5 Readalikes For Judy Blume Fans

I got the chance to see Judy Blume for the first time in person at a recent book festival, and I was giddy. You’re looking at a diehard Judy Blume fan. I love her heart and her humor. Her characters are more than believable; they’re lovable. She’s such a pro at poking fun at adults… and her voice, oh her voice.  

It’s hard to think of other middle grade contemporary writers who might compare to Judy-the-Great. (Hello! She’s has sold more than 80 million books, and she receives 1,000 fan letters every month!).  But here’s my best stab at Judy Blume Readalikes: if you’re looking for honest, real contemporary stories with heart and humor, and geared for ages 8-12, have a look:   

Zig deeply misses his father, a wealthy developer who hasn’t visited for more than a year. After their landlady evicts Zig and his mom for not paying the rent, they’re forced to move into a local shelter. Zig is so worried that someone in eighth grade might find out where he lives.  

A companion novel to Messner’s The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z., this is such a timely, vivid, unsentimental story about poverty and resilience, especially when you consider how many families in this country have been forced into shelters/temporary hotels recently due to the hurricanes and flooding. Parents might use this story to introduce their kids to what it means to be homeless or long for a missing parent.   

I also loved the scientific references in this story and its message about protecting the environment. The Exact Location of Home will quietly grip you and keep you hanging on until the end.   

In this companion novel to Ghost (which you should read first!), Patina, a newbie on the track team, has lost a race. Patina has already lost a lot of things in her life. Her dad died, and her mom almost died of diabetes after that.  

Patina joins track at her new fancy private school, which is mostly white. She’s sassy and witty, and she runs as fast as she can for her mom because she’s terrified that “The Sugar” that took her mom’s legs will one day take her away forever. I love the scenes about pushing through obstacles, rising above your pain, and learning to trusting others. Like Judy Blume, Reynolds tells a powerful story without being preachy.  

In Out of My Mind, 11-year-old Melody Brooks has cerebral palsy, which means she can’t speak or feed herself, but her mind is sharp. In fact, she has a photographic memory and she’s probably the smartest kid in her school.  

But she sits in a wheelchair in a special-ed class watching cartoons, which makes Melody go out of her mind. Eventually, her family sets up a computer, and Melody manages to show her teachers and classmates just how much she knows. A story of heartache, hope, and determination, this is a great story about perseverance and facing judgments to show who you really are.

Sixth-grader Kammie Summers wants to be one of the popular girls at school, but things aren’t going the way she hoped. She has fallen into a well during a (fake) initiation into the Girls’ club and now she’s trapped in the dark.  

The hours go by, as Kammie remembers the best and worst times of her life. She’s hungry and thirsty and dizzy, as you hope behind hope that she gets out of there. Kammie’s voice is witty and sharp, and you’ll laugh and cry as you keep turning the pages, waiting for what might happen next.  

What books would you recommend to young fans of Judy Blume?