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Fudge #4
Fudge-a-Mania
Peter Hatcher's summer is not looking good.
First of all, Peter's brother Fudge -- the five-year-old human hurricane -- has a to marry Peter's sworn enemy, Sheila Tubman. Disgusting! Could anything be worse?
Yes. Peter's parents have decided to rent a summer house next, door to the Tubman's. Which means Peter will be stuck with Fudge and Sheila the Cootie Queen for three whole weeks!
Will Peter be able to survive the summer? It may not be the vacation of Peter's dreams, but, as millions of Judy Blume fans know, it won't be dull. When Fudge is around, anything can happen... and does!
First of all, Peter's brother Fudge -- the five-year-old human hurricane -- has a to marry Peter's sworn enemy, Sheila Tubman. Disgusting! Could anything be worse?
Yes. Peter's parents have decided to rent a summer house next, door to the Tubman's. Which means Peter will be stuck with Fudge and Sheila the Cootie Queen for three whole weeks!
Will Peter be able to survive the summer? It may not be the vacation of Peter's dreams, but, as millions of Judy Blume fans know, it won't be dull. When Fudge is around, anything can happen... and does!
4 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 1990
927 people are currently reading
5063 people want to read
About the author
Judy Blume
137 books11.8k followersJudy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge. She has also written three novels for adults, Summer Sisters; Smart Women; and Wifey, all of them New York Times bestsellers. More than 80 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-one languages. She receives thousands of letters a year from readers of all ages who share their feelings and concerns with her.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
She is the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation. She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; the Key West Literary Seminar; and the National Coalition Against Censorship.
Judy is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980's she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of Places I Never Meant To Be, Original Stories by Censored Writers.
Judy has completed a series of four chapter books -- The Pain & the Great One -- illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson. She has co-written and produced a film adaptation of her book Tiger Eyes, and is currently writing a new novel.
Judy and her husband George Cooper live on islands up and down the east coast. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
She is the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation. She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; the Key West Literary Seminar; and the National Coalition Against Censorship.
Judy is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980's she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of Places I Never Meant To Be, Original Stories by Censored Writers.
Judy has completed a series of four chapter books -- The Pain & the Great One -- illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson. She has co-written and produced a film adaptation of her book Tiger Eyes, and is currently writing a new novel.
Judy and her husband George Cooper live on islands up and down the east coast. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 866 reviews
December 28, 2022
When Jimmy Fargo pulled out his favorite lunch, a sardine and raw onion sandwich, on page 113, my 12-year-old and I looked at each other and burst out laughing, knowing that something gross was going to happen.
Sure enough, a few pages later, Jimmy tells the group he feels funny, riding the choppy waves. As he turns a deeper shade of green, he and Peter cling together with the Tubmans on the rented sailboat, wondering if they are all going to die. Despite his terror, Peter still can't help but pull away and observe that Jimmy has “breathed his sardines and onions right into my face.”
This is where my daughter and I really lost it, laughing.
This story of the one summer the Hatcher family was forced to live with the Tubman family in a rental in Maine was pretty perfect, right up to the very last page, where Judy Blume proves, once again, how deeply she understands kids.
Sure enough, a few pages later, Jimmy tells the group he feels funny, riding the choppy waves. As he turns a deeper shade of green, he and Peter cling together with the Tubmans on the rented sailboat, wondering if they are all going to die. Despite his terror, Peter still can't help but pull away and observe that Jimmy has “breathed his sardines and onions right into my face.”
This is where my daughter and I really lost it, laughing.
This story of the one summer the Hatcher family was forced to live with the Tubman family in a rental in Maine was pretty perfect, right up to the very last page, where Judy Blume proves, once again, how deeply she understands kids.
April 25, 2014
This is the 4th book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I found out about this book from an highly recommendation by Gregsamson who is also a character out of Kafka's The Transmetomographicationer. That buch is about a bug that is a man. Eww. I'm telling you I would not wanna wake up a bug. First thing is where would I poop? Second thing is feelers are creepy. Anyway, thisbuch continues on after Frudgo drops the ring into the lava of Mountain Doom and from there goes on a vacation to Maine with his family but. Wouldn't you know it! his arkrival Sheila Tubman is vacaying at the very same Maine. And she's the queen of the COOTIES. So anyway, Frodgo baggins and his best friend Gholem meets a baseball player named "Apple Pie" and then there is the big game. What might happen?! Then Fudgo and Apple Pie accidentally walk in on Sheila's grandparents "making kissy time" and the book just gets weirder from there. I gotta say this isn't as good as Judy Blue's other book Are You There God, It's Me, Hegel. But it's perfect. Okay bye.
