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The Schmooze

Finally – Judy Blume’s Books Are Going To Be Made Into Movies

Are you there, God? It’s me, a former adolescent, getting in touch to say thank you for this wonderful news, and also we must, we must, we must increase our busts (because it’s never too late for prayer).

This news is better than getting your period for the first time. Better than getting paired with your crush for seventh heaven. Better than if your mother let you trade in your little brother for a nice cocker spaniel.

Living legend and powerhouse adolescent author Judy Blume has written over 30 books. Her debut novel was published in 1969, and her most recent publication was in 2015. Her words have influenced generations. And now, at 80 years old, she is going to option the rights to have them made into movies.

Only two other times have Blume works been brought to the big screen — once, in ye olde days of 1978, with Blume’s “Forever,” then again in 2012 with “Tiger Eyes.” But the idea that her cannon will be available for modern interpretation by major studios is huge. We hope it will make movies that will move kids today and inspire them to ask their parents questions that make them squirm. But more than that, we hope it will move those kids to hightail it down to the library and read some Judy Blume.

This is a woman who can write convincingly about grieving 15 year-old girls one day and then make a toddler character laugh-out-loud funny the next. This is the woman who taught most living Americans under the age of 60 about masturbation. This is a Jewish author who wasn’t afraid to bring faith and challenges to faith into her books for children.

This is Judy Blume at 80. And we can’t wait to see her movies.

Jenny Singer is the deputy lifestyle editor for the Forward. You can reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @jeanvaljenny

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