"You can have more than one best friend at a time," I said.
"No, you can't."
"Why not?"
"Because best means best."
I thought about that. "What about close?" I asked.
– from Just as Long as We Are Together, by Judy Blume
Friendship. Body image. Parental divorce. Dating. School. Bullies. All are Judy Blume moments--events in the lives of girl that Judy Blume captured with her funny, poignant and honest voice. Chronicling the lives of girls from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing to Smart Women, Blume is one of those teasured writers who captures the feelings of girls growing up and makes a difference in the lives of her readers.
If you want to get a glimpse of how the unforgettable stories by Judy Blume influenced other women writers, then check out this collection of 24 essays, Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume. The anthology is edited by Jennifer O'Connell--another favorite author (and a friend from PPWC). It features essays by acclaimed women writers including Meg Cabot, Megan McCafferty, and Melissa Senate.
Happy reading!