The Top 13 Judy Blume Books, Because Her Writing Is Timeless

1. "One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo" (1969)
2. "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret" (1970)
3. "Iggie's House" (1970)
4. "Then Again, Maybe I Won't" (1971)
5. "Freckle Juice" (1971)
6. "It's Not the End of the World" (1972)
7. "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" (1972)
8. "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great" (1972)
9. "Deenie" (1973)
10. "Blubber" (1974)
11. "Forever...." (1975)
12. "Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself" (1977)
13. "Wifey" (1978)
14. "Superfudge" (1980)
15. "Tiger Eyes" (1981)
16. "Smart Women" (1983)
17. "The Pain and the Great One" (1984)
18. "Just as Long as We're Together" (1987)
19. "Fudge-a-mania" (1990)
20. "Here's to You, Rachel Robinson" (1993)
21. "Summer Sisters" (1998)
22. "Double Fudge" (2002)
23. "Soupy Saturdays" (2007)
24. "Cool Zone" (2008)
25. "Going, Going, Gone" (2008)
26. "Friend or Fiend?" (2009)
27. "Go Places" (2015)
28. "On Wheels" (2015)
29. "In the Unlikely Event" (2015)
30. "The Pain and the Great One: Saturday Stories" (2022)

A companion novel to "Just as Long as We're Together," "Here's to You, Rachel Robinson" ($9) is a touching look at the realities of tween life. Rachel is a model student with a desire to fix everything for her family and friends. Her anxieties about trying to control things that are simply beyond her control — like her older brother being kicked out of boarding school — will resonate with overachieving people-pleasers of all ages. Ultimately, Rachel has to learn how to live her own life without worrying about being the perfect daughter, sister, and friend. It's a liberating message that still holds up today.

Fudge may be the character everyone remembers, but poor Peter is the true star of "Superfudge" ($9) (and the rest of the books in the Fudge series). In this sequel to "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing," Peter once again steps into the role of the ultimate older sibling as he tries to keep an eye on his rambunctious brother while also preparing himself for the arrival of another sibling. As if that wasn't enough for him to worry about, he also has to contend with a one-year move to New Jersey. Overall, this is a story about all the ways upheaval can affect kids, and how even though they tend to be resilient in the face of change, their anxieties shouldn't be ignored when adults are making major life decisions.

"In the Unlikely Event" ($13) is Blume's second novel for adults, and it's also one of her most poignant stories. Beginning in the 1950s, the story follows Miri, a young woman who witnesses several planes fall out the sky alongside the rest of her community. That haunting day comes to define her young adulthood and changes her and the town forever. Now, 35 years later, she's returning to her hometown to commemorate what was the most traumatic year of her life. This emotional tale mixes classic elements of a coming-of-age story with the regrets that come with adulthood to create a book all about the ways one event can change your life forever.

Blume is best known for her tween and YA novels, but "Smart Women" ($17) shows that she's equally adept at writing for an adult audience. The book follows two 30-something women and their teen daughters as they grapple with relationship drama and the difficulties that come from restructuring a family after a divorce. Told through the viewpoints of the women and the teens, this multigenerational story shows how shifting dynamics can impact every member of a family.

On her official website, Blume calls "Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself" ($9) her "most autobiographical novel," and it shows in the vibrancy of Sally's world. Sally's family moves to Miami Beach in the late 1940s, just as she's starting fifth grade, and in between nursing a crush on the cute boy in class and adjusting to her new surroundings, the young protagonist is plagued by fears that another war could be on the horizon.

"Wifey" ($14) is Blume's first novel for adults, and it's an utterly delicious romp. Sandy Pressman is supposed to be the perfect '50s wife, right down to making friends at the club. However, Sandy has different ideas about who she wants to be, and she doesn't care who she has to scandalize to make them come true.

"Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" ($8) is the first book in the popular Fudge series. Anyone who has a younger sibling can relate to Peter, whose life is made way more difficult (and interesting) by the presence of his little brother, Fudge. Blume tackles the joy and pain of dealing with adolescence and being an older sibling with a sense of humor that's been making kids laugh for decades.

Grief is a difficult subject to tackle, but "Tiger Eyes" ($11) manages to be a beautiful, heartbreaking portrait of moving forward after a loss. Davey's father is killed tragically, and her mother deals with her grief by taking her kids to visit family in New Mexico. It's there that Davey meets an unusual young man who helps her begin to process the sudden loss of her father.

School bullying feels even more insidious in the digital age, but "Blubber" ($8) is a reminder that kids have been cruel to each other for a long time. Blume pulls no punches in this often difficult-to-read story of how easy it is for teasing to go too far. And while kids today deal with different types of bullying, "Blubber" remains a timeless take on the subject.

Caitlin and Victoria's friendship spans decades in the sweeping "Summer Sisters" ($15). The two bond over Summers spent together as children, but now that they're adults, it's clear their complicated relationship is both dazzling and sometimes toxic. Blume perfectly captures the nuances of a lifelong friendship and the truth that no one can break your heart quite like your best friend.

"Deenie" ($8) explores a wide range of subjects that could easily be taboo, including body dysmorphia and living with a chronic condition (scoliosis), but it never feels preachy. Instead, Deenie's journey toward self-acceptance is always natural, painful, and honest as she grapples with who she wants to be vs. who her mother expects her to be.

Who didn't have a well-worn copy of "Forever" ($11) hidden in their room as a teenager? The sexually explicit coming-of-age novel about first love and losing your virginity is no stranger to the banned-books list. However, the forbidden nature of this frank and touching book only makes reading it even more of a rite of passage for teens.

"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" ($8) remains Blume's best and most iconic work. Margaret's story has guided countless tween girls through puberty. Whether she's waiting anxiously for the arrival of her first period or introducing the world to the "I must, I must, I must increase my bust" chant, her adolescent trials are achingly real. Margaret's ability to make young women feel less alone during their awkward tween years more than earns this book the top spot.