Blubber

Blume has been loved by generations of girls because of her honest portrayal of their lives. BLUBBER, first published in 1974, is a good example. When overweight Linda gives an oral report on whales, the cruel and power-wielding class leader, Wendy, starts calling her "Blubber." The name-calling escalates into more intense bullying and humiliation. The novel's narrator, Jill, is a full participant from the start. Over time, though, she comes to question everyone's behavior, including her own. Finally, she challenges Wendy's power and learns that there are consequences, as well as rewards, to taking a stand. Halley Feiffer's reading is stilted at first, but she warms up and makes a convincing and ultimately likable Jill. E.S. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

October 13, 2003
Youthful actress Feiffer's voice could easily be mistaken for a fifth-grader's, a circumstance that gives her performance an authentic edge. Linda has become an easy and favorite target for teasing by her classmates. When she gives an oral report on whales, many of the kids decide to begin calling Linda "Blubber," claiming it befits Linda's chubby build. Jill is in on the action with all the others, until the taunting reaches a boiling point and Jill finds herself on the opposite side of the fence—catching the brunt of her classmates' meanness. Unfortunately, Feiffer's reading occasionally lacks rhythm and often fails to capture much of the sarcastic and biting snap that characterizes Blume's story of cruel, pervasive bullying at school (and on the school bus). Though this book was first published nearly 30 years ago, its subject matter remains relevant and should easily hold the attention of middle-graders. To emphasize this sense of timeliness, listeners receive an audio bonus: a conversation between Blume and educator/librarian Pat Scales on the topic of bullying. Ages 9-12.