Double Your Pleasure

Double Fudge by Judy Blume

Judy Blume thought she was done writing Fudge books. He'd first made his appearance in other people's books: Tale of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great. The precocious younger brother then started demanding his own books, a series Blume proceeded to pen.

Finally, though, Blume thought she was done with the overly inventive, pesky young man trouble-magnet. Then a demand was made that she couldn't refuse. Her only grandson asked for another book about his favorite character-Farley Drexel Hatcher, also known as Fudge. And what grandmother can refuse her progeny? So was born Double Fudge, the latest-and possibly last-installment of Pete and his wacky family. It came out exactly 30 years after Fudge was first created. Thankfully, the tot has been much slower in his aging and is only six when this book opens.

This book begins with Fudge articulating his new obsession: Money. When he can't get as much as he wants to buy New York, he begins minting his own Fudge bucks. This tacky obsession and blatant materialism embarrasses his brother, but Pete soon has other problems. His best friend moves away and his family discovers some long-lost obnoxious relatives who decide to move in for a while. It is not an easy time for a kid who gets embarrassed as easily as Pete does.

What follows is the usual rumpus and collection of hilarious hi-jinks that have made the Fudge books so popular amongst the six to nine set. While Fudge is exaggerated and borders on caricature, he is an accurate portrayal of the perspective of an older brother looking at a troublesome, yet loved, sibling.

Double Fudge brings back many of the favorite characters from other books: Peter, little sister Tootsie, best friend Jimmy Fargo, Grandma Muriel, Sheila Tubman, Turtle, and Uncle Feather. It also introduces several new ones who are as wacky and quirky as the previous bunch. They are especially fun when contrasted with our narrator and long-suffering straight man, Peter.

The books pulls its title from the younger cousin that they meet in this book, a younger cousin who happens to have the exact same name-Farley Drexel Hatcher. He's a few years younger than the six-year-old Fudge and Fudge looks on him the same way that Peter often looks at Fudge.

My son and I listened to this story on tape while taking a road trip this summer. The unabridged version we listened to was narrated by Judy Blume herself and it was enlightening to hear the author's actual voice bring her characters to life. It was a lively telling and there was obvious affection between the author and her creation.

As always, Judy Blume has written a book that is spot-on for her market. The story is fun and displays a deep understanding of the anxieties and triumphs of children.