What do you think?
Rate this book
Fudge #2
Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
Sheila Tubman sometimes wonders who she really is: the outgoing, witty, and capable Sheila the Great, or the secret Sheila, who's afraid of the dark, spiders, swimming, and dogs.
When her family spends the summer in Tarrytown, Sheila has to face some of her worst fears. Not only does a dog come with the rented house, but her parents expect Sheila to take swimming lessons! Sheila does her best to pretend she's an expert at everything, but she knows she isn't fooling her new best friend, Mouse Ellis, who happens to be a crackerjack swimmer and a dog lover.
What will it take for Sheila to admit to the Tarrytown kids -- and to herself -- that she's only human?
When her family spends the summer in Tarrytown, Sheila has to face some of her worst fears. Not only does a dog come with the rented house, but her parents expect Sheila to take swimming lessons! Sheila does her best to pretend she's an expert at everything, but she knows she isn't fooling her new best friend, Mouse Ellis, who happens to be a crackerjack swimmer and a dog lover.
What will it take for Sheila to admit to the Tarrytown kids -- and to herself -- that she's only human?
138 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
966 people are currently reading
5685 people want to read
About the author
Judy Blume
137 books11.8k followersJudy 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,058 reviews
October 25, 2022
Sheila Tubman has a lot of fears.
She's afraid of dogs, horses, all bodies of water, thunderstorms, camping, bird calls, spiders, swimming, and the dark. . . to name a few.
If she were a fifth grader today, she'd probably be diagnosed with some sort of generalized anxiety disorder and in therapy, but Sheila was an elementary school student in 1972, and the best advice that friends and family can give her is to tell her to “get over it.”
But, Sheila doesn't know how to “get over it,” so she finds work-arounds for her fears, and those typically involve either big, fat lies (Dogs make my internal organs break out in hives!), or “activity avoidance” (Oops, I forgot my bathing suit again!).
Sheila's likable. Well, sort of. Her new friends have described her as “an interesting person” and “not that bad.”
At this new summer rental, she can spread out, for the first time, in her own bedroom, and, for the first time ever, she has some girl neighbors as friends.
Her world is getting bigger, and her new friends have zero tolerance for her tall tales and arrogance, so she learns to face her quirks rather than lose some good friends.
And, friends are important. Sometimes they do need to let us know that we're limiting our own lives or we're harming our own bodies. Sometimes they do need to call us out on our tall tales, even when it makes us uncomfortable.
Friends help us figure out what we want, what we don't want, and who we want to be.
The friends in this story help remind Sheila the Great that her one-woman (well, girl!) act could use a few upgrades.
She's afraid of dogs, horses, all bodies of water, thunderstorms, camping, bird calls, spiders, swimming, and the dark. . . to name a few.
If she were a fifth grader today, she'd probably be diagnosed with some sort of generalized anxiety disorder and in therapy, but Sheila was an elementary school student in 1972, and the best advice that friends and family can give her is to tell her to “get over it.”
But, Sheila doesn't know how to “get over it,” so she finds work-arounds for her fears, and those typically involve either big, fat lies (Dogs make my internal organs break out in hives!), or “activity avoidance” (Oops, I forgot my bathing suit again!).
Sheila's likable. Well, sort of. Her new friends have described her as “an interesting person” and “not that bad.”
At this new summer rental, she can spread out, for the first time, in her own bedroom, and, for the first time ever, she has some girl neighbors as friends.
Her world is getting bigger, and her new friends have zero tolerance for her tall tales and arrogance, so she learns to face her quirks rather than lose some good friends.
And, friends are important. Sometimes they do need to let us know that we're limiting our own lives or we're harming our own bodies. Sometimes they do need to call us out on our tall tales, even when it makes us uncomfortable.
Friends help us figure out what we want, what we don't want, and who we want to be.
The friends in this story help remind Sheila the Great that her one-woman (well, girl!) act could use a few upgrades.
April 17, 2022
Judy Blume's 1972 Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great is one of these novels that while I can and do much appreciate the plot-lines, the characterisation, the often spot-on descriptions of 1970s Middle Class America, I just DO NOT LIKE the main character (Sheila Tubman) all that much (if at all). Because although massively insecure, with many fears (which also unfortunately her parents do not generally take in any way seriously enough), Sheila is nevertheless constantly, annoyingly (like a typical narcissist) boasting about oh how supposedly "wonderful" and seemingly perfect in every way she is (that Sheila Tubman is a yo-yo champ, even when she is not, that she can swim, although she is not only a non swimmer but actually massively afraid of water, that she is basically and for all intents and purposes the proverbial greatest thing since sliced bread so to speak). And sorry, but I absolutely and utterly DESPISE with every fibre of myself ALL individuals( both in real life and in the novels I read) who think and proclaim that they are always right and have a ready excuse for everything.
