Blubber (Yearling Books)
Worth buying if: You value middle-grade fiction that treats bullying and peer pressure without softening their discomfort.
Skip it if: You want a light school story with little conflict or emotional unease.
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780881031744. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
If this page helped you decide, purchasing through the Amazon button above supports UPB Books at no extra cost to you and helps us continue improving the site. Thanks for visiting today.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some outbound links are paid links, at no additional cost to you.
Summary
Fifth-grader Jill Brenner watches classmates target Linda Fischer and finds herself pulled into the bullying. Blume presents the shifting loyalties, shame, and moral pressure of a schoolyard power struggle.
Why this book now
Blubber remains timely wherever children face group pressure, public humiliation, and the consequences of standing by—or joining in.
30-second preview
Two quick cards, fifteen seconds each.
Card 1 of 2
Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You value middle-grade fiction that treats bullying and peer pressure without softening their discomfort.
- You like Judy Blume’s direct, emotionally observant portraits of children making complicated choices.
- When you crave clever twists, the setting feels fully realized and lived-in.
- You want a light school story with little conflict or emotional unease.
- You prefer bullying narratives centered on adult intervention rather than children’s shifting loyalties.
- You need the newest edition, freshest examples, or the most current framing.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780881031744
Worth buying if: You value middle-grade fiction that treats bullying and peer pressure without softening their discomfort.
Skip it if: You want a light school story with little conflict or emotional unease.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Light Short sit-downs
At 153 pages, this is a short, focused read, though its bullying scenes and ethical pressure invite reflection beyond the final page.
What stands out here
This record identifies the 1999 Yearling Books edition, published by Rebound by Sagebrush, at 153 pages.
Best way to approach it
Read closely for Jill’s changing position in the group and for how Blume shows cruelty operating through ordinary classroom dynamics.
Was this page helpful?
Quick thumbs only. No login.
Loading feedback…
Exact edition: ISBN-13 9780881031744
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.