OTHERWISE KNOWN AS JUDY THE GREAT

In 21 poems, Alko celebrates the boundary-breaking writer.

These beautifully crafted, deeply intimate entries brim with delighted reverence, reflecting Alko’s own coming-of-age reading Judy Blume’s novels. The verse details Judy’s family relationships and seminal events in a loving, secular Jewish household in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Though her older brother David is rather naughty—reducing their mother to tears one April Fools' Day—Judy adopts a quiet, “good girl” demeanor. Adults are distant and uncommunicative, so Judy takes refuge in her rich imagination, seeding her future authorship of books that will help kids navigate the uncertainties of growing up. “Fake Book Report” provides a lively example of that incipient imagination: Tired of boring kids’ books, Judy writes a report based on an imaginary story—and gets an A! Many titles riff humorously on Blume’s own books. “Tales of a Fourth Grade Reader” declares that “the very best gift” that Judy’s mother, Essie, bestowed “was letting her read whatever she wanted.” Five poems adopt the first-person, diarylike questioning of Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. “World War II” begins, “Are you there God? / It’s me, Judy.” Experiencing the far-off war’s horrors via radio broadcasts with her family, Judy echoes Margaret’s bargaining voice: “God, if you end the War soon, / I don’t need to be a movie star.” In Alko’s charming illustrations, collaged text from newspapers and Blume’s own novels underpin bright, richly detailed acrylics. Most depicted characters appear white.

A sparkling introduction to a literary powerhouse’s oeuvre.