“I’ve always believed that learning to think for yourself, learning to make intelligent, thoughtful decisions, is one of the most important parts of an education. ” Judy Blume — National Book Awards speech
Content Qualities Overview
| Genre: Realistic Fiction |
| Interest Age Range: 10 – 14 |
| Optimal For Grades: 4 – 8 |
| Guided Reading Level: R |
| Questionable Content: (e.g. Profanity, Violence, Sex, Drugs) |
- Sex: A brief mention is made of the main character’s older sister having a boyfriend. They do kiss at one point. It is not really part of the story and is not described.
- Violence: One girl receives bruises and scrapes in a household accident. Her friends treat her kindly, applying disinfectant and bandages with care.
| Scariness: 1 |
Key
- 0 = virtually none
- 1 = very mild (some parts may be slightly frightening to the youngest readers
- 2 = some parts are frightening or distrubring to younger readers
- 3 = get ready to hide under the covers with a flashlight, the most sensitive children may want to skip this one
| Uplifting Messages: |
- Lies lead to trouble and honesty to acceptance
- Don’t be ashamed to admit you don’t know something, be willing to learn and value others’ talents
- A fight or argument does not have to be the end of a friendship. Problems can be resolved, disagreements overcome, and friendships strengthened with understanding and perseverance
- There is much more to be gained by facing your fears than hiding from or denying them
- Success requires more than just a great idea. Hard work, commitment, and dedication are just as important.
- Families have to talk problems out together and be willing to compromise in order to satisfy multiple members’ needs and wants
| Educational Content: |
- Techniques of swimming
- Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
- Methods of newsletter production
- Pottery
- Summer camp class activities
Summary
(What is this book about?)
Ten year old Sheila Tubman comes home one day to find her family has planned a summer vacation to Tarrytown in the country. At first, Sheila is excited, until she finds out that what this trip really means is that she will be forced to confront many of her fears, worries, and insecurities. The house the family is staying at for the summer comes with a dog, something Sheila is mortally afraid of. She also must learn to sleep in her own room – in the dark. Worst of all, she must learn to swim. As Sheila makes friends at day camp, she struggles to appear confident, capable, and intelligent. But pretending to be an expert at everything soon lands her in more trouble than she bargained for. By the end of the summer, Sheila has conquered many of her fears, learned to swim, and learned to be honest with herself and her friends about who she is and who she isn’t. She learns to accept herself for who she is, gains confidence to try new things, and discovers the meaning of courage. Being brave doesn’t mean never being afraid, it means being willing to face up to it when you are.
Note to Parents
(Why is this a good read for my child?)
In addition to being an amusing and relatable read for children of all ages, This title is the perfect selection for kids who struggle with anxiety, or who find themselves in a situation where they must confront their own fears or concerns. The main character experiences the worry and insecurity of someone trying to hide from their fears, along with the triumph that comes when we finally face up to them. This book teaches that instead of letting our fears conquer us, we must conquer them. When we do, we discover joy and confidence as we learn to be at home within ourselves, which is a very good place to be.
Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume is available in print and digital format from Amazon.
Awesome News! This title is available in audio format – read by Judy Blume herself! Audible