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Iggie's House

3.59 of 5 stars 3.59 · rating details · 2,036 ratings · 85 reviews

Winnie Barringer’s best friend, Iggie, has moved away. How is Winnie going to make it through summer vacation?

Then the Garber family moves into Iggie’s House, and Winnie is thrilled. The problem is, not everyone is as welcoming as Winnie.

Paperback, 128 pages

Published September 1st 1986 by Yearling (first published 1970)

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Sep 16, 2012 Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was always a big fan of Judy Blume when I was younger, and I recently decided to reread some of her books. Iggie's House wasn't one that I read as a child, so I was pleased to get it from the library and settle down with it.

Iggie's House tells the story of Winnie, a girl whose best friend moves away to Japan in the middle of the summer. This in itself could be enough of a story for a Judy Blume novel, but instead she decides to introduce a typically American story, making the family that move...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Anjali rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: 8 yrs +, people interested in novels about discrimination and racism

I've been a fan of Judy Blume, ever since my fourth grade teacher read 'Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing' which was summed up as hilarious and enjoyable.
I picked up a more serious novel of Blume's. 'Iggie's house'. Iggie's house focuses on the friendships between two racial groups at a time of political racial and racism issues.
The protagonist, Winnie Barringer's best friend Iggie moves to Tokyo. When a black family: the Garbers, move into her old house, Winnie is fascinated as they are the firs...more

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Feb 22, 2011 Jose Juan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-realistic-fiction

What does it feel like to loose you're best friend? Winifred Bates Barringer's best friend Iggie, just moved out of the neighborhood and moved to Japan with her family. Iggie's house on Groove Street was empty but not for long. This white neighborhood in New Jersey is in for a huge surprise. The Garber family moves into Iggie's house. Two parents, two young boys name Herbie and Glen and their little sister Tina. What you learn is that the family is the first black family to move into the white n...more

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Oct 19, 2009 Penn 6 added it · review of another edition

Shelves: independent-reading

Has your best friend every left you in the beginning of summer because she had to go to Tokyo? Well, Winnie's did. Her best friend Iggie moved and the Garbers moved into her house. There is something wrong with this picture, though. The thing that is wrong is that the Garbers were black, in an all white neighborhood. They also had children: Nicki, Herdie, and Glenn. Winnie was their friend, but others felt differently. Some had respect like Winnie, some were confused, but there was only one MRs....more

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May 02, 2012 Zoe Jasmin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Iggie’s House by Judy Blume is a children’s novel. It is a realistic fiction novel that focuses on the themes of friendship and racism. The novel is from the perceptive of Winifred Barringer and is set in the 1970‘s Winnie has trouble coping with her best friend, Iggie moving away to Japan, and feeling like there’s nothing she can do about it. When a new family moves into Iggie’s old house. The Garber family is constantly told they do not belong and have been told to go back to where they came f...more Iggie’s House by Judy Blume is a children’s novel. It is a realistic fiction novel that focuses on the themes of friendship and racism. The novel is from the perceptive of Winifred Barringer and is set in the 1970‘s Winnie has trouble coping with her best friend, Iggie moving away to Japan, and feeling like there’s nothing she can do about it. When a new family moves into Iggie’s old house. The Garber family is constantly told they do not belong and have been told to go back to where they came from. These people are black and from Detroit. The street Groves Street is where all the white people live. The one person who tries to make their life horrible to make them move. Her name is Mrs. Landon she also lives in Grove Street.

