Superfudge (Fudge, #3) by Judy Blume

Superfudge (Fudge, #3) Reviews

• 
  Julie G

  This was a read-aloud with the most reluctant reader at my house, and she declared it, boldly, a five star book. (That has happened only one other time with this particular daughter).
  
  It's unbelievable how “on” Ms. Blume was with this 3rd installment of her Fudge series. I think it's possible that's it's better than the original, TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING.
  
  We laughed and laughed, while reading this together. Truly, my daughter laughed so hard one night, she had to sit up and cough for a while. When she finished coughing, she ordered me to continue reading.
  
  One weird bit: this chapter book was published in 1980, when I was a girl, and, though everything else about the story seems accurate and consistent, Peter's Christmas list (on page 141) includes a laptop computer, an MP3 player and CDs.
  
  This gave me great pause. I could only confirm, anecdotally, that none of these items existed in 1980. I then did some homework and now I can officially contribute that neither MP3 players nor CDs existed in 1980. Apparently laptops existed, but were still experimental and not in common use.
  
  The only thing I can imagine is that these changes must have been added in either 2003 or 2007, when this book was reissued, but I see nowhere in the book where these updates are indicated.
  
  Is this really okay, to update language/make changes in a book, without making a note of it? My 12-year-old started arguing with me, telling me that I must be mistaken, that Peter couldn't have asked for these items for Christmas unless they actually existed, but I have proven that they did not.
  
  Personally, I think this practice creates historical inaccuracies, and I don't like it. Books are time capsules; they capture the current time, not the future.
  
  Either way, this story offers a beautifully written and witty narrative, well-developed characters and authentic dialogue. It's a classic!
• 
  Greg

  In third grade or maybe it was second, I don't remember, but I had the same teacher for both grades so it's irrelevant to the story; so anyway in whatever grade, second or third, my teacher started to read from Superfudge to the class every Friday afternoon. The class got enthralled in the book, and getting a hold of the book from the school library was a pretty impressive feat since everyone in the class wanted the one copy. I can still remember exactly where on the shelf it would have sat if the book had ever actually been in, but trying to get this book became something on an obsession of mine, going to the shelf to see if the book was there on every library trip. Even after I finally did get a hold of the book from the library (when I was in fourth grade (or third), I think that the teacher actually had taken out the elusive only copy of the book to read to us from), I would still check on the status of the book being in or out everytime I stopped in the library. This book I hold as my first book obsession, and even though it never dawned on me to just go to the local bookstore, or maybe town library to get a copy, it still paved the way for many later obsessions with various books and getting them into my greedy little hands so that I could covet them forever and ever (this almost makes it sound like a stole the book, which I did not. Actually I never even owned this book, I only read it twice, both times by taking it out of the library like a person does. It wrong to steal from libraries anyway. Really really wrong.)
• 
  Janete on hiatus due health issues

  The book's beginning is interesting, but then the text becomes inconsistent and the ending was disappointing and it happened all of a sudden. I'm reading some books I have at home whose audios I found in Scribd, so I'm not giving up on any book in this list, even if I don't like the development of the story, because I want soooo much to improve my English.
• 
  Christy

  Adorable! Love this series and love Fudge. I will definitely be reading these to my kiddos when they are old enough. =)
• 
  Manybooks

  Although I very much enjoyed Judy Blume's 1972 Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, when our teacher read the novel to us in grade four in 1976 (and when I then reread the novel myself in 1977), even then, even as a ten and eleven year old, I found Peter Warren Hatcher's little brother Farley Drexel Hatcher (better known as Fudge) to generally be both a royal pain in the neck and yes, that Fudge was being constantly coddled and hardly ever really disciplined regarding his often unacceptable behaviours inappropriately lax parenting (being allowed to pretend to be a dog and demanding to eat sitting on the floor, repeatedly ransacking his older brother's bedroom, and even when Fudge consumes and thereby kills Peter's pet turtle, while his parents finally do understand that Peter deserves sympathy and a replacement pet, I still do not think that especially Peter's mother ever in any way adequately disciplines Fudge and makes him see and understand that it was not only wrong but incredibly nasty and horrid for him to swallow poor Dribble).
  
