Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Schultz
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Honest novel shows brutality of grade school bullying.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say this book has garnered mixed reactions, with some praising its realistic portrayal of bullying and its important lessons, while others criticize the harsh language and themes, arguing it may not be suitable for younger audiences. Many readers suggest it's better suited for kids 11 and older due to its complex topics and explicit content.
- bullying portrayal
- age recommendations
- harsh language
- important lessons
- mixed reactions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Written in 1974, BLUBBER gives a brutally honest look at bullying among grade school kids. After a girl named Linda gives an oral report to her fifth grade class on the Eskimos' use of whale blubber, the other students begin teasing Linda by calling her "Blubber." Jill, the narrator of the novel, goes right along with the bullies but later realizes that the mean kids are not necessarily her true friends. When she becomes the object of bullying herself, she finds ways to cope.
Is It Any Good?
Blubber is a painful book to read because the children in the novel are so cruel to one another. However, it's an extremely honest and realistic view of kid behavior that's worth examining by parents and middle-grade children. The novel does not spell out moral lessons for kids, but it teaches them by portraying truly repugnant behavior. The characters are believable, if not too likable, and the story is logical and entertaining. Judy Blume proves a reliable source for insight into the kids' world, and shows the value of true friendship and courage under peer pressure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what they learn about bullying from reading Blubber. How would you behave if you were Jill? Is it just as wrong to go along with mean behavior as it is to instigate it?
Why do you think this book is an enduring classic, yet often challenged for its candid portrayal of mean grade school behavior?
Does Jill seem to have learned a lesson about bullying by the end of the book?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : School
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House
- Publication date : January 1, 1974
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 160
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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