Indeed, Sheila's constant penchant for bragging in Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great (even if this might also be a case of Judy Blume’s irony), her stretching of the truth, her frequent and nasty squabbling with her older sister Libby are thus more than a bit emotionally grating, although I actually do with appreciation also commend Judy Blume for having depicted the Tubmans as rather imperfect and somewhat dysfunctional (for while the parents are in no way ever abusive, they do seem to be rather remote and insensitive, especially towards Sheila's fears, and more than likely, her rather annoying bragging and boasting tendencies are in fact desperate measures to hide and offset her own lack of self esteem, her own insecurities and the fact that her dearest and dearest are neglectful, and at best, rather thoughtless). Definitely a worthwhile and enlightening reading experience, but Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great is not a book that I could ever even remotely consider a personal favourite by any stretch of the imagination, as I really do HATE HATE HATE Sheila Tubman as a character and so well do understand why and how she is Peter Warren Hatcher's (of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing fame) annoying and infuriating nemesis.
Now if you have never read Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great and are actually considering a perusal either for yourself or for your children, please do note that this particular edition (which I think dates from 2007) has (annoyingly and very much unfortunately) updated some of the technology, so as to feature computers and copy machines (both of which were NOT yet in use by and for the general public when this novel was originally published in the early 1970s). And while these here upgrades are rather mild, when compared to those updates where in children's novels clearly set in the 70s and early 80s, there are multiple references to cell phones and emails (none of which thankfully and fortunately does occur in this 2007 edition Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great), still for me personally, it does really chafe that so many publishing houses seem to have the annoying and frustrating attitude that books set in the middle to the end of the 20th century (1950s - 1990s) somehow should be upgraded with regard to technology in order for 21st century child readers to be able to fully understand and appreciate them (and frankly, I consider this philosophy, this viewpoint, rather an insult to children and upon rereading, I have now firmly decided that the to and for me both annoying and unnecessary updates rankle enough to only consider a high two star, and no longer the three star ranking I was originally thinking of giving to Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great).
And finally, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great also presents a prime example how general attitudes towards the family dog and pets in general have changed since the 70s, since the publication of the former. The fact that Jennifer the dog is basically chained in the backyard for most of the day, while this might indeed have been considered still rather acceptable in the 70s, this is definitely and fortunately not all that much tolerated nowadays, and the rather casual and cavalier attitude towards Jennifer having puppies (and that obviously neither Jennifer nor Mumford had been spayed/neutered) does feel rather dated (but in fact deliciously and informatively so, as it portrays American society and its general attitudes towards pets as it was, and is thus a perfect vehicle for discussion). And I do find it both refreshing and brave that with Sheila Tubman, Judy Blume has successfully and yes, even compassionately, presented the general truth that NOT EVERYONE likes dogs, that there are those who simply do not appreciate canines, and those, such as Sheila Tubman, who are legitimately frightened of them (and although Blume also demonstrates that many of Sheila's fears regarding dogs are rather exaggerated and even unreasonable, she also and thankfully never suggests that Sheila should simply somehow learn to be friends with Jennifer and her puppies, just because that is what many, what society as a whole seem to expect and dictate).
Indeed, Sheila's constant penchant for bragging in Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great (even if this might also be a case of Judy Blume’s irony), her stretching of the truth, her frequent and nasty squabbling with her older sister Libby are thus more than a bit emotionally grating, although I actually do with appreciation also commend Judy Blume for having depicted the Tubmans as rather imperfect and somewhat dysfunctional (for while the parents are in no way ever abusive, they do seem to be rather remote and insensitive, especially towards Sheila's fears, and more than likely, her rather annoying bragging and boasting tendencies are in fact desperate measures to hide and offset her own lack of self esteem, her own insecurities and the fact that her dearest and dearest are neglectful, and at best, rather thoughtless). Definitely a worthwhile and enlightening reading experience, but Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great is not a book that I could ever even remotely consider a personal favourite by any stretch of the imagination, as I really do HATE HATE HATE Sheila Tubman as a character and so well do understand why and how she is Peter Warren Hatcher's (of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing fame) annoying and infuriating nemesis.
Now if you have never read Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great and are actually considering a perusal either for yourself or for your children, please do note that this particular edition (which I think dates from 2007) has (annoyingly and very much unfortunately) updated some of the technology, so as to feature computers and copy machines (both of which were NOT yet in use by and for the general public when this novel was originally published in the early 1970s). And while these here upgrades are rather mild, when compared to those updates where in children's novels clearly set in the 70s and early 80s, there are multiple references to cell phones and emails (none of which thankfully and fortunately does occur in this 2007 edition Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great), still for me personally, it does really chafe that so many publishing houses seem to have the annoying and frustrating attitude that books set in the middle to the end of the 20th century (1950s - 1990s) somehow should be upgraded with regard to technology in order for 21st century child readers to be able to fully understand and appreciate them (and frankly, I consider this philosophy, this viewpoint, rather an insult to children and upon rereading, I have now firmly decided that the to and for me both annoying and unnecessary updates rankle enough to only consider a high two star, and no longer the three star ranking I was originally thinking of giving to Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great).