When Winnie’s best friend, Iggie moves to Tokyo, Japan Winnie struggles with dealing with the fact that she is gone. When a new family moves into Iggie’s house Winnie is interested that a negro family has moved in and she soon befriend their three children. Another neighbor who lives also on Grove Street. She has extremely stubborn views about the Garber family and tries her best to make living in their neighborhood a misery. When Mrs. Landon finds out that Winnie is friends with the Garber’s children she creates a petition for the neighborhood to sign to try and push the Garber’s out. Winnie’s parent have mixed feeling about the Garber’s but do not sign the petition. When this didn’t work Mrs. Landon goes and nails a sign into the Garber’s garden reading “Go Back Where You Belong! We Don’t Want You Kind Around Here!” Everyday Mrs. Garber cries and is extremely depressed as Mrs. Landon continues to discriminate the family. The oldest Garber son becomes more angry than sad. “I hate, I hate her and I hate her! She doesn’t even know us. I wish I was back in Detroit where everybody’s black” Soon Winnie gets into an argument with the Garber children and they accuse her of befriending them only she thinks having negro friends is cool. Soon after Mrs. Landon visits Winnie’s parents again and she tries to pressure the Barringer’s to move. Winnie’s father refuses and faces Mrs. Landon with how she is discriminating the Garber’s. Soon Winnie makes up with the Garber’s and finds that none of them will move.

The main theme of the novel Iggie’s house is racism. When Mrs. Landon put a sign into the Garber’s front yard saying “Go back where you belong we don’t want your kind around here!!” It goes way to far and Mrs. Landon is racially discriminating them. I usually don’t read Judy Blume books. This book was not particularly the best book I have read and I wasn’t really interested by it. I think this book would be best for younger children, as it’s a quite brief book and the story doesn’t really go anywhere. My favorite scene of the book is when Mrs. Landon comes to Winnie’s house asking for her parents and knowing fully well that her parents where at home Winnie screams into the house as loud as she can into the house without turning away from Mrs Landon “MOM! DAD! ...ANYBODY HOME?” Winnie was my favorite character because she was really outspoken, loud and bubbly. I would rate this book 3 stars.
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Apr 25, 2012 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Iggie’s House by Judy Blume is a story set in the 1970’s about a girl named Winnie and the changes going on in her neighborhood. The story starts when a wealthy, all white neighborhood has an African American family, the Garbers, move into one of the houses. Winnie befriends the family and the children, however conflict arises when racism results in the residents in the area attempting to force the Garbers to move out by signing a petition, and when that does not happen, encouraging everyone to...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Victoria O. rated it 5 of 5 stars

I thought this book was interesting because it's talking about the Negro. It was also a little bit talking about Tokyo, where Winnie's best friend Iggie had moved. I wonder if Winnie really sent her mail to Iggie. I was kind of happy when Winnie planned to go to Tokyo if they're moving, but they didn't so I became sad. I wanted this book to talk more about Tokyo. But I thought the ending was interesting, because it doesn't end very clearly. That's what I thought, it maybe a clear ending. I woul...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Elemillia Ucselub rated it 4 of 5 stars

Book Reviews, Fiction Reflections, N' More

Winnie pops her gum and her mother dreads it. But that's just one of Winnie's quirks, she likes to pop her gum. Who doesn't? For Winning there's something more relevant than picking at the popping of a gum. Her best friends has left her town and she feels there's nothing she can do about it. "This was, without a doubt, the lonelinest, saddest, most horrible week of her whole life."

Winnie has lived in the same place since she was born. She wishes she co...more Book Reviews, Fiction Reflections, N' More

Winnie pops her gum and her mother dreads it. But that's just one of Winnie's quirks, she likes to pop her gum. Who doesn't? For Winning there's something more relevant than picking at the popping of a gum. Her best friends has left her town and she feels there's nothing she can do about it. "This was, without a doubt, the lonelinest, saddest, most horrible week of her whole life."

Winnie has lived in the same place since she was born. She wishes she could go somewhere or do something exciting. One of the ways to do that is to explore what the new neighbors are all about. The fact that the new neighbors, who by the way have moved into her best friend's house, are in fact colored, does add to the novelty of adventure. She's extremely eager to meet them even though she doesn't quite understand the historical racial implications of the time. She enthusiasm about rising to the occasion to introduce herself to them.