  Now with the above firmly in mind, I have therefore certainly approached sequel Superfudge with a rather heavy dose of reading trepidation. As for one, aside from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, I did not read any of the series sequels either as a child or as a teenager (and of course, two of the sequels were actually published in the 1990s and early 2000s respectively and thus when I was of course very much an adult) and was therefore rather worried that if the episodes presented by Judy Blume in Superfudge were similarly zany and at times bordering on the ridiculous as they often are in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing I would as an adult more than probably find them no longer all that amusing but for the most part just annoyingly silly, and even more importantly and for two, I was also legitimately worried and concerned that in particular Fudge would be as unmannerly, as undisciplined and as much of a thorn in his older brother Peter's side in Superfudge as he is, as he constantly was in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.
  
  And sadly, my fears have been more than realised. For aside from a few choice scenarios that I have found rather enjoyable and even relatable in Superfudge (such as the Christmas and outing Santa Claus as a fake episode and how Judy Blume really does manage to capture Peter's reaction to having to move and in particular Fudge's negativity when the parents have a third child, how Fudge totally feels displaced by his new baby sister), I have found especially Fudge as a character still incredibly infuriating in Superfudge, still not in any way adequately parented and again in particular the mother way way too often sloughing her parental responsibilities with regard to her now middle son off on older son Peter.
  
  And yes indeed, far far too often, instead of telling Fudge a categorical NO, both parents, both the mother and the father, obviously seem to still consider his behaviour and his repetitively annoying speeches generally cute and funny and sometimes even seem to reward Fudge's mouthiness and his tendency to constantly verbally harass Peter and others (and no, the parents letting Fudge get away with all kinds of problematic and possibly even offensive behaviours until finally losing patience and engaging in physical discipline, in other words making use of spanking, is not acceptable parenting in any manner either, as it also and certainly becomes abundantly clear in Superfudge that Fudge does not really care all that much if he is spanked, considering that he actually never really all that much changes his behaviour even if he has been physically disciplined and still gleefully and joyfully bothers and like a mosquito harasses Peter and his baby sister quite as much as before).
• 
  midnightfaerie

  Superfudge by Judy Blume is the third book in her Fudge series. Although entertaining and a nice addition, it's definitely for older children. While I could get away with reading the first and second book in the series to my five-year-old, this one had several sections I had to "fudge" over a bit. From the chapter on discovering where babies come from to the chapter on uncovering the truth about Santa Claus, you can tell this is very much a book from a sixth grader's point of view. I remember loving them when I was in fourth grade, but I was older. I think we'll hold off on finishing this series for a bit especially since I have so many others that I can't wait to read with my son. From Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, to the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, there's a huge stack of wonderful stories on my shelf waiting to be shared with my son. As for the Fudge series, it's still a beloved story in our house. So much so, that we've taken to calling my two-year-old twins Fudge 1 and Fudge 2. I highly recommend the series, just make sure you read them first if you want to share them with a younger child.
  
  
  ClassicsDefined.com
• 
  Jerry

  It's easy to see why this book is still among the best loved pieces of children's literature. Even though some of the references were contradictory--a sixth grade kid wears a shirt that says "Class of 1991," yet there are mentions of Cartoon Network and an MP3 player--the story involves family dynamics that don't change. Just like with Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, having a niece and two nephews has helped me understand the Hatcher family's struggles with Fudge much better than I did when I first read this in elementary school. Like a true classic, it stands the test of time.
• 
  Ola

  Holy Shnikes, I've forgotten how funny the Fudge books are. Some of the one-liners here are KILLER.
  