And finally, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great also presents a prime example how general attitudes towards the family dog and pets in general have changed since the 70s, since the publication of the former. The fact that Jennifer the dog is basically chained in the backyard for most of the day, while this might indeed have been considered still rather acceptable in the 70s, this is definitely and fortunately not all that much tolerated nowadays, and the rather casual and cavalier attitude towards Jennifer having puppies (and that obviously neither Jennifer nor Mumford had been spayed/neutered) does feel rather dated (but in fact deliciously and informatively so, as it portrays American society and its general attitudes towards pets as it was, and is thus a perfect vehicle for discussion). And I do find it both refreshing and brave that with Sheila Tubman, Judy Blume has successfully and yes, even compassionately, presented the general truth that NOT EVERYONE likes dogs, that there are those who simply do not appreciate canines, and those, such as Sheila Tubman, who are legitimately frightened of them (and although Blume also demonstrates that many of Sheila's fears regarding dogs are rather exaggerated and even unreasonable, she also and thankfully never suggests that Sheila should simply somehow learn to be friends with Jennifer and her puppies, just because that is what many, what society as a whole seem to expect and dictate).
February 7, 2020
For some reason I don't remember this one as much as the other books in the Fudge series, but I thought it was adorable. Sheila... what a character she is! Great on Audio (read by Judy Blume).
March 31, 2014
What Judy Blume does is portray children as they really are, not as what adults idealize them as. This means warts and all, and in Otherwise Known As Sheila the Great, she tells a story about a babyish, bossy, nervous girl named Sheila.
Sheila hates dogs, and hates the idea of learning how to swim. She puts up a false front, because she doesn't want to admit she can't do things. She has a love-hate relationship with her big sister, who dislikes her because her parents indulge her too much. When was the last time any modern YA author has written about a spoiled child and not made them the antagonist of a proper hero? She's a little whiny, quite insufferable at times, but feels like a real child.
Most of the book is her life in a new town. She grows slowly as she realizes (or is forced to accept) that her fears can't get in the way of doing things, and her parents won't baby her forever. She's still blind to a lot of her faults, and she'll probably never be seen as a good child. But she is a very real girl, and it's so refreshing to read a book where the child isn't a miniature adult or just a heroic template, a mini-conan or mini-gandalf, in a traditional fantasy novel.
The only things that detract are Sheila's internal age, and Mouse. Sheila sounds younger than ten years old. I'm not sure if this is because of the passage of time, though. One of the things you have to remember is that this is a thirty-year old book, and kids back then weren't as mature as they are now in some respects. This was before a generation of children grew up as latchkey kids or as driven achievers.
Mouse was the other issue I had. Not that she's bad. She's the "normal" kid who starts to change Sheila by being friends with her, but at times she felt a little insufferable. I guess it's good that we don't have a sequel to this book, because I can see them falling out in a nasty way when they get older.
Still, no one writes children like Blume.
Sheila hates dogs, and hates the idea of learning how to swim. She puts up a false front, because she doesn't want to admit she can't do things. She has a love-hate relationship with her big sister, who dislikes her because her parents indulge her too much. When was the last time any modern YA author has written about a spoiled child and not made them the antagonist of a proper hero? She's a little whiny, quite insufferable at times, but feels like a real child.
Most of the book is her life in a new town. She grows slowly as she realizes (or is forced to accept) that her fears can't get in the way of doing things, and her parents won't baby her forever. She's still blind to a lot of her faults, and she'll probably never be seen as a good child. But she is a very real girl, and it's so refreshing to read a book where the child isn't a miniature adult or just a heroic template, a mini-conan or mini-gandalf, in a traditional fantasy novel.
The only things that detract are Sheila's internal age, and Mouse. Sheila sounds younger than ten years old. I'm not sure if this is because of the passage of time, though. One of the things you have to remember is that this is a thirty-year old book, and kids back then weren't as mature as they are now in some respects. This was before a generation of children grew up as latchkey kids or as driven achievers.
Mouse was the other issue I had. Not that she's bad. She's the "normal" kid who starts to change Sheila by being friends with her, but at times she felt a little insufferable. I guess it's good that we don't have a sequel to this book, because I can see them falling out in a nasty way when they get older.
Still, no one writes children like Blume.
August 15, 2023
My Judy Blume reading continues. In this middle-grade read, Sheila Tubman and her family spend the summer outside New York in a house in Tarrytown, where Sheila makes new friends and takes swimming lessons. Sheila pugnaciously covers up for her various phobias - she’s scared of dogs but insists she’s allergic, scared to swim and tries to avoid lessons and putting her face in the water, scared of thunderstorms and ghost stories so hides in the hay during a hay ride, scared of admitting when she doesn’t know how to do something new (yo-yo tricks), so lies and says she used to know how to do it but it’s for babies. Her family and friends are mostly pretty patient with her, and over time she tries new things and proves capable. I too was a phobic kid who awkwardly covered for herself - even scared of dogs and swimming, like Sheila - and suspect there are many young Sheilas out there who could relate. As ever, Blume recounts her protagonist’s thought processes without judgment.
As a side note, my edition had some unfortunate and unnecessary ‘updating.’ The original is from 1972. It would have been just fine to keep referring to a record player, but instead Sheila’s sister dances to music from her CD player, and a section involving a camp newspaper done on a smeary mimeograph is rewritten to explain that the ‘copy machine’ couldn’t be used so an older mimeograph had to be used instead. I think these kinds of edits underestimate child readers, and in any case become dated themselves.
As a side note, my edition had some unfortunate and unnecessary ‘updating.’ The original is from 1972. It would have been just fine to keep referring to a record player, but instead Sheila’s sister dances to music from her CD player, and a section involving a camp newspaper done on a smeary mimeograph is rewritten to explain that the ‘copy machine’ couldn’t be used so an older mimeograph had to be used instead. I think these kinds of edits underestimate child readers, and in any case become dated themselves.
