Judith Blume, known as Judy Blume to her readers, is the author of over 25 books spanning six decades. Blume is considered one of the most important and influential voices in children’s literature in the late 20th century, and Blume has been applauded for her honest approach to difficult topics such as bullying, family conflicts, death, divorce, and sexuality. Her humorous prose and likable characters have entertained children and teenagers for over half a century, and her most memorable novels include Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Forever, Freckle Juice, and Blubber. In addition to her works of children’s literature, Blume also published adult novels, such as Wifey, Smart Women, and Summer Sisters. Blume has written for a wide range of audiences during her career.

Born in New Jersey in 1938, Blume started writing in 1959 to pass the time when she was a homemaker for her family. Since then, Blume has received over 90 awards for her contributions to children’s literature, including the New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year Award for 1974, the National Hero Award in 1992, and the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in 2005.