June 23, 2017
"Guess what, Pete?" my brother, Fudge, said.
"I'm getting married tomorrow."
I looked up from my baseball cards. "Isn't this kind of sudden?" I asked, since Fudge is only five,
"No," he said.
"Well... who's the lucky bride?"
"Sheila Tubman," Fudge said.
I hit the floor, pretending to have fainted dead away. I did a good job of it because Fudge started shaking me and shouting, "Get up, Pete!”
Loved it so much and laughed so hard! Judy Blume knows how to make us do both. Since I skipped two in the Fudge series, Toothsie was a surprise. Fudge is my all time hero. I wish he'd never grow bigger. Had picked it up for a quick refreshment and it sure proved one.
March 2, 2025
This is going to be the same review for all of the Fudge books because I read them when I was a child and am relying on my memories from over four decades ago.
I wouldn't ordinarily write a review for a book from so long ago, but I wanted to express my gratitude to Judy Blume for this specific series. My mom had an excellent grasp of English, but because of racism and xenophobia, she had internalized a fear of being judged as stupid and unworthy. This has always made me so sad because she was brilliant, and my brothers and I got her very, very smart genes (ok, some of our dad's too).
She went out of her way to keep learning English. She took every class at the library and then started taking classes at the town library when the library tutor told her that she'd taught my mom as much as she could. Then the community college told her to stop coming because she had nothing left to learn. But she had a heavy accent and had a hard time getting the grammar perfect (who has perfect grammar?????). Then one day, my sister-in-law gave my mom these Fudge books. She started reading them and gaining confidence from them and enjoying them. This was an important point - she needed some humor and levity in her life. We all loved my dad fiercely, but being his wife was very challenging. And for a perfectionist like my mom, these books gave her a small respite.
So for my mom's sake, I give this whole series five stars.
I wouldn't ordinarily write a review for a book from so long ago, but I wanted to express my gratitude to Judy Blume for this specific series. My mom had an excellent grasp of English, but because of racism and xenophobia, she had internalized a fear of being judged as stupid and unworthy. This has always made me so sad because she was brilliant, and my brothers and I got her very, very smart genes (ok, some of our dad's too).
She went out of her way to keep learning English. She took every class at the library and then started taking classes at the town library when the library tutor told her that she'd taught my mom as much as she could. Then the community college told her to stop coming because she had nothing left to learn. But she had a heavy accent and had a hard time getting the grammar perfect (who has perfect grammar?????). Then one day, my sister-in-law gave my mom these Fudge books. She started reading them and gaining confidence from them and enjoying them. This was an important point - she needed some humor and levity in her life. We all loved my dad fiercely, but being his wife was very challenging. And for a perfectionist like my mom, these books gave her a small respite.
So for my mom's sake, I give this whole series five stars.
June 11, 2019
Although reading about the Hatchers and the Tubmans being on vacation together in Maine has actually not been quite as horrible and as terrible as I originally had feared, I still cannot claim that I have found the fourth instalment of Judy Blume's Fudge series all that enjoyable (and yes, I am personally also very glad that I have finally read and reviewed Fudge-a-Mania and will hopefully not have to ever revisit it again, except perhaps for academic purposes).