March 2, 2025
This is going to be the same review for all of the Fudge books because I read them when I was a child and am relying on my memories from over four decades ago.
I wouldn't ordinarily write a review for a book from so long ago, but I wanted to express my gratitude to Judy Blume for this specific series. My mom had an excellent grasp of English, but because of racism and xenophobia, she had internalized a fear of being judged as stupid and unworthy. This has always made me so sad because she was brilliant, and my brothers and I got her very, very smart genes (ok, some of our dad's too).
She went out of her way to keep learning English. She took every class at the library and then started taking classes at the town library when the library tutor told her that she'd taught my mom as much as she could. Then the community college told her to stop coming because she had nothing left to learn. But she had a heavy accent and had a hard time getting the grammar perfect (who has perfect grammar?????). Then one day, my sister-in-law gave my mom these Fudge books. She started reading them and gaining confidence from them and enjoying them. This was an important point - she needed some humor and levity in her life. We all loved my dad fiercely, but being his wife was very challenging. And for a perfectionist like my mom, these books gave her a small respite.
So for my mom's sake, I give this whole series five stars.
I wouldn't ordinarily write a review for a book from so long ago, but I wanted to express my gratitude to Judy Blume for this specific series. My mom had an excellent grasp of English, but because of racism and xenophobia, she had internalized a fear of being judged as stupid and unworthy. This has always made me so sad because she was brilliant, and my brothers and I got her very, very smart genes (ok, some of our dad's too).
She went out of her way to keep learning English. She took every class at the library and then started taking classes at the town library when the library tutor told her that she'd taught my mom as much as she could. Then the community college told her to stop coming because she had nothing left to learn. But she had a heavy accent and had a hard time getting the grammar perfect (who has perfect grammar?????). Then one day, my sister-in-law gave my mom these Fudge books. She started reading them and gaining confidence from them and enjoying them. This was an important point - she needed some humor and levity in her life. We all loved my dad fiercely, but being his wife was very challenging. And for a perfectionist like my mom, these books gave her a small respite.
So for my mom's sake, I give this whole series five stars.
April 13, 2024
➳ 4 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
so, i don’t remember these books enough to give them each their own review but the fugde series is a hilariously funny, relatable series for kids and adults alike. i enjoyed reading this series even being a little bit older and i’d highly recommend this author
we follow the main character and his younger brother, fudge and occasionally get to see his arch-enemy, shelia. overall, this series has very interesting characters and is an enjoyable read about kids and their everyday, funny lives!!
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
so, i don’t remember these books enough to give them each their own review but the fugde series is a hilariously funny, relatable series for kids and adults alike. i enjoyed reading this series even being a little bit older and i’d highly recommend this author
we follow the main character and his younger brother, fudge and occasionally get to see his arch-enemy, shelia. overall, this series has very interesting characters and is an enjoyable read about kids and their everyday, funny lives!!
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
September 30, 2012
Sheila is a sad, dreadful character that while possibly an accurate account of some kid's childhood and thus an opportunity for empathetic understanding makes for a slog of a read. The cruelty and lies that come from childhood fear and self-loathing come across as more pathetic than funny or endearing to this reader.
Much beloved author Judy Blume, is often compared to Beverly Cleary, but Blume is a poor substitute for Cleary. While Cleary's characters have foibles, they are always generally likable and you can see them learning and growing with each page. Blume's characters learn in stilted fashion and leave me with a much worse taste in my mouth. I'll take Ramona Quimby over Sheila the Great any day.
Much beloved author Judy Blume, is often compared to Beverly Cleary, but Blume is a poor substitute for Cleary. While Cleary's characters have foibles, they are always generally likable and you can see them learning and growing with each page. Blume's characters learn in stilted fashion and leave me with a much worse taste in my mouth. I'll take Ramona Quimby over Sheila the Great any day.
August 9, 2010
Thought Sheila was a jerk.
October 31, 2012
The kids really wanted another Fudge book, so I picked this one up because it was listed as the next book in the Fudge "series." Waste of time - Fudge is not in this book at all, and Sheila is not a main character I could root for. We spent some time after reading the book talking about how Sheila would be happier if she would tell the truth and try to do something nice for someone. Did some on-the-spot editing and skipping. Oh, well, there were a few funny parts, and the kids liked anytime the dog Jennifer was mentioned.
October 7, 2023
I read all the Fudge series when I was younger and they were a huge part of my love for reading. They were some of my favorite books that left a lasting impression. I’m
Currently reading them with my 8-year old daughter and I’m really enjoying re-reading the series :)
Currently reading them with my 8-year old daughter and I’m really enjoying re-reading the series :)
August 31, 2009
A recent New York Times article profiling a Georgia middle schol teacher who uses the 'reading workshop' approach to literature noted that the teacher: 'As a teenager...loved the novels of Judy Blume and Danielle Steel. But in school she was forced to read the classics.' Here I thought I was working my way through the Judy Blume catalog because many of her books are viewed as classics of children's literature. Certainly her novels for elementary school readers, like this one about a ten-year-old, are staples of many language arts curricula. I'd rate Blume's work for kids just below Beverly Cleary's, which is high praise from me. They're thoughtful, well-written, and deal with real children in real-life situations. In 'Otherwise,' a good example, Sheila Tubman puts on a brave face but is afraid of dogs, swimmming, spiders and the dark. When her family moves to a summer rental and she makes new friends, she is forced to confront those fears and take some risks.