Mrs Landon, the famous phony neighbor, with the phony smile the way Winnie describes her, has a tendency to be quite nosey and involve herself in mobilizing the whole neighborhood into driving the new neighbors out of the community. She builds a petition to show that they aren't welcome. Winnie is angry and feels her parents should do something about it. Instead her parents tell her she's consuming her energy and time to this cause without thinking things through. Her mother says to Winnie, "You're always jumping into new situations with both feet, before you know what you're jumping into!" Yet, Winnie holds on to her belief that she must do something, and creates her own questionnaire.

Winnie is this fierce child I was consistently rooting for from beginning to end. She even made me laugh. Mrs Landon comes to the door asking if her parents are home. Knowingly that her parents are in fact at home, she yells as loud as she can, without turning away from Mrs Landon, 'MOM! DAD!...ANYBODY HOME?" Isn't that hilarious? (less)

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Dec 27, 2009 lita rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: novel-english, childhood-reading, borrowed_not_returned

Winnie betul-betul merasa mendapat kejutan saat melihat penghuni baru rumah Iggie, yang bersebelahan dengan rumahnya, tiba. Iggie adalah sahabat karibnya, yang sayangnya harus pindah mengikuti ayahnya yang mendapat tugas keluar negeri. “Pantas saja kau bilang kejutan, Iggie,” tulis Winnie dalam suratnya. “They are coloured people!”

Itulah kali pertama Winnie melihat dan – pada akhirnya – menjalin persahabatan dengan keluarga berkulit hitam. Tina, Herbie, dan Glenn adalah anak-anak keluarga Garbe...more Winnie betul-betul merasa mendapat kejutan saat melihat penghuni baru rumah Iggie, yang bersebelahan dengan rumahnya, tiba. Iggie adalah sahabat karibnya, yang sayangnya harus pindah mengikuti ayahnya yang mendapat tugas keluar negeri. “Pantas saja kau bilang kejutan, Iggie,” tulis Winnie dalam suratnya. “They are coloured people!”

Itulah kali pertama Winnie melihat dan – pada akhirnya – menjalin persahabatan dengan keluarga berkulit hitam. Tina, Herbie, dan Glenn adalah anak-anak keluarga Garber, keluarga negro pertama yang menjadi sahabat Winnie.

Namun, bukan Winnie saja yang merasa mendapat kejutan. Penghuni jalan di mana rumah Winnie dan keluarga Garber berada pun merasa demikian. Inilah kali pertama ada keluarga negro bermukim di jalan rumah mereka. Sayangnya, tidak semua merasa excited seperti Winnie. Ada penghuni yang begitu antipati dengan keberadaan keluarga negro di wilayah tempat tinggal mereka. Begitu antipatinya, sampai-sampai mereka membuat petisi untuk memaksa keluarga Garber pindah ke wilayah lain, yang banyak orang negronya.

Menjadi minoritas memang tidak menyenangkan. Entah dari warna kulit, asal suku, agama yang dianut, sampai status sosial ekonomi bisa jadi alasan diskriminasi yang dilakukan terhadap orang lain. “Saya tidak terbiasa melihat negro bermukim di wilayah ini,” alasan si pembuat petisi. Hanya karena tidak terbiasa. Padahal, jika kita tidak membiasakan diri bergaul dengan orang yang “berbeda” dengan kita, bagaimana kita bisa jadi terbiasa? Sungguh menyakitkan rasanya, dianggap tidak layak menjadi teman hanya karena kita “berbeda”.

Iggie’s House adalah buku kedua dari Judy Blume yang menceritakan konflik mengenai perbedaan yang dialami seorang anak perempuan di awal usia remaja yang telah saya baca. Bila Iggie’s House menceritakan konflik yang timbul akibat perbedaan ras, Aren’t You There, God? It’s Me, Margareth! menceritakan konflik yang timbul akibat perbedaan agama.

