When I seen this was about a child my sons age with a sibling my daighters age, I had to get it for him. He read it in two days, he loved it that much! Many times he told me what the little sibling did now, and how he ate his turtle, and other funny stuff. This was a book he definitly enjoyed and will read again!

This book was on my daughter's summer reading list. We both liked it, easy to read and follow.

Even as a child I can remember not liking "Fudgie' The fact that his mother doted on him so much and let him act like a spoiled little brat was unnerving. What kind of mother just glosses over the fact that her youngest child broke into her son's room and eat his PET turtle? A turtle! I mean it was alive when he ate it and we're supposed to think that's funny? We're supposed to believe that Fudge grew up to be normal functioning member of society? They should have put him in therapy. Then his parents being the mental giants they are give him a bird for a pet, and Peter a dog. Why? Also why would a grown woman let a nine-year-old baby sit a two year old? I would have liked this book more if fudge wasn't such a brat.

Judy Blume is often cited as the "most frequently banned children's book author," owing this nicety to her dealing with explicit sexual themes of young adolescent lives. Admirers praise her for her brilliant grasp of the first-person perspectives of said youngsters and the difficulties they go through. Detractors, on the other hand, point to her neutral or ambiguous moral perspective on such controversial topics.

It seems that few are willing to critically examine this highly significant American writer beyond a bit of senseless sputtering and slapdash censorship--an understandable reaction when one's children are involved, but a totally insufficient and childish one considering the author's popularity and influence. Not surprisingly, said parents are accused of hypersensitivity and of sheltering their children. Likewise, many such concerned parents will not recognize the way in which Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and the Fudge series it spawns weave so well into the pattern of Blume books with their subtle but definite potential for questionable influences on their young audience.

To begin with, Blume does what she does very well. There are exceptions, most notasbly the nauseating depiction of Peter's homemaking mother (not all housewives are so indulgent and sentimental with their children's bratty behavior, though admittedly things in America have certainly swung that way since this book was penned). On the whole, however, writing in impressive, true-to-cognition prose, she enters the mind of a nine-year-old urbanite boy with fairly typical childhood angst: an occasionally nagging mother, serious love-hate tension with the neighbor girl his age, above all the terrors inflicted by pesky younger siblings where huge age difference is involved.

As other reviewers have stated, most previous children's litterature was hardly willing to touch that delicate theme. And it is not, in and of itself, morally objectionable. What is questionable is the fact that her main audience is children. Now, real, healthy people do have problems, always have and always will. The question is, what is the best way to communicate this to children? Surely it is not to depict the problems themselves as part of a normal, healthy state of affairs.

As good as this book is, objectively speaking in terms of execution and entertainment factor, perhaps we should ask whether realist fiction does not discourage children to rise above difficult states of affairs, spank the inner mopet and at last grow up. The behavior and judgment of the younger baby boomers, Gen X-ers and newly coming up Gen Y-ers certainly suggest that growing up is something they have yet to accomplish.

Children need good role models and not sheltering, but a guided understanding of the nature and consequences of vice and error. They do not need pandering to their spoiled consciences ("There there; they're screwed up, too!"). Tales of a Forth Grade Nothing has little that is encouraging, beautiful, or uplifting to give them, and so while it stands out as a remarkable work, it is not something I can recommend for children.

An absolutely excellent read for young readers, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing will be loved by your child, especially if they have a younger sibling.



The story, told from the point of view of Peter, is narrated perfectly, and readers will find themselves really caring for him and will more than probably sympathize with him as well.



Also, readers of this book will also find it very funny, and will finish it and be longing for more. A reccomended must read for young readers.

An absolutely excellent read for young readers, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing will be loved by your child, especially if they have a younger sibling.

The story, told from the point of view of Peter, is narrated perfectly, and readers will find themselves really caring for him and will more than probably sympathize with him as well.

Also, readers of this book will also find it very funny, and will finish it and be longing for more. A reccomended must read for young readers.

Judy Blume at her absolute best. This is the first book I ever read as a child and I had to share it with my children. Peter is the voice of every older brother. This story has shown my children that all little brothers/sisters are aggravating, but we still have to love them. This book is a must have to begin your young adults' library.

This is one of those books that should be issued to all 4th grade girls. I feel that way about all of Judy Blume's book's; girls should read them. They really speak to girls and even though times have changed, the message of thse books remains clear. I read it, and I loved it. My step daughter read it and also loved it. 20 years and it is still a classic. Buy this book, you will not waste your money.

This is one of those books that should be issued to all 4th grade girls. I feel that way about all of Judy Blume's book's; girls should read them. They really speak to girls and even though times have changed, the message of thse books remains clear. I read it, and I loved it. My step daughter read it and also loved it. 20 years and it is still a classic. Buy this book, you will not waste your money.