I haven't yet read Blume's teenage or adult books. And I'm all for Nancie Atwell's 'reading workshop' approach, which encourages choice, and that great Georgia teacher who took a risk by introducing it in her seventh and eighth grade classes. I don't think kids in any grade should have to read any one book, even if by Judy Blume or Beverly Cleary. Kids should just have to read some books, and think critically about what they are reading. I have seen middle schoolers (and high schoolers!) who may never look into books by Mark Twain or William Golding or Harper Lee again because they were once required to read these authors, and that's a shame. What some middle school teachers might learn from elementary school is reading aloud a book or a part of a book their students might not pick up, where the teacher can stop and check if processing is going on. That's what often happens in fourth grade with Blume's 'Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,' and many kids go on to read the rest of the Fudge books on their own.
I haven't yet read Blume's teenage or adult books. And I'm all for Nancie Atwell's 'reading workshop' approach, which encourages choice, and that great Georgia teacher who took a risk by introducing it in her seventh and eighth grade classes. I don't think kids in any grade should have to read any one book, even if by Judy Blume or Beverly Cleary. Kids should just have to read some books, and think critically about what they are reading. I have seen middle schoolers (and high schoolers!) who may never look into books by Mark Twain or William Golding or Harper Lee again because they were once required to read these authors, and that's a shame. What some middle school teachers might learn from elementary school is reading aloud a book or a part of a book their students might not pick up, where the teacher can stop and check if processing is going on. That's what often happens in fourth grade with Blume's 'Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,' and many kids go on to read the rest of the Fudge books on their own.
May 15, 2025
I'm really having fun reading children's books. I missed a lot of good stuff when I was little, so it's kind of catching up with children's classics. I became a huge fan of Blume's writing. It's kind of good way to get back to normal life when you had the world's worst drafted 50 page contract to review.
This book is from Fudge series, but unfortunately, without Fudge. The good news is, Fudge is starring in all other books. I love him so much. Four stars for not including Fudge here.
This book is from Fudge series, but unfortunately, without Fudge. The good news is, Fudge is starring in all other books. I love him so much. Four stars for not including Fudge here.
December 9, 2020
Man I do enjoy reading 1-star reviews of children's books written by goodreads users who have so obviously never met a child
February 25, 2013
Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume was the second book in the Fudge series of which I'm reading to my 5-yr-old. Since he has twin 2-yr-old brothers, I thought this series was a perfect fit. Since this was the only book to cover the girl's life, I was going to skip it. But when I told my son, he said in a perfectly sarcastic voice, "M-om! You can't skip a book of a series! That's just not right!" So I ordered it, and we read it. He absolutely loved it. I had forgotten what it was about, only remembering how much I loved the Fudge books, which I had read in fourth grade. In this one, Sheila goes to away to the country for the summer and makes a new friend, Mouse, and goes to camp and has to learn how to swim, which she's deathly afraid of. I haven't started swimming lessons with my son yet, but told him a while back that, he too, would be required to swim. He hates getting his face wet and acts like he's drowning when ever I rinse his hair in the bath. So he could completely relate to Sheila in this way. I often made comments like "Boy, she's really scared of swimming and getting her face wet! Hmmm, I seem to recall that I know someone else like that...but I can't remember..." And my son's reply is to punch me in the arm, roll his eyes, and say "M-om!"
So we're off to Superfudge now, and he's very excited. I thought he'd get tired of me reading the chapter books after a while but he almost always asks me to read an extra chapter. We've made it a habit to read a chapter or two during breakfast, and so when he doesn't get it now, he's disappointed. I'm always excited to read the next book or to decide on which to read next. We especially like ones where we can watch the movie afterwards. There are so many to choose from!
As far as the book goes, it's excellent! One of my favorites as a kid, and even though my son is reading it at a much younger age, he too, loves it.
ClassicsDefined.com
So we're off to Superfudge now, and he's very excited. I thought he'd get tired of me reading the chapter books after a while but he almost always asks me to read an extra chapter. We've made it a habit to read a chapter or two during breakfast, and so when he doesn't get it now, he's disappointed. I'm always excited to read the next book or to decide on which to read next. We especially like ones where we can watch the movie afterwards. There are so many to choose from!
As far as the book goes, it's excellent! One of my favorites as a kid, and even though my son is reading it at a much younger age, he too, loves it.
ClassicsDefined.com
November 7, 2010
Again, I'm not a Judy Blume fan, but I liked the "Fudge" books when I was a kid. While Fudge is not in this book at all, and Peter is only at the beginning....the book centers around Sheila (who appears in all of the "Fudge" books). One thing I normally like about books is that the main character has an arc...they grow and change throughout the book. Sheila is as rude and annoying at the end as she is at the beginning.
Another thing I didn't like about this edition...the original was written in 1972, so they updated it with a CD player and a PC...but other stuff wasn't updated, and it just didn't work.
