t be disappointed!

Editorial Reviews

Review

A genuinely funny story. (New York Times)

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

Nothing is easy for 12-year-old Peter Hatcher. His younger brother, Fudge, is bad enough. But now there's a new baby com- ing and the family is moving to Princeton. "A genuinely funny story...dealing with the kinks and knots of modern family life." -- The New York Times Book Review. Winner of The Great Stone Face Award. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (September 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525469303
• ISBN-13: 978-0525469308
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (127 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,157,297 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

78 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent, but not for younger kids, November 4, 2001

By 

Alice Fielding "kangarunitarian" (Norman, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Superfudge (Paperback)

This book is hilariously funny, but cruel to kids who believe in Santa Claus. I was devastated the first time I read it, when I was about 9 or 10, because of that part. Then I read it again two years later and loved it. Please make sure your child already "doesn't believe" in Santa before letting him/her read it--it's a terrible way to find out "the truth." Other than that, a great book, especially the parts with Uncle Feather and where Fudge asks "Is this a catastrophe?" and the principal replies, "No, Fudge, but I'm sure you'll try harder next time."

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Deeper than it looks, February 17, 2005

By 

Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Superfudge (Mass Market Paperback)

I picked up this one simply because it had a cute cartoon cover. A short while later, I was totally relating to the story, particularly the parts where the Hatcher kids react to major changes in their lives.

The eldest child, Peter, is trying to lead a normal life, but this is being severely hampered by the presence of his uncontrollable younger brother Farley Drexel, better known as Fudge, and his parents, who insist on making big, life-changing decisions without consulting him first.

Although light and funny, it casually throws in some revelations that you may not be ready to explain, like where babies come from, and the existence of Santa Claus. It also skims the surface of the trauma of moving to a new city away from your friends, having a new baby in the family, and having your parents switch their traditional parental roles.

These issues are skillfully woven into a funny context, but the book can be interpreted at a much deeper level than it first appears.

Amanda Richards, February 17, 2005

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well written, but not as good as Fourth Grade Nothing, April 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Superfudge (Paperback)

At age 9 I enjoyed this book but didn't like it as much asTales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing. For one thing, there were no pictureslike the previous book. Another thing, I felt like the Fudge series lost some of it's innocense with one of Peter's friends saying blankety-blank (they didn't actually print it out but hinted it) in front of Fudge and his pals. Peter's pal should have known better. I wouldn't recommend this book to really young readers for that reason, and it may be upsetting for some kids because of the fact that Blume gives the impression that there's no Santa. Now when I read it, I wasn't upset because I already knew. But I think it'd upset some children, and I thought it was sad that Fudge lost his childlike innocense by not believing in Santa anymore. So parents, I highly advise you to proof-read this book before handing it over to your kids, as with any questionable material.