I remember reading this multiple times as a kid (for some reason I was fascinated at the part where Sally is stung by the Man O' War jellyfish) but over the years I guess I forgot a lot of the details because rereading this now was a bit of a surprise...like I totally forgot Sally thought her neighbor was Hitler...
Reading this as an adult I definitely didn't enjoy it as much, especially because of the erratic, jumpy narrative that skims over major events/time in a matter of sentences, yet as a 9-year-old this was, for some reason, a staple book on my shelf. I don't think I'll ever read it again but I'm glad I revisited it one more time. ( )

At the end of the audio book, Judy Blume confessed that this is her most autobiographical book, which explains why it felt so authentic, why the details really sang. Blume's Sally is a naive but very curious 5th grader who fantasizes about capturing Hitler (who, in her imagination, is her elderly neighbor in disguise). The story takes place in 1947-48. Sally's family moves from New Jersey to Florida for the winter because her older brother Douglas is recovering from a serious illness. The story doesn't really have much of a plot--I'd say it's carried by the characters who are all interesting and funny.

P.S. I have to admit that before I read this, I didn't know Judy Blume was Jewish, but it plays a big part in the story. ( )

This is my all-time favorite Judy Blume. I relate so very much to Sally, despite, or possibly especially because of the time period. ( )

I am on a Judy Blume kick as of late. I didn't have time to read a lot of the popular YA when I was young, due to overwhelming amounts of school work. So I am taking a trip back in time and re-reading a lot of the older YA classics from the 60's-80's, (thanks to Shelf Discovery by By Lizzie Skurnick for many suggestions).

This was a cute story, I loved the voice of Sally J., a curious little girl with lots of spunk. She has lots of questions and a great imagination. ( )

this review is for the audiobook edition, narrated by judy blume.

never mind whether or not AITA... I AM! because i am about to say something i never thought i would say... i didn't love judy blume narrating her own story.

i said what i said.

this book was so important to me in my childhood. it brought so many issues and ideas to light, while feeding into my curiosities about the world beyond my front door. i must have read my copy of the novel hundreds of times. it fell apart from so many page turns. and i still consider this one of my favourite stories. when it came across my library radar as available in audiobook, i couldn't resist. and i am glad i gave it a listen. it was still very enjoyable, and while set just post-WWII, and came out in 1977, it manages to feel like a story as relevant today as it was when i read it so many years ago.

here's the weird thing, all the way through the listening, all i could think is 'i wish kristin chenoweth was narrating this story!' then i went down a rabbit hole of thinking about having more broadway performers getting into the audiobook game. good lord, that would be incredible.

anyway, judy is the grandmother, or mother, we wish we all could have. her stories have been touchstones in children's reading lives for 40+ years. she writes on weighty subjects, and treats kids like human beings, never ever writing down to them, or anyone else. i will stan judy blume until the day i die, and i hope - if you have children in your life - you share her amazing oeuvre with them. ( )