This box set was purchased for my 3rd grade son who was constantly requesting new books to devour. These were surprisingly not in his school's library, but I'd grown up with them myself so I ordered them from here.
Judy Blume's knack for writing from the perspective of an awkward preteen is still a goal most authors strive for. The humor throughout is age appropriate, but not so sugar-sweet that it reads like nursery rhyme. It touches lightly on first crushes, the shocking (and oddly hilariously written) death of a pet, and the ever popular theme of sibling rivalry.
The books are just as good as they were in the 80s and 90s. I'd had concerns that the jokes or settings would be dated and feel out of place since the books came out so long ago, but they have held up very well over time. My son followed along just fine, and I personally didn't notice too many overly nostalgic quips that would need to be explained to a modern day youngster.
There's a surprising amount of character development in these young characters as the books progress throughout the childhoods of Peter and Fudge Hatcher, two brothers that love each other, but whose differences in age and personality often result in frustration and amusing conflicts for the reader.
It is VERY important to note that this book series addresses the Santa Claus issue in "Superfudge." If you want your youngsters to maintain their innocence on the topic, do not let them read this particular book in the series until you, and they, are ready. This particular book in the series also touches on light flirting, such as hand holding and little kisses on cheeks. There is a scene where characters are involved in a minor fight as well. It should be noted though, that nothing is introduced that is inappropriate by most family's standards.
This series was and remains a staple classic in children's literature. I highly recommend these books for parents that are struggling to pique their children's interest in reading when most subject matter is unappealing to your young readers.
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