A Conversation with Judy Blume
Judy Blume, one of this country's most censored writers, is the author of some of the best known and widely read novels ever published. More than 70 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into twenty-six languages. Now, she has edited the short story anthology Places I Never Meant To Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers. Twelve of today's most respected writers of fiction for young adults have joined her to help bring an awareness of the ways in which censorship affects not only writers but readers of all ages. In addition to an introduction by Judy Blume, each author has included a note explaining the impact of censorship on his or her work. All royalties from the sale of this book are being donated to the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC).
Q: What other young adult writers do you admire?
A: I admire those who feel a passion for their work and respect for their audience. I admire those who can get deep down inside their characters and aren't afraid to show a full range of emotions, those who aren't thinking of how the book will be received by critics but who are so caught up in their characters' lives they forget they're even writing a book. I admire those with an original voice who have something new to say, and maybe most of all, those who have found ways to remain fresh after writing for years.
Q: What authors have influenced your writing?
A: When I began to write I would bring armloads of books home from the library. At night I would read and divide them into piles*these are boring, these delight me. I wanted to delight my readers in the same way. Beverly Cleary has always been a writer for all ages. My seven-year-old grandson knows her books by heart. I never tire of her characters or her stories, which have universal appeal. I loved Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, and the early books of E.L. Konigsburg.
Q: Are kids today more sophisticated than twenty years ago?
A: I don't have the answers to such questions. All I can do is observe, listen, read, consider. That said, I suppose kids today are exposed to more at an earlier age than my generation, or my children's. I don't know that it makes them more "sophisticated." It may make them different in superficial ways but I believe that deep down, where it counts, people don't change that much from generation to generation. Lifestyles may change, the way we live may change, but our feelings and emotions, our basic needs, remain the same.
Q: What is the "silliest" example of censorship you've heard?
A: I wouldn't know where to begin. Just pick up a copy of NCAC's newsletter, or the American Library Association's Freedom to Read newsletter, and you'll find your fill of "silly" examples. How about frightened librarians painting shorts on Maurice Sendak's naked baby in In the Night Kitchen?
Q: You are very active in intellectual freedom issues. Why is this so important to you?
A: If those of us who care about making our own decisions about what to read and what to think don't take a stand, others will decide for us. I've never been one to let others decide what's right for me or my children.
Q: With the recent epidemic of youth violence, there is much talk about the dangerous influence of video games, TV, music, and the Internet. What are your feelings about the impulse to restrict these forms of expression? Where do we draw the line between appropriate material and censorship?
A: This hot topic would take an essay to answer, if I had the answers. I do know the impulse to censor is strong, stronger than the urge to protect intellectual freedom. Some politicians have jumped on the bandwagon and, in their quest to prove they really care about the children, are offering simplistic solutions to complicated problems.
Q: Now that you've earned a reputation for writing controversial books, do you feel pressure to tackle taboo subjects?
A: Absolutely not, and I never have. I don't think of my books or characters as controversial. What exactly is controversial about my books anyway? Puberty? It's normal, it's healthy, it's a fact of life. Why hide from it?
Q: Despite the censors, generations of readers have valued your books for their frank discussion of sexuality. Does this make you proud?
A: From what my early readers (now in their twenties and thirties) tell me, I guess I should be pleased. They say I helped them develop a healthy attitude toward their own sexuality at a time when no one was talking to them about their feelings, or answering their questions. If my books have helped them become sexually responsible adults, good. If my books have given young women permission to celebrate their sexuality in a healthy way, better yet!
Q: What was your first experience with censorship?
A: When I was in fifth grade, my mother was reading a novel called A Rage to Live, by John O'Hara, and for the first time (and, as it turned out, the only time) in my life, she told me I was never to look at that book, at least not until I was much older. Once I knew my mother didn't want me to read it, I figured it must be really interesting! Later, as a junior in high school, much to my surprise and delight, I found John O'Hara's name on my reading list. I didn't waste a minute. I went down to the public library in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and looked for A Rage to Live. But I couldn't find it. When I asked, the librarian told me that book was restricted. It was kept in a locked closet, and I couldn't take it out without written permission from my parents. When I realized she was not going to let me check out A Rage to Live, I was angry. I felt betrayed and held her responsible. It never occurred to me that it might not have been her choice.
Q: What was the first time you experienced the censorship of your own books?
A: When my third book, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, was published in 1970 I gave three copies to my children's elementary school but the books never reached the shelves. The male principal decided on his own that they were inappropriate for elementary school readers because of the discussion of menstruation (never mind how many fifth- and sixth-grade girls already had their periods). Then one night the phone rang and a woman asked if I was the one who had written that book. When I replied that I was, she called me a communist and hung up. I never did figure out if she equated communism with menstruation or religion.
Q: Were you surprised by the variety of submissions to Places I Never Meant To Be?
A: I was thrilled by the variety of the stories and surprised by some of the personal statements about censorship following each story. They prove that if you ask a dozen people what censorship means, you'll get twelve different answers.
Q: Why isn't there a Judy Blume story in the anthology?
A: I wish I had a story in the anthology but by the time an idea came to me and I started scribbling, it was too late. In this case it was more important to me to write the introduction, which explores my personal history with censorship.
Q: Could you speak a little bit about your relationship with Norma Klein and your decision to include her posthumously in this anthology?
A: There was no way I could edit a book of short stories by contemporary writers whose work has been banned or challenged regularly without including Norma. She spoke out against censorship throughout her career. Often, our books were challenged at the same time. We became a team, with the opposing cheerleaders chanting "Get rid of Klein and Blume books!" I remember a letter from a fifth grader telling me that in her class if they used Judy Blume or Norma Klein books for their book reports they would automatically lose ten points from their grade. What message does that send the kids? Since Norma's untimely death I have had to speak out for both of us, though Norma's work speaks for itself. I know she would do the same for me.
This interview has been provided by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and can be reprinted for publication either in full or excerpted as individual questions and answers, so long as they are reprinted in their entirety.
Click here to visit her web site: www.judyblume.com
Added 1999
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