Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
by Judy Blume
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Book Summary Information
Author: Judy BlumeBrand: Puffin Books
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-04-05
ISBN: 0142408816
Number of pages: 128
Publisher: Puffin
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780142408810
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Book Review: One of my All-time Favorites
Summary: 5 Stars
This week's book is Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing, a favorite of mine from childhood and I'll wager it's one of yours as well. If you're one of the few who managed to grow up without reading this book, I'm sorry. That's so sad. Hurry up and read it to your kids. You'll be glad you did. I found I loved this book even more reading it as an adult. As a writer, reading this book is the equivalent of a semester in an MFA program and I picked my copy up for two bucks. They won't even let you hang out at a coffee shop near an MFA program for that!
I'm not going to bother with a review this week. This book is awesome. You should read it (again). That's it. What makes it a classic? It was written by Judy Blume:) Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing was published in 1972 and kids are still reading it in droves. Also, it inspired four sequels that continue to be reprinted and read. Whatever magic it is that makes a book classic, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing has got it and if you're a writer wanting some of that magic for your own, there's nothing for it but to study this book (and others; I reccomend one a week;).
I could tell you about the book's protagonist, Peter Warren Hatcher, but Blume does a much better job than I can. Here's our first of many excerpts, and the thing to notice is how expertly Blume works in the necessary exposition, including socioeconomic data, and see how she avoids the temptation of describing Peter's appearance in the mirror:
I named my turtle Dribble while I was walking home from Jimmy's party. I live at 2 West 68th Street. It's an old apartment building. But it's got one of the best elevators in New York City. There are mirrors all around. You can see yourself from every angle. There's a soft cushioned bench to sit on if you're too tired to stand. The elevator operator's name is Henry Bevelheimer. He lets us call him Henry because Bevelheimer's very hard to say.
Our apartment's on the twelfth floor. But I don't have to tell Henry. He already knows. He knows everybody in the building. He's that smart! He even knows I'm nine and in fourth grade.
I should go on to tell you about the book, but there are some other excerpts I want to share with you, so we'll do that first. New York City is a wonderful setting and one I see all the time in adult books, but not as often in middle grade fiction. Even though she's writing for children, Blume still treats New York like New York and here are some tidbits that do not often appear in childrens' literature:
I've never been mugged. But sooner or later I probably will be. My father's told me what to do. Give the muggers whatever they want and try not to get hit on the head...
Both my mother and my father are always warning me never to talk to strangers in the park. Because a lot of dope-pushers hang around there. But taking dope is even dumber than smoking, so nobody's going to hook me...
I never saw bright red, yellow, and orange leaves until the day my father took us for a drive in the country. The reason the leaves don't turn bright colors in New York is the air pollution. And that's too bad. Because yellow and orange and red leaves really look neat!
By the way, is there are a description more authentically nine-year-old boy than "red leaves really look neat!" The conflict in this story, surprisingly, is not the fourth grade. Actually, school makes only a brief appearance in the "tales." Otherwise, the focus of the novel is Peter's conflict with his younger brother (almost three) Farley Drexel Hatcher, or Fudge. Fudge isn't the main character, but he's certainly the star of the show, and it's very telling that the sequels in this series have titles like: Superfudge, Fudge-a-mania, and Double Fudge. And Peter's problem is:
It burns me up the way people treat Fudge. He's not so special. He's just little, that's all! But some day he's going to be nine years old too. I can't wait until he is. Then he'll know there's nothing so great about him after all.
I wish Fudge had never been born, I thought. Everything good always happens to him! If he had to be born I wish he could be nine or ten--like me.
And there you have it. That's Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing in a nutshell: Peter's life would be swell if not for his obnoxious baby brother, who ruins everything. Fudge engages in a series of activities from ruining Peter's homework to wrecking his dad's relationship with an important business client. Peter becomes more and more irritated, Fudge becomes more and more obnoxious, each new stunt upping the ante (always important). Readers don't want to read about the most involving conflict and then go back and read about the second most involving. Therefore, once Fudge has wrecked Peter's homework, he can't then go back and wreck one of his socks. He has to wreck something more interesting, like say, a pet.
What struck me as most interesting rereading this book is that if Judy Blume were starting from scratch today and wanted to publish this book, she'd have a tough time of it. The story has held up well considering it was published well before the ninja was born and its theme is timeless. It's incredibly well written, of course. But it's episodic and there is no clear goal set for our protagonist.
Seriously. I could be wrong, but I've been turning it over in my head and I can't figure out what Peter's goal is, what prevents him from achieving it, and how it is achieved. Robert McKee would not approve. Peter's goal isn't to get rid of his brother. He'd like that, but accepts he cannot and takes no action toward such a resolution. He has an unconscious need to feel his parents love him as much as Fudge and that need is satisfied in a moving way. But that's not a goal. Peter is a poor kid who is victimized by his obnoxious baby brother, but his parents love him, the end.
It helps that Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing is only 120 pages long and very funny. Also, no one can create an instantly lovable and relatable character like Blume. During a party scene, Blume introduces three new toddlers, and though they are only in the story for one chapter, they are more memorable than characters who have stared in whole books. And Peter's friend Sheila is so memorable she went on to be the star of her own book, Sheila the Great.
All right then, Esteemed Reader. We're out of time so that's where we'll leave it. As always, I'll leave you with one of my favorite passages from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. It's important to know that Jennie is only three:
"What does Dribble do?" Jeanie asked.
"Do? He doesn't do anything special," I said. "He's a turtle. He does turtle things."
"Like what?" Jennie asked.
What was with this kid, anyway? "Well," I said. "he swims around a little and sleeps on his rock and he eats."
Does he make?" Jennie asked.
"Make?" I said.
"Make a tinkle?"
"Oh, that. Well, sure. I guess so."
Jennie laughed. So did Sam and Fudge.
"I make tinkles too. Want to see?" Jennie asked.
"No," I said.
"See... see," Fudge laughed, pointing at Jennie.
Jennie had a big smile on her face. Next thing I knew there was a puddle on the rug.
"Mom!" I hollered. "Come quick!"
Summary of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
It's problems, problems every minute of the day. Peter believes he has the biggest problem in the shape of his little brother Fudge. Nothing is safe around Fudge, unless its nailed to the floor.Passed on from babysitters to their young charges, from big sisters to little brothers, and from parents to children, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and its cousins (Superfudge, Fudge-a-mania, and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great) have entertained children since they first appeared in the early 1970s. The books follow Peter Hatcher, his little brother Fudgie, baby sister Tootsie, their neighbor Sheila Tubman, various pets, and minor characters through New York City and on treks to suburbs and camps.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is the first of these entertaining yarns. Peter, because he's the oldest, must deal with Fudgie's disgusting cuteness, his constant meddling with Peter's stuff, and other grave offenses, one of which is almost too much to bear. All these incidents are presented with the unfailing ear and big-hearted humor of the masterful Judy Blume. Though some of her books for older kids have aroused controversy, the Hatcher brothers and their adventures remain above the fray, where they belong. (Peter's in fourth grade, so the book is suitable for kids ages 8 and older.)
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