  A new baby is born into the Hatcher family. Peter's family moves to Princeton for a trial year, to see if they prefer it over the city. Naturally all sorts of shenanigans occur---courtesy of Farley Drexel Hatcher himself.
• 
  Tatevik is on semi hiatus (trying to finish PHD)

  4.5⭐ rounded down
  200 pages of pure delight and fun. I don't want the series to end. Only 2 left.
  Fudge is hilarious! I was reading this and in my head I was hearing how would Judy Blume read Fudge parts. No see? in this one, but Pee-tah-s just saved the day!
• 
  Britta Hansen

  I thought this book was really good! I would recommend reading the first book before reading this one. I thought the characters were really funny and unique. I am kind of mad though that at the end they didn't do something else (I won't say because of spoilers, but if you read it you'll know). I would recommend this book if you want a funny book to read!
• 
  Hafsa Sabira

  The book started with such a nice surprise and had such a promising plot but it just fell all out of place by the end of the book. Honestly,the first book was the best book in this series. I like how Fudge is still a little bit mischievous here but the way he talks or the way he behaves,suggests a little kid acting strange because of trying to seek attention. There's no innocence or beauty in this behaviour.
  It felt like reading a new book having completely new characters whom I don't know at all. I miss Peter and I miss Fudge.
• 
  Scott Rhee

  "Superfudge" is the sequel to Judy Blume's great classic "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" and it is as good if not better than the first book. I remember reading this book until the pages started falling out, so I just threw a couple rubber bands around it to hold them in. I hope to someday share these wonderful books with my own kids...
• 
  Danylle DuPris

  "Superfudge" by Judy Blume was a good book. I liked it, because it was an easy read, and also funny. Peter is the oldest sibling in the house. Fudge is Peters little brother. Peter and Fudge like each other, but as siblings, they don't really get along. Peters mom and dad want to have a talk with him. He goes into the dining room by them and sits down. They tell him they're having another baby. Peter doesn't like this. Once he tells Fudge this, he won't like it either. Fudge through a huge fit and told his parents to get rid of it. Another Fudge!? He doesn't get along with the sibling he does have. What is he going to do with another one?
  
  Peter and Fudge have a lot of ups and downs in this book. They both love each other, but it's hard to get along with one another. They're going to be having another sibling join the family, and they don't like the idea to much. As their little sister comes along they learn to like her. They don't think she's to bad after all. When she's sleeping.
  
  "Superfudge" takes place in New Jersey present day, and around the town. New Jersey is important in this book, because it has certain places and areas that Fudge and Peter go that really explain what it's like there.
  
  There are a lot of themes in "Superfudge", but the one to stand out more is loving what you have. Peter and Fudge don't want a little sister around, but learn that she is now apart of the family, and they can't get rid of her. They can only love her. They came to realize that she's not that bad, and can be really funny at times
  
  I would recommend "Superfudge" by Judy Blume to anyone in middle school and high school. It's a quick easy read, but you will also enjoy reading the book.
• 
  Megan

  4th-5th grade (independent reading)
  Blume does such an excellent job with her books. They are an absolute joy to read. Superfudge was full of what a fourth or fifth grader wants, a fun and intresting plot, characters they can relate with, and text they can understand. The plot of Superfudge had twists and turns from the new baby's arrival to moves to and from the country. At the ages suggested above, children may relate if they have the same circumstances going on in their own lives. The characters of Superfudge are also easy to identify in a fifth or fourth graders own life. They may have a best friend who sells worms or a little brother who they can not stand. This book has an easy appeal to any student who is into realistic fictional books because Blume makes it so fun to read.
  Language Arts/Sciene
  Students could study the life of worms and their regeneration process.
• 
  Debbie

  I just finished reading this one to my second grade son. After we finished the first book, he wanted to know what happened next. This is a series in which I feel the author should have stopped while she was ahead. She seems to be stretching to find funny things to write about and adding a new baby to the family didn't help the story line. Long chapters, overly descriptive, and not anywhere nearly as entertaining as "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing." But, if you are 8 and haven't had enough "Fudge," you will eat this story up.
• 
  Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*

  I know it's for a much younger audience but I'm trying to start the new year by knocking out these younger books and YA from the to-be-read pile. This book was SO cute and had a surprising layer of things going on for the story. From Blume it's usually so and I continued to grow more and more enamored with her work. I felt for the parents as what bratty children at times - they have much more patience than I do!
• 
  Chelsea

  Read as part of my Judy Blume read through! Judy Blume is the most banned/challenged author in the United States so I've decided to read through her catalogue to see where the merit in banning/challenging her books lie.
  
