Parents need to know that Superfudge, the third book in Judy Blume's "Fudge" series, uses humor and honesty to offer an entertaining view of family life. Issues tackled, and poked fun at, include sibling rivalry, the arrival of a new baby, balancing work and family, moving and making new friends, and generally dealing with change. The book includes a couple of spankings to discipline a child, and kids occasionally kick or punch one another but aren't seriously hurt. Two young kids run away and are missing for the day, and a baby is put in danger a few times—including an older sibling hiding her as part of a game. Sixth-graders hold hands and kiss on the cheek. Name-calling includes "dumb," "stupid," and "turkey brain," and kids tell one another to "shut up." An incident includes a child shouting "a lot of good words," including "the A-word." Central character Peter can get frustrated with his family and sometimes acts out as a result, but he ultimately learns to show empathy and communication and takes on more responsibility. It's important to note that this book debunks the existence of Santa Claus. Parents who want their kids to continue believing may want to avoid this, or specifically the chapter entitled "Santa Who?"
Products & Purchases
a little
Peter and Fudge's dad works in an ad agency, and the family takes special notice of commercials on television. There are references to fake brands, as well as real ones like Lego, Matchbox, Adidas, Baskin-Robbins, Coke, Kleenex, Choco, Oreos, M&Ms, Nestle Crunch, Milky Way, Hershey, Pepperidge Farm, Kreskin's Krystal, Thermos, U-Haul, Outward Bound, UNICEF, Dr. Seuss, Sesame Street, Superman, Spider-Man, The Muppet Show, and The Electric Company.
Violence & Scariness
a little
Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher spank Fudge a couple of times. Siblings fight—kicking, pushing, one holding another upside down—but nobody is seriously hurt. A classmate punches another in the stomach, and a kid kicks a teacher. A baby is put in danger a few times—for example, when an older sibling hides her in a cupboard as part of a game. A friend talks about how much he loves hockey because the sport is so violent; he marvels that blood and vomit bounce on ice. A kid starts to choke but is given the Heimlich maneuver. Characters threaten to run away, and two (6 and 5 years old) are missing for the day. A dog pins a child down to lick her, but she's frightened and screams. Kids get scraped knees, elbows, and heads while learning to ride a bike. A character imagines the scene of a bike crash and a person "splattered" across the road, as well as a person drowning with a blue, swollen face. A child jokes that his liver is turning green and his toenails are falling off. Kids talk about cooking and eating worms, and some cut worms in half.
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Name-calling includes "dumb," "dumbo," "nerd," "goof," "stupid," "turkey brain," and "rat face." Kids say "stuff it" and "shut up" to one another. A character "shouted a lot of good words at Elaine," including "the A-word." People say, "You little..." but don't finish the sentence.
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Family is important, and family members love one another, even when they argue or annoy one another. Just because new people appear in the lives of people you love, that doesn't mean they love you any less. Change is healthy in the long run, even if it can take time to get used to. Don't run away from problems—try to accept and understand situations and make amends when necessary.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Peter gets easily upset by change and initially resents his younger brother, Fudge, and new baby sister, Tootsie. But he starts to show empathy toward them, understanding what they need and volunteering to help. Fudge can be chaotic and playful to the point that it annoys Peter (and their parents), but Fudge just wants to connect with his older brother. He shows determination in things like learning to ride his bike. The two learn to be patient with each other, communicate, and accept their differences to become closer and more supportive siblings. Their parents are positive role models who are generally calm, loving, and understanding, even if they occasionally (and realistically) lose their tempers. They make decisions together to present a united front to their kids.
Educational Value
very little
Peter and Fudge each have a pet—a dog and a myna bird—and readers will learn about the responsibilities that come with pet ownership, as well as some facts about myna birds. The bird speaks some French words, including "bonjour." Sixth-grader Peter teaches 5-year-old Fudge vocabulary words ("privilege," "unanimous," "catastrophe") that come in handy as the novel progresses.
Diverse Representations
very little
The central characters are a boy and his younger brother. They come from a home with a mom and dad and are depicted as White in the book's cover art. There are some gender stereotypes, including the boys' mom doing needlework and their dad taking them to a sports game, but the parents generally share responsibilities around the house and both talk about their careers and ambitions. Peter's friend Jimmy comes from a single-parent household, living with his father after his parents' divorce. There's passing mention of his dad sometimes forgetting to shop for groceries, but Jimmy is generally portrayed as well-loved and cared for, and he goes to counseling at school to address his feelings about the divorce. A boy is referred to as "pudgy," and the main character says "I was thinking it wouldn't hurt the kid to skip a couple of meals anyway."
In SUPERFUDGE, the Hatcher family moves from Manhattan to Princeton, N.J., for a year to find out how they enjoy suburban life. Amid his usual disagreements with his parents and annoyance at his little brother Fudge's wild antics, Peter Hatcher has to adjust to some very big changes: making new friends, leaving old ones behind, starting a new school, and welcoming a new baby into the family.
Like the other books in Judy Blume's "Fudge" series, this is a funny, smart, and honest novel about sibling rivalry. As always, Blume's characters ring true to life in Superfudge: Loving parents lose their tempers, brothers fight, and teachers aren't always nice. But the Hatchers' lives are always amusing, challenging, and "interesting," as Fudge's mom calls him. Young readers will find Fudge hilarious, and they'll feel Peter's pain, too. But note that this book includes scenes with spanking and denies the existence of Santa Claus. Though Superfudge has a lot to offer, some parents may want to skip it (or at least the chapter titled "Santa Who?") and go straight to the next book,Fudge-a-Mania.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of change in Superfudge. In what ways do the characters' lives change? Why is Peter so angry about his parents having a new baby and them moving? Does the book teach anything about coping with change or approaching it more positively?
How do you think Superfudge compares with other books in the Fudge series? If you haven't read others, does it make you want to? Why, or why not?
Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher each spank Fudge in this book. What other ways might a parent communicate about rules and boundaries?
Available on
:
Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
Last updated
:
July 30, 2026
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