For sorry and truth be told, that the Tubmans and especially supremely annoying and aggravating Sheila Tubman have such a prominent presence and makes constant appearances in Fudge-a-Mania (and that at first Fudge Hatcher actually keeps talking about wanting to marry Sheila Tubman) has neither been entertaining nor even remotely interesting, as honestly, Sheila Tubman is as much of a nasty little pain and as ridiculously and strangely, for no good reason full of herself in Fudge-a-Mania as she is in Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, and yes indeed, even Peter Hatcher seems to get increasingly on my nerves in Fudge-a-Mania with his constant squabbles with Sheila and his rather one-sidedness with regard to baseball, not to mention that Fudge himself is still in every way as undisciplined and as lacking in basic common sense and manners as ever (and sadly, that the parents, that Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher still do not really ever attempt to reign Fudge in a bit and are actually even kind of dropping the proverbial ball with regard to their toddler daughter Tootsie who is obviously considerably too often left unsupervised). As indeed, while the episode of little Tootsie walking all over Frank Fargo's prepared art canvas and leaving colourful baby footprints all over it has a happy and perhaps even a financially lucrative conclusion, if one considers that professional art paint is or at least can be extremely toxic, the lack of adequate parental supervision that I do constantly and regularly see and notice with the Hatcher parents and in particular towards both Fudge and now also towards Tootsie, it really does make me shake my head in consternation (and to also realise that aside from the wedding episode and myself being very happy that Buzzy Tubman and Peter, Fudge and Tootsie's grandmother have found each other and have decided to get married, no matter what their respective families might say and fear, I cannot really say that I have personally enjoyed any of the other presented episodes and scenarios which Judy Blume gives us in Fudge-a-Mania enough to grant more than a grudging two stars maximum).
For sorry and truth be told, that the Tubmans and especially supremely annoying and aggravating Sheila Tubman have such a prominent presence and makes constant appearances in Fudge-a-Mania (and that at first Fudge Hatcher actually keeps talking about wanting to marry Sheila Tubman) has neither been entertaining nor even remotely interesting, as honestly, Sheila Tubman is as much of a nasty little pain and as ridiculously and strangely, for no good reason full of herself in Fudge-a-Mania as she is in Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, and yes indeed, even Peter Hatcher seems to get increasingly on my nerves in Fudge-a-Mania with his constant squabbles with Sheila and his rather one-sidedness with regard to baseball, not to mention that Fudge himself is still in every way as undisciplined and as lacking in basic common sense and manners as ever (and sadly, that the parents, that Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher still do not really ever attempt to reign Fudge in a bit and are actually even kind of dropping the proverbial ball with regard to their toddler daughter Tootsie who is obviously considerably too often left unsupervised). As indeed, while the episode of little Tootsie walking all over Frank Fargo's prepared art canvas and leaving colourful baby footprints all over it has a happy and perhaps even a financially lucrative conclusion, if one considers that professional art paint is or at least can be extremely toxic, the lack of adequate parental supervision that I do constantly and regularly see and notice with the Hatcher parents and in particular towards both Fudge and now also towards Tootsie, it really does make me shake my head in consternation (and to also realise that aside from the wedding episode and myself being very happy that Buzzy Tubman and Peter, Fudge and Tootsie's grandmother have found each other and have decided to get married, no matter what their respective families might say and fear, I cannot really say that I have personally enjoyed any of the other presented episodes and scenarios which Judy Blume gives us in Fudge-a-Mania enough to grant more than a grudging two stars maximum).
April 13, 2024
➳ 4 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
so, i don’t remember these books enough to give them each their own review but the fugde series is a hilariously funny, relatable series for kids and adults alike. i enjoyed reading this series even being a little bit older and i’d highly recommend this author
we follow the main character and his younger brother, fudge and occasionally get to see his arch-enemy, shelia. overall, this series has very interesting characters and is an enjoyable read about kids and their everyday, funny lives!!
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
so, i don’t remember these books enough to give them each their own review but the fugde series is a hilariously funny, relatable series for kids and adults alike. i enjoyed reading this series even being a little bit older and i’d highly recommend this author
we follow the main character and his younger brother, fudge and occasionally get to see his arch-enemy, shelia. overall, this series has very interesting characters and is an enjoyable read about kids and their everyday, funny lives!!
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
May 23, 2025
4.5⭐ rounded down
Fudge is getting older. I can't stand it 😭 Fudgie, I want you back, you little monster! No Pee-tahs any more!
Fudge is getting older. I can't stand it 😭 Fudgie, I want you back, you little monster! No Pee-tahs any more!
October 13, 2020
A nice book, perhaps not as funny as the previous two in the series but with a better plot and supporting characters. Kids (aged 7 and 9) both loved it.
