Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself

by Judy Blume

A friend mentioned this novel on Facebook, so I thought that I’d read it again, just for kicks. I read this title many times as a child, but I never quite understood everything in it.

Unlike Blume’s other novels, this is a historical novel of sorts. Our story begins in 1945: the war has ended, and the Freedmans are celebrating. Fast forward to 1947, and 10-year-old Sally’s life is about to change. Her brother contracts a kidney infection, and the doctor advises a move to a warmer climate (warmer than New Jersey, that is).

So, Sally, her mother, her grandmother, and her brother, Douglas, move to Miami for the winter. While she engages in typical activities for girls her age, Sally also spends a great deal of time exercising her imagination. The war figures prominently in her made-up scenarios, which usually take the form of a movie.

When I read this as a child, I didn’t get the pop culture references, like Esther Williams and Margaret O’Brien. Heck, I didn’t get the WWII references either. So, I was looking forward to reading it with the wisdom of a 40-year-old. And? I still like Sally, it’s still a good story, and Blume is still a great storyteller.

11/19/10