Adrian Birds

Mrs. Thomas
UWRT 1103-63

Blume, Judy. "Judy Blume on the Web: Judy's Bio." Judy Blume on the Web: Judy's
Bio. N.p., n.d. Web. 24
Mar. 2015.

Judy Blume, an American writer, is known for her work in writing books
for children and young adults totaling over 80 million in sales over 30 years.
Judys works have been a topic of controversy over the years because of her
topics of racism, menstruation, divorce, bullying, and many others. In a
discussion Blume opens up about her ideas on censorship.
When Judy first began writing she had no clue whether people would
like her works or if she would even be able to find someone to publish her
books. She eventually found an editor and publisher who encouraged her to
write and the only way she knew how was to be completely honest which
proved to be controversial.
One night a woman phoned, asking if I had written Are You There God? It's
Me, Margaret. When I replied that I had, she called me a Communist and slammed
down the phone, Blume recounts when her challenges began regarding her work.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret follows the life a 12 year old girl who deals
with beginning menstruation and the concern of religion. I never did figure out if

she equated Communism with menstruation or religion, the two major concerns in
12 year old Margaret's life. questioned after the phone call. Censors, an official who
examines material that is about to be released and suppresses any parts that are
considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security became more
notable in the 1980s. Censors are the ones who decide what children read or view
and challenges to books arose prompting librarians and school officials to pull books
from the shelves.
Blume believes that censorship grows primarily out of fear. She goes on to
say that banning books makes parents feel powerful, it makes them feel in control
of what their children are able to view. They want to believe that if their children
don't read about it, their children won't know about it. And if they don't know about
it, it won't happen. Books that make children think, they make them question
authority are often banned and deemed dangerous because they are not
forthcoming with moral lessons. In the opinion of Blume and others that share her
views profess that censors do not want children exposed to ideas other than their
own, if everyone had it their way there would hardly be any books on the shelves.
Judy ends by arguing that It is the books that will never be written. The books that
will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers
will be the real losers.
Analysis: This piece was very beneficial to my question on censorship. This is
a firsthand account from an author who writes for children and young adults who
finds her own work being censored. This could help anyone inquiring about
censorship in writing and some of the struggles that most authors or writer go
through at some point in their careers.