June 25, 2017
It's been a long time since I read the first 3 Fudge books. I wanted to take a peek at their lives once again. Fudge is a little older here and a little more of a person. This book is about a vacation the family takes with the Tubman family up to a house in Maine. At first, I wasn't as into this book and then the last 50 pages were absolutely fantastic. I love the ending!!! So glad I decided to give this a try. Shelia and Peter still hate each other at the end of the book and those words sound like the beginning of a beautiful relationship they will grow into.
March 11, 2015
3.5 stars.
Read this series AGES ago as a kid and I looooved Fudge. Re-read this one on my lunch break today (it is that short and yes, I'm a fast reader) and yup, still good. I forever laugh at the "She thinks Uncle Feathers is a my uncle? Why would she think that?" "Because you never specified he was a bird!" exchange. Oh this book, still holds up to the test of time.
Read this series AGES ago as a kid and I looooved Fudge. Re-read this one on my lunch break today (it is that short and yes, I'm a fast reader) and yup, still good. I forever laugh at the "She thinks Uncle Feathers is a my uncle? Why would she think that?" "Because you never specified he was a bird!" exchange. Oh this book, still holds up to the test of time.
August 31, 2023
I read this series so many times back in grade 6 LOL re-read this book for the Maine disaster vacation vibes after manyyy years and it was so fun !! Major serotonin boost.
December 4, 2017
Very funny. Think about going on a vacation with your worst enemy on top of that sleeping in the same house for 2 whole weeks and a total 14 days that is exactly what pete thinks. So you want to find what happen pick up the book and I bet you will not want to put this book down ever and I mean ever.
November 26, 2010
After reading this book I was rather disappointed. I assume that in the eyes of a 3rd or 4th grader it might be humorous and entertaining. However, to me it was just too dramatic and the story was so packed together and I felt like the characters never really has any time to develop. It was about a young boy and the summer trip that his family decides to go on. They travel up to Maine and share a house with their next door neighbors who have daughter that is the main character's enemy. All of the activities that the families do together are very briefly described and the main character's view point I felt was really weak and not very informative. The only reason I would recommend this book to a child would be so that they could have practice reading, I would not recommend it for entertainment.
April 7, 2012
A month ago I read "Fudge-a-Mania" in English without using a dictionary. The book is my American friend's recommendation. She suggested to me that the author's books are good for me to read. It was very true. She has written a bunch of books for children. Even thought I read the only one, it was very interesting, and I really enjoyed it.
It's bit difficult for mature English learners to find some interesting books for children in English. I'd love to recommend the author's books for mature learners.
While I was in America last month, I bought some of her books at a second hand book store. Current, I've been reading "The Bridges of Madison County". After finishing reading it, I'd love to read all her books that I bought in America.
It's bit difficult for mature English learners to find some interesting books for children in English. I'd love to recommend the author's books for mature learners.
While I was in America last month, I bought some of her books at a second hand book store. Current, I've been reading "The Bridges of Madison County". After finishing reading it, I'd love to read all her books that I bought in America.
September 13, 2025
This was my favorite series as a child and I still love it! I’ve read these books a million times since I was 9 and I will always love this series! I usually reread this series every year but haven’t gotten to in a while. I read this to help my reading slump and it worked. These books will always hold a special place in my heart. I didn’t grow up reading Harry Potter so this was the series that really influenced me as a child.
August 11, 2015
I sort of missed the Judy Bloom craze during my early years, and I am tired of missing out in these reminiscing conversations! So I will slowly catch up. This book was randomly left in a cottage in Canadian Cottage Country, so I snatched it up. I like the perspective and wholesome antics. Next: Are You There, God!
April 8, 2024
I liked when Peter swallowed a fly. It was funny.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2017
So many memories. :)
July 20, 2020
Cute story about Peter and Sheila's families on vacation in Maine together, but nothing amazing.
February 8, 2022
It was funny
August 14, 2023
Hilarity ensued, family hijinks galored and giggles abounded!
October 1, 2025
Ollie and I give this 4 stars!
