The presence of Harry Potter, the internet and mobile phones will appear as anachronisms to Judy Blume's first generation of fans who met the Hatchers in the 1970s and 1980s, but will obviously not be blinked at by the intended audience of today's children. Though the world in which Blume is writing may have aged since she first endeared herself to young readers, her characters and their problems remain universally appealing. Two Hatcher families, two Farley Drexels and two girl cousins mean double trouble for adolescent Peter, double sympathy from pre-teen readers and most likely double fun for younger readers. As for Fudge, he's a little confused at first if it means fun or trouble for him, but he (and we) soon find out.

Double Fudge offers one alternative look at American values--Peter's cousins don't eat candy or watch TV--but by the end reassures us that the American childhood we know from books and films is still munching its popcorn, going to grade school and being smart with its parents. Long live super double Fudge! (Ages 7-12) --Olivia Dickinson