Buku-buku itu memang terkategori sebagai teenlit. Tapi menurut saya, orang dewasa pun perlu membacanya untuk merenungkan arti “perbedaan” itu. Adakalanya orang dewasa perlu mempelajari pola pikir anak-anak, yang jarang sekali menempatkan “perbedaan” sebagai satu masalah krusial dalam memperlakukan orang-orang yang ada di lingkungan mereka. (lits)
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Oct 18, 2012 Lauren Derosa added it · review of another edition

I think that the book Iggie’s House would be pretty interesting for a young reader to read. I really like the cover of the book because it captures the reader’s attention, since it is hard to figure out what is going on. I like that the brick of the house and the pavement are designed out of little dots because it simple yet makes up such a large space of the cover. I also think it is interesting that the green bushes on the front are continued onto the back cover which then bleeds into the enti...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Qing yi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So far I have read 2 of Judy Blume's books and they book taught me lessons in each.In Iggies's house the main character is struggling about her best friend in the whole world moving to Tokyo.But despite that,Winnie is excited to find out what her new neighbor would be.And is she up for a surprise.It was a rainy day and Winnie forgot,ran out of the house to"iggie's house."when Winnie arrived,the family in a green station wagon and to find out they colored."N" was what Winnie called them, it was r...more

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Apr 02, 2008 April rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I always thought this book felt like Blume was trying too hard...or not trying hard enough. I don't know - it just always feels like it's lacking.

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Apr 17, 2011 Kyla rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Purchase at the library book sale as a Judy Blume collection completist - a funny little book I had completely forgotten about but read lots of times as a kid because we had a copy in my school library. I can still see the wire spinner it was on and the cover with a girl on a bike. So much of it obviously went over my head - a black family moves into a mostly white neighborhood and adults and children react in different ways - something my little white suburb of Calgary had little experience wit...more

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Apr 15, 2013 Deanna Colburn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Winnies best friend Iggie moves away and the new family that moves in is African American. Winnie is friends with the new family but she is the only one who tries to be. She accidently brings up racist subjects and doesn’t realize the issue. After this incident their realize that it is unintentional and reconcile their friendship. Winnie helps the family and tries to make them accepted. They are the first African American family to move into the neighborhood, a lot of families are not accepting...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Leah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Iggie's house really inspired me because of the strong main character named Winnie. A black family moved to Winnie's street and she wanted to be friends with the kids. Nothing is getting in the way except for a nasty lady named Mrs. Landon. She's trying to get the Garber family out of the neighborhood only because the color of their skin. She was going around the block with petitions and trying to tell everyone else in the neighborhood to move. She ended up putting a sign up on her lawn telling...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Nazmin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think one issue in this book is about racism, this is because the Garber's are the first and only black family who moved into a all white neighborhood. Winnie is the person who's first to like them. But Ms.London can't stand the fact that they are here now and she tries to get rid of them but she loses because no one wants to be on her side. There are many things which motivates Winnie for example she made a petition about colored people so she could see how many people want see Garbers to sta...more

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Jun 05, 2008 george rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2008, juvenile

Winne is lonely. Her best friend, Iggie, just moved to Tokyo and now Winnie is anxiously waiting to see who will move into Iggie's old house. Winnie is a little surprised to find that the new family is African-American, but she's excited all the same because they have three kids. Not everyone in the neighborhood feels like Winnie, though. There's one lady who's hopping mad about the family and does everything in her power to make them feel unwelcome. Winnie doesn't understand what her parents ar...more

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Jun 29, 2009 Victoria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Winnie's best friend Iggie moves away. I'm not talking down the street two hours away, I'm talking all the way a cross the atlantic move. But the only thing Winnie can look forward to is the new people that are going to move into Iggie's new house. Winnie knows that Iggie's parents won't just sell their house to anybody, it'll have to be someone different. But Winnie didnt expect them to be black. Racial barriers are broken when Winnie finally realizes that you don't have to be white.

