You&rsquo\;re invited to an online intimat e conversation with bestselling author Rachelle Bergstein as she chats abo ut her newest book The Genius of Judy. This book takes an expansi ve look at Judy Blume&rsquo\;s life\, work\, and cultural impact\, focusin g on her most iconic&mdash\;and controversial&mdash\;young adult novels\, from Are You There God? It&rsquo\;s Me\, Margaret to Blubber< /em>. \;
\nEveryone knows Judy Blume.
\nHer books have gar nered her fans of all ages for decades and sold tens of millions of copies . But why were people so drawn to them? And why are we still talking about them now in the 21st century?
\nIn The Genius of Judy\, he r remarkable story is revealed as never before\, beginning with her as a m other of two searching for purpose outside of her home in 1960s suburban N ew Jersey. The books she wrote starred regular children with genuine thoug hts and problems. But behind those deceptively simple tales\, Blume explor ed the pillars of the growing women&rsquo\;s rights movement\, in which gi rls and women were entitled to careers\, bodily autonomy\, fulfilling rela tionships\, and even sexual pleasure. Blume wasn&rsquo\;t trying to be a r evolutionary&mdash\;she just wanted to tell honest stories&mdash\;but in d oing so\, she created a cohesive\, culture-altering vision of modern adole scence.
\nBlume&rsquo\;s bravery provoked backlash\, making her the country&rsquo\;s most-banned author in the mid-1980s. Thankfully\, her wor ks withstood those culture wars and it&rsquo\;s no coincidence that Blume has resurfaced as a cultural touchstone now. Young girls are still cat-cal led\, sex education curricula are getting dismissed as pornography\, and e ntire shelves of libraries are being banned. As we face these challenges\, it&rsquo\;s only natural we look to Blume\, the grand dame of so-called d irty books. This is the story of how a housewife became a groundbreaking a rtist\, and how generations of empowered fans are her legacy\, today more than ever.
\nRegister now for a conversation you don&rsquo\;t want t o miss!
\nAbout the Author: Rachelle Bergstein is a lifestyle writer\, author\, and editor\, focused on style\, pop culture\, and families. Her work has appeared in the New York Post\, T he New York Times\, NPR\, and more. She is the author of thr ee books: Women from the Ankle Down\, Brilliance and Fire\, and The Genius of Judy. She lives with her husband and son in Brooklyn. Find out more at RachelleBergstein.com.
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