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Quick answer: If you loved Judy Blume, read Judy Blume's Superfudge, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Freckle Juice, then Beverly Cleary's Ramona the Pest, Beezus and Ramona and Dear Mr. Henshaw, then Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons, and Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak and Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride. All are honest, funny stories for young readers.
Judy Blume wrote Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Blubber and Forever. Her books talk plainly about growing up. These picks share her honesty.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superfudge | Judy Blume | 7-11 | readers who want more Fudge |
| Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing | Judy Blume | Ages 7-11 | family comedy |
| Freckle Juice | Judy Blume | 6-9 | early chapter-book readers |
| Blubber | Judy Blume | Ages 9-13 | school drama |
| Deenie | Judy Blume | 12 and up | more Blume |
| Forever | Judy Blume | Teen | first time |
| Tiger Eyes | Judy Blume | 12 and up | grief and healing |
| Ramona the Pest | Beverly Cleary | 6-9 | readers who like school stories |
| Beezus and Ramona | Beverly Cleary | 7-10 | readers who have siblings |
| Dear Mr. Henshaw | Beverly Cleary | 8-12 | readers who want a more serious book |
| Walk Two Moons | Sharon Creech | 10-14 | readers who like layered stories |
| Speak | Laurie Halse Anderson | 13+ | readers who want a modern classic |
| Along for the Ride | Sarah Dessen | 13+ | readers who like slow summers |
| The Penderwicks | Jeanne Birdsall | Ages 8-12 | modern classic |
| Because of Winn-Dixie | Kate DiCamillo | 8-12 | dog lovers |
1. Superfudge by Judy Blume
Peter's family moves for a year, and Fudge starts kindergarten and a new baby sister appears. The direct sequel.
Best for: readers who want more Fudge.
2. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Peter's little brother Fudge makes every day chaotic. Classic, warm and laugh-out-loud funny.
Best for: family comedy.
3. Freckle Juice by Judy Blume
Andrew wants freckles so badly that he buys a “recipe” from a classmate. Short, silly and perfect for early readers.
Best for: early chapter-book readers.
4. Blubber by Judy Blume
A class turns on a classmate and one girl learns about bullying. Honest and uncomfortable.
Best for: school drama.
5. Deenie by Judy Blume
A girl is told she needs a back brace while her mother pushes her to model. A direct, funny story about body image.
Best for: more Blume.
6. Forever by Judy Blume
A teenager navigates first love and sex. Honest and classic.
Best for: first time.
7. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
A girl moves to New Mexico after her father's murder. Grief, family and a first romance.
Best for: grief and healing.
8. Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
Ramona starts kindergarten and gets into funny trouble. Charming and real.
Best for: readers who like school stories.
9. Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
Beezus is annoyed by her little sister Ramona. A classic of sibling life.
Best for: readers who have siblings.
10. Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
Leigh Botts writes letters to his favorite author as he deals with his parents' divorce. Gentle and honest.
Best for: readers who want a more serious book.
11. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Sal tells the story of a road trip while she tells her friend's story. A Newbery winner.
Best for: readers who like layered stories.
12. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Melinda stops talking after an assault at a summer party. A classic about trauma and speaking up.
Best for: readers who want a modern classic.
13. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Auden spends a summer at the beach and learns to be young. Cozy and thoughtful.
Best for: readers who like slow summers.
14. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Four sisters spend a summer at a cottage. Charming and old-fashioned in feel.
Best for: modern classic.
15. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
India Opal Buloni adopts a stray dog and makes friends in a small town. Warm and funny.
Best for: dog lovers.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Judy Blume: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Judy Blume. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most.
How to Choose
For younger readers, read Ramona the Pest or Dear Mr. Henshaw. For tweens, try Walk Two Moons. For teens, pick Speak or Along for the Ride.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Judy Blume?
An American author born in 1938.
What is her best-known book?
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing or Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Why have some books been challenged?
They deal openly with puberty and family issues.
Which book here is best for dog lovers?
Try Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, which suits readers looking for dog lovers.
Which book here is best for modern classic?
Try The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall, which suits readers looking for modern classic.
Which book here is best for readers who like slow summers?
Try Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen, which suits readers looking for readers who like slow summers.