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Mar 15, 2010 Krista Ashe rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-110-of-2010-books

I just did a whole major review of this book, two paragraphs, and the computer ate it again! I've got to remember when I'm at schoo, to copy and paste, b/c the whole "permission to enter online communities" thing on the net filters! AUGH!

Anyway, great and necessary book for the time. Loved the character of Winnie and how at her age she stood up for something she believed in to her parents and to the bigoted Mrs. Landon.

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Feb 21, 2009 Cate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 7th-grade

once again, i love judy blume! her way of writing and connecting her characters to the reader is awesome. i really enjoyed this book, understanding what it's like meeting you new neighbors, not wanting to embarrass yourself or say something stupid.i hated when i had to close this book when i finished and turn it back into the library. i wish it would go on and tell a longer story.

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Feb 13, 2013 Gabriella Stalker added it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 09, 2012 Liz Gibbs rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: five-star

Copyright 1970 - This was such a sweet and innocent book about a girl growing up in the middle of racial tension in her neighborhood. When a black family moves into her white neighborhood, she befriends the three kids that live there, but not without a variety of issues to tackle in the process. I really enjoyed this quick read and the realistic characters.

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Nov 30, 2012 Marisa Gonzalez rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

A book about a girl who becomes friends with black family who moved into her suburban white neighborhood. I originally read this book as a child in the 70's and just finished reading it again. Sadly, what was done to this family in the story is nothing compared to the blatant racism that we see on the news and the internet today.

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Dec 14, 2012 Andy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I remember reading this book when I was ten. I stumbled across it at my local library recently and decided to pick it up. I think it actually holds up well, even after all of these years. Probably because humanity will always struggle to accept and deal with each other and our perceived differences.

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Nov 15, 2010 Posy Mendoza rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Might be useful for today's kids to read about integrating suburban neighborhoods in the 1950's. Blume's voice is pretty true as always. The presentation of message is a bit too didactic. The completely clueless mother won't ring true today, but the father more depth. Interesting portrait of an African American family.

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Dec 03, 2008 Rachel Brand rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: those who loved Blume as a child

Shelves: 2001, children, own

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Jun 01, 2012 Ke Huang rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was one of the first books that I read that concerned race relations in America. Therefore, I didn't understand the full impact of the story. Yet I still liked the book for its portrayal of the characters as full individuals.

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May 03, 2013 Wilson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children, rose-reads

As a child I thought I had read every Judy Blume book ever written. Imagine my surprise when I found this in the elementary school library. At the time I was child many felt the book was to divisive to be in a school library.

This is a fabulous book about tolerance, diversity and pain. This book is great for a group discussion with children.

Iggie is a delightful young lady who shows that standing up for waht is right can be done at any age.

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Sep 12, 2010 Maureen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I recently re-read this classic after my daughter received it from her summer reading program. It was a quick and easy read. Although the book is somewhat dated, the message is timeless.

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Jan 19, 2009 Betsy added it · review of another edition

An adolescent book about racial relations. I liked it. Interesting perspectives from all of the children in the book. Probably a fun read for 3-4th grade.

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About Judy Blume

Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fu...more Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge. She has also written three novels for adults, Summer Sisters; Smart Women; and Wifey, all of them New York Times bestsellers. More than 80 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-one languages. She receives thousands of letters a year from readers of all ages who share their feelings and concerns with her.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
She is the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation. She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; the Key West Literary Seminar; and the National Coalition Against Censorship.
Judy is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980's she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of Places I Never Meant To Be, Original Stories by Censored Writers.
Judy has completed a series of four chapter books -- The Pain & the Great One -- illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson. She has co-written and produced a film adaptation of her book Tiger Eyes, and is currently writing a new novel.
Judy and her husband George Cooper live on islands up and down the east coast. They have three grown children and one grandchild.(less)

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