Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Judy Blume found something genuinely funny and genuinely true in the frustration of the older sibling — the one who does everything right while the younger one swallows turtles and gets away with it. Nine-year-old Peter Hatcher's deadpan exasperation at Fudge is funny on nearly every page, and the humor works because Blume never condescends to either child. The short, episodic chapters make this ideal for reluctant readers, and the older-sibling experience is universal enough that it travels well across generations. One honest note: Peter's pet turtle does die at Fudge's hands, which may upset younger or more sensitive readers more than the comedy prepares them for. But after more than fifty years in print, this one has earned its place as a childhood staple.