Another thing I didn't like about this edition...the original was written in 1972, so they updated it with a CD player and a PC...but other stuff wasn't updated, and it just didn't work.
August 28, 2009
I loved this book when I was younger-- I read it a least a half a dozen times. I haven't read it in probably 15 years but I loved it just as much now. I found my old copy at my mom's house on Sunday and decided to read it again (it actually wasn't my copy since it has my sister Becky's name in it... but it's mine now). The book is completely falling apart at the seams-- the pages are loose and torn and wrinkled and it smells "old", which adds to the charm of it and reminds me of growing up. Maybe that's why this book is 5 stars for me- the nostalgia of it all.
EIther way, I love this book. I loved it when I was 10 years old and I love it now 20 years later! I'm going to have Aspen read it now- she's almost 10 and I think she'll love it. At least I hope she does.
EIther way, I love this book. I loved it when I was 10 years old and I love it now 20 years later! I'm going to have Aspen read it now- she's almost 10 and I think she'll love it. At least I hope she does.
March 7, 2016
In this book, my kids learned how NOT to lie away insecurities and how NOT to be a friend who is bossy, condescending, and arrogant. an adult can recognize that Sheila is insecure so she tells exaggerative lies about her shortcomings and inabilities, but kids see a child getting away with being a liar. We had a lot of discussions about being honest and kind to people who reach out to us in friendship as we read this book. Sheila Tubman is 100% an anti-hero and a walking object lesson.
May 7, 2025
I am reading this series with my sons and we have loved every second of the Fudge series. Even though this was from Sheila's perspective (my sons' least favorite character in the Fudge series), we still cared about her and I think many kids can relate to her summer of overcoming her fears. Judy Blume is timeless.
December 12, 2021
سوالی که بعد از خوندن این کتاب برام بوجود میاد اینه: چرا باید زندگیه یه پسر جذاب تر از زندگی و خاطرات یه دختر باشه
?
کتاب شیلای کبیر 😆 ، یکی از کتاب هایی بود که معرفی شده بود اگر خاطرات یک بچه ی لاغرمردنی رو دوس داشتید بخونید. وای اصلا هیچ شباهتی نداشت. شاید من انتظاراتم بالا بود .
این رو هم بگم که شیلا شخصیت اصلی کتاب نیست -شایدم باشه - ولی مجموعه راجع به سه تا برادره و شیطنت هاشون.من جلد اول رو پیدا نکردم و جلد دوم رو خوندم.
شخصیت ها برای من به همون اندازه ی خط داستانی مهمن. و شخصیت شیلا اصلا برام جالب نبود. ترسو و دروغگو بود. نمیخوام یه دختر ده ساله رو قضاوت کنم ولی اگر یکم ماجراجوتر ، شجاع تر و شلوغ تر بود خیلی به دلم مینشست .
کل ماجرای کتاب اینه که برای تعطیلات میرن خونه ی یکی از دوستای باباش، نه اینکه برن مهمونی ، خود اون خانواده رفتن مسافرت و اینا میرن خونشون و قراره از سگشون هم مراقبت کنن که خیلی هم جیگره و رو به ماه زوزه میکشه 😍. بعد مشکل اینجاس که خانوم از سگا میترسه و کلی لوس بازی درمیاره. اینجاس که میگن
Boo-freaking-hoo !!!
نمیخوای شنا کنی؟ خب نکن
دوس میخوای پیدا کنی؟ چطوره ویژگی های بدشون رو به روشون نیاری. همتون یه سن و سالید و هیچ کس توی اون سن ملکه ی زیبایی نیست.
خلاصه که احتمالا باید به توصیه ی آقای جف کینی نویسنده ی خاطرات یک بچه ی لاغرمردنی (به روایت بعضی ترجمه ها البته) گوش کنم و اگر کتابی مثل این مجموعه میخوام، همون کتاب هارو از اول بخونم.
?
کتاب شیلای کبیر 😆 ، یکی از کتاب هایی بود که معرفی شده بود اگر خاطرات یک بچه ی لاغرمردنی رو دوس داشتید بخونید. وای اصلا هیچ شباهتی نداشت. شاید من انتظاراتم بالا بود .
این رو هم بگم که شیلا شخصیت اصلی کتاب نیست -شایدم باشه - ولی مجموعه راجع به سه تا برادره و شیطنت هاشون.من جلد اول رو پیدا نکردم و جلد دوم رو خوندم.
شخصیت ها برای من به همون اندازه ی خط داستانی مهمن. و شخصیت شیلا اصلا برام جالب نبود. ترسو و دروغگو بود. نمیخوام یه دختر ده ساله رو قضاوت کنم ولی اگر یکم ماجراجوتر ، شجاع تر و شلوغ تر بود خیلی به دلم مینشست .
کل ماجرای کتاب اینه که برای تعطیلات میرن خونه ی یکی از دوستای باباش، نه اینکه برن مهمونی ، خود اون خانواده رفتن مسافرت و اینا میرن خونشون و قراره از سگشون هم مراقبت کنن که خیلی هم جیگره و رو به ماه زوزه میکشه 😍. بعد مشکل اینجاس که خانوم از سگا میترسه و کلی لوس بازی درمیاره. اینجاس که میگن
Boo-freaking-hoo !!!