  So Superfudge is a return to the Hatchers. But this time they have a new addition to their family, a baby girl named Tootsie (or nicknamed such). Peter is having a hard enough time with Fudge and now has to deal with a baby. Fudge has to learn to share the attention as well. The family uproots and stays in New Jersey for a year so Mr. Hatcher can take a crack at writing a book.
  
  This book has been banned/challenged in one state due to the lack of discipline for the children. And I will say these are terrible parents, way too lax. But I don't think this book is harmful in anyway. It's just irritating to read as an adult how wild these kids and their antics are.
• 
  Stephanie

  Owen: it was a great book. I really liked it. If you don’t read it...you...never mind. The most surprising part was when Tootsie said yuck. The funniest part was when Fudge was calling that teacher Rat Face. My favorite character was...actually I don’t have a favorite character. I like them all.
  
  Mom: as good as the first! Fudge is in kindergarten now and Peter is in his last year of elementary school. The family goes through a lot of changes—new baby, moving, mom going back to work, Peter’s budding interest in girls—that I liked to see and have normalized in a kids book. We laughed a lot at Fudge’s antics and enjoyed reading this together.
  
  ⚠️ Santa spoilers
• 
  John Hathaway

  Funny and witty book from a preteen boy's perspective and his daily adventures with his younger, goofy brother nicknamed Fudge.
• 
  Rebecca

  I remember reading Judy Blume when I was younger and while I wasn't crazy about it, I enjoyed reading her books. All grown up and I find that my taste in books has not changed a jolt. So although I enjoyed some aspects of the book, such as Fudge and his funny lines or his silly ways ( I especially enjoyed when he put stamps all over his little sister) I found a lot of it to be easily forgetable and predictable. I also felt that it was out-dated in parts. For example, tapes were mentioned and the "new" law about picking up after your dog. I felt that for my book group of 9-12 year old girls, this would be too young. Knowing how grown-up these girls tend to be, I would suggest this book be for 8 to 10 year olds. Also, as it is a mother-daughter book group this book would be for, I want more female leads that the girls can identify with. Needless to say there are not many of these in the book, barr Peter and Fudge's mother.
  
  So overall, while I found this book funny at times, I felt it wasn't right for my particular group so it will not be used. However, I would reccommend this book to those children who have younger siblings they often complain about- they will be grateful they don't have fudge as a little brother after reading this!
• 
  Kim

  I introduced Aidan to chapter books and the wonderful world of Judy Blume this week. We read it aloud every night before bed, and it was such fun to see him enjoy a book I loved as a child. It was also wonderful to watch him begin to understand that books can be just as enjoyable without pictures.
  
  Superfudge brought the same laughs it did when I was a kid, but, reading it as a parent, I definitely found myself irritated at some points - lots of people telling one another to shut up, lots of name calling - stupid, dummy, etc. While I get that this is reality, with an impressionable six-year-old it wasn't exactly what I was hoping to see.
  
  Warning to parents who may read this to young children - one part of the book entails a conversation about Santa not being real. It would be difficult for parent to help a child continue to believe in the myth after reading that section. My sister reminded me about this part (I had totally forgotten) and I was able to skip that [small] section without Aidan noticing. Phew!
• 
  Brenda

  Originally published in 1980, this story is about the relationship between brothers Peter and Fudge. Being the younger brother and outspoken, Fudge seems to find himself in some very interesting situations making for a outrageously funny story. I especially love that Fudge will say or do whatever comes to mind. In typical six-year old form, he climbs on top of a high shelf refusing to come down when his teacher insists on calling him by his given name. Hilarious. This is a really sentimental book, conjuring up times when boys road their bikes to school or to the lake for a picnic. Lots of fun to read.