نمیخوای شنا کنی؟ خب نکن
دوس میخوای پیدا کنی؟ چطوره ویژگی های بدشون رو به روشون نیاری. همتون یه سن و سالید و هیچ کس توی اون سن ملکه ی زیبایی نیست.
خلاصه که احتمالا باید به توصیه ی آقای جف کینی نویسنده ی خاطرات یک بچه ی لاغرمردنی (به روایت بعضی ترجمه ها البته) گوش کنم و اگر کتابی مثل این مجموعه میخوام، همون کتاب هارو از اول بخونم.
March 5, 2020
I can't help wondering about the scale of how much certain books are stuck in a certain time, or whether they have "timeless" aspects.
For this book about Sheila, I understand why Judy Blume was such a phenomenal writer when she focused on young people books. Sheila is a fully developed character with attitude, gumption, fears, annoyances and a great capacity to annoy as well! She is quick to make friends and just as quick to let these new friends see her vibrant opinions. She boldly tells fibs and doesn't care when she gets caught. She has a paralyzing fear of dogs and swimming.
So Sheila has the perfect opportunity to test her limits during the summer when this book takes place. Her parents rent a house during the vacation months. The house comes with a dog that belongs to the host family. Also, Sheila's mom has signed up Sheila to take a series of swimming lessons.
While most kids might think this is lining up to be the best summer ever, Sheila is horrified, and she loudly protests the fates that have caused these events!
Since this is a kids' book, I was not expecting any real horror or trauma, and I did not get any horror or trauma! We see Sheila overcoming her fears, to a certain extent. She, like many humans, is reluctant to change her opinions about the "awful dog," named Jennifer.
Also, about swimming, Sheila has been assigned a teacher, for one-on-one sessions. Here is the only spot that comes to mind, where I raise a question...
Sheila's teacher is a college-age boy, named Charlie or Chuck or something along those lines. Sheila's mom agrees to pay Charlie in cash for these series of lessons.
Okay, parents. How many of us would look for a random 20-year old guy to teach our 10-year old daughter how to swim??? I mean, did they check his references? Is he a certified first responder??? Does he actually WORK at the pool, or does he just go there a lot? What the heck?!
Luckily, I very much approve of this character, as he is Not toxic, not a predator. He is fully supportive and encouraging, and patient with Sheila, as she battles her fears and constantly argues with him about how much water she would like to encounter during her lesson. (Ideally she wants NONE, on her first lesson.) This guy is a pretty good example about ideal adult-child interactions. Definitely he sees Sheila as a fully informed person, deserving respect. I applaud that.
And, as I wrote a little earlier, I was glad to see Sheila's summer resolved peacefully! She may not even hate the idea of soon getting a puppy!
For this book about Sheila, I understand why Judy Blume was such a phenomenal writer when she focused on young people books. Sheila is a fully developed character with attitude, gumption, fears, annoyances and a great capacity to annoy as well! She is quick to make friends and just as quick to let these new friends see her vibrant opinions. She boldly tells fibs and doesn't care when she gets caught. She has a paralyzing fear of dogs and swimming.
So Sheila has the perfect opportunity to test her limits during the summer when this book takes place. Her parents rent a house during the vacation months. The house comes with a dog that belongs to the host family. Also, Sheila's mom has signed up Sheila to take a series of swimming lessons.
While most kids might think this is lining up to be the best summer ever, Sheila is horrified, and she loudly protests the fates that have caused these events!
Since this is a kids' book, I was not expecting any real horror or trauma, and I did not get any horror or trauma! We see Sheila overcoming her fears, to a certain extent. She, like many humans, is reluctant to change her opinions about the "awful dog," named Jennifer.
Also, about swimming, Sheila has been assigned a teacher, for one-on-one sessions. Here is the only spot that comes to mind, where I raise a question...
Sheila's teacher is a college-age boy, named Charlie or Chuck or something along those lines. Sheila's mom agrees to pay Charlie in cash for these series of lessons.
Okay, parents. How many of us would look for a random 20-year old guy to teach our 10-year old daughter how to swim??? I mean, did they check his references? Is he a certified first responder??? Does he actually WORK at the pool, or does he just go there a lot? What the heck?!
Luckily, I very much approve of this character, as he is Not toxic, not a predator. He is fully supportive and encouraging, and patient with Sheila, as she battles her fears and constantly argues with him about how much water she would like to encounter during her lesson. (Ideally she wants NONE, on her first lesson.) This guy is a pretty good example about ideal adult-child interactions. Definitely he sees Sheila as a fully informed person, deserving respect. I applaud that.
And, as I wrote a little earlier, I was glad to see Sheila's summer resolved peacefully! She may not even hate the idea of soon getting a puppy!
October 18, 2008
I recently read the book Shelf Discovery: The Teen Classics We Never Stopped Reading which saw fit to laude many Judy Blume classics, but tragically not this one. I kept thinking about how much I loved this book so I inevitably had to pick it up at the library as my childhood copy had long since fallen apart. This was also cool because I found out the children's area of the local library has guinea pigs.
When I was a kid, I read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing first, where Sheila Tubman was a minor villain of the piece so I was glad to find this book written from her point of view. I ended up loving both books. Sheila spends the summer with her family in Tarrytown, NY making new friends, attending an arts camp, learning how burn books can kill a party and annoying her older sister. And while Judy Blume has life lessons to dispense (you won't drown at swimming lessons, you don't have to pretend that you know everything, don't worry about things that may never happen), they go down gently as a spoonful of ice cream. And it's so funny. I am still laughing about Sheila's insistence that dogs did so give her hives, just on her internal organs. Best of all, I could really remember and more importantly FEEL what being 10 years old was as I read this. I think I may have to re-read the rest of the Blume catalog without delay. I love you Judy Blume, wherever you are.
When I was a kid, I read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing first, where Sheila Tubman was a minor villain of the piece so I was glad to find this book written from her point of view. I ended up loving both books. Sheila spends the summer with her family in Tarrytown, NY making new friends, attending an arts camp, learning how burn books can kill a party and annoying her older sister. And while Judy Blume has life lessons to dispense (you won't drown at swimming lessons, you don't have to pretend that you know everything, don't worry about things that may never happen), they go down gently as a spoonful of ice cream. And it's so funny. I am still laughing about Sheila's insistence that dogs did so give her hives, just on her internal organs. Best of all, I could really remember and more importantly FEEL what being 10 years old was as I read this. I think I may have to re-read the rest of the Blume catalog without delay. I love you Judy Blume, wherever you are.
November 19, 2015
This book was another good one from one of the best authors - Judy Blume. Great, interesting story and good for younger kids reading chapter books. Only thing is that Shelia is a bit self-centered and a tiny bit egotistical. Otherwise great.
September 9, 2017
The first book was so great and I loved it so much that I was happy to find a whole new series. But this book ruined the series.
Sheila is a spoiled brat. I don't like her here though she was okay in the first book. She is a terrible liar. A kid of her age is not supposed to be a liar. She doesn't even know lying is not a right thing to do. I wonder why Judy Blume don't make her understand that very clearly!
I missed lil Fudge and fourth grade boy Peter Warren Hatcher whole time reading this book.
Sheila is a spoiled brat. I don't like her here though she was okay in the first book. She is a terrible liar. A kid of her age is not supposed to be a liar. She doesn't even know lying is not a right thing to do. I wonder why Judy Blume don't make her understand that very clearly!
I missed lil Fudge and fourth grade boy Peter Warren Hatcher whole time reading this book.
October 31, 2022
I decided to read through Judy Blume's entire catalogue of works after reading that she was the most banned/challenged author in the U.S. This book popped up once in my search of which of her titles were banned/challenged but I couldn't find any reasoning behind it. I'm guessing for the fat-phobic commentary near the end of the book?
This is the second book in the Fudge series, taking the focus off the Hatchers for a solo Sheila adventure. Blume has said she put a lot of her younger self into Sheila which I feels gives her more authenticity. The message though, of Sheila's true self being private was very shoe-horned in at the latter half of the book; otherwise it was just a cute story of this often bossy know-it-all overcoming her fears and insecurities.
Not my favorite by Blume mainly because I dislike Sheila's character, but not a bad book at all.
This is the second book in the Fudge series, taking the focus off the Hatchers for a solo Sheila adventure. Blume has said she put a lot of her younger self into Sheila which I feels gives her more authenticity. The message though, of Sheila's true self being private was very shoe-horned in at the latter half of the book; otherwise it was just a cute story of this often bossy know-it-all overcoming her fears and insecurities.
Not my favorite by Blume mainly because I dislike Sheila's character, but not a bad book at all.
September 3, 2017
Loved the first book, I was so happy to find a whole new series..
& then, this book ruined everything.. :/
& then, this book ruined everything.. :/
August 4, 2017
This is a little book about fear and facing your fears. Sheila is afraid of many things and instead of admitting she is afraid she talks about how wonderful she is at everything and will not admit she is afraid. Through her friend Mouse she learns to admit to being afraid and eventually she faces her fear and learns to swim. A sweet little story. Not on the same level as Old Yeller. I wonder if all the best books are about death. This is not about death, yet it is about fear and fear is important to face too. Sheila is your normal kid and this is a nice book for kids her age and it still holds up.
April 28, 2012
Sheila Tubman is a boastful know-it-all who is secretly scared of all sorts of things. Perhaps actual 10 year old children can identify with this character, but I didn't find her endearing. (My advice? Read Anastasia Krupnik instead.)
There are some nice moments in this book -- and I did like the character of Mouse, and the poor boy who teaches Sheila how to swim, and the brilliant description of the "slam book" at the sleepover -- but mostly I just found Sheila bratty and annoying.
There are some nice moments in this book -- and I did like the character of Mouse, and the poor boy who teaches Sheila how to swim, and the brilliant description of the "slam book" at the sleepover -- but mostly I just found Sheila bratty and annoying.
July 11, 2023
4.5 stars. It was funny and it was pretty ridiculous at some parts what they did. It was also crazy the amount of maturity Sheila has at her age- it's way lower than it's supposed to be. She still doesn't know how to swim and she's scared of swimming, at 10 years old.
June 11, 2021
Though I LOVED 'tales of a fourth grade nothing', I remember my dislike for this book (read in 4th grade.)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,058 reviews