March 7, 2012
This is the 3rd book of Judy Blume's moderately famous series of Fudge. Frankly I read about the series by the time I was ravaging through my Wimpy Kid box set and I took a note to read some of this series when I get a chance. So, why the 3rd book? Well, because when I happened to go to my usual place of book shopping my eyes got caught on this. As all book has a fundge in the name, I thought "What the fudge, at least I will know if others can be read or not". Now lets get to the book.
This book is about a 5 year old boy Fudge and is narrated by his younger brother Peter. Sincerely when i read the book first 50 pages were a travail. But as I know that any book need some tolerance before you can finally decide whether to go ahead with it or not, I went on. After 50 pages i decided to go ahead but it was never so much fun to read this. Peter seem to be a very tasteless character and frankly even Fudge is no fun. The author tried to cash on the Wimpy Kid customer but came our with a shoddy product which leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. I was almost glad that the book ended.
The reasons that I finished the book was that it was only 160 pages and second, I knew that after reading this I can decisively put the rest the series out of question.
This book made me realize I have gone too far with my Wimpy Fever and it's time for a reality check.
I am glad that there are authors like Judy Blume who make us glad for all the great work that we have read in our life. Today I genuflect and pray for all the great authors that lived and I have a smile because I will never have to read Blume again. :)
This book is about a 5 year old boy Fudge and is narrated by his younger brother Peter. Sincerely when i read the book first 50 pages were a travail. But as I know that any book need some tolerance before you can finally decide whether to go ahead with it or not, I went on. After 50 pages i decided to go ahead but it was never so much fun to read this. Peter seem to be a very tasteless character and frankly even Fudge is no fun. The author tried to cash on the Wimpy Kid customer but came our with a shoddy product which leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. I was almost glad that the book ended.
The reasons that I finished the book was that it was only 160 pages and second, I knew that after reading this I can decisively put the rest the series out of question.
This book made me realize I have gone too far with my Wimpy Fever and it's time for a reality check.
I am glad that there are authors like Judy Blume who make us glad for all the great work that we have read in our life. Today I genuflect and pray for all the great authors that lived and I have a smile because I will never have to read Blume again. :)
December 15, 2018
Ahoy there me mateys! I was looking for short audiobooks that fit certain time restrictions. I was having so much fun revisiting old books from me childhood that when I saw that Judy Blume herself narrates these I just had to give them a whirl. And I am so very glad I did. Judy Blume is a fantastically wonderful reader. I almost wish I had been introduced to these books by listening to them on audio book. Of course I only read books one and three when I was a kid. So I went back and listened to the entire series.
fudge-a-mania:
In this book Fudge is now five but Peter Hatcher’s life hasn’t gotten easier. This summer vacation his family is going to share a house with his nemesis, Sheila Tubman’s, family. This book was new to me but I loved it. Basically all the favourite characters are thrown together in one place and shenanigans ensue. I just still couldn’t believe how much these books make me laugh. Fudge wants to marry Sheila. Monster spray is real. Baseball rules. Uncle Feather is hysterical. What a great book this is. I loved that I had been to places in Maine discussed in the book. I love watching the sibling dynamics between Peter, Fudge, and even Tootsie. I just love this family. Period.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
fudge-a-mania:
In this book Fudge is now five but Peter Hatcher’s life hasn’t gotten easier. This summer vacation his family is going to share a house with his nemesis, Sheila Tubman’s, family. This book was new to me but I loved it. Basically all the favourite characters are thrown together in one place and shenanigans ensue. I just still couldn’t believe how much these books make me laugh. Fudge wants to marry Sheila. Monster spray is real. Baseball rules. Uncle Feather is hysterical. What a great book this is. I loved that I had been to places in Maine discussed in the book. I love watching the sibling dynamics between Peter, Fudge, and even Tootsie. I just love this family. Period.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
March 3, 2015
In my option the book Fudge a maina was a very interesting book. I think the pranks that fudge pulls on his brother Peter are super funny. When Peter finds out that they are living next to his enemy sheila Tubman he refuses to go up. Also in Maine peter finds his true love a librarian named Judy. I wold recommend this book to people who like humorous stories. I think Judy Blume did a very good job of telling the reader what s going on. The reason that I gave this book a five star rating is because I thought it was super hilarious.
July 25, 2020
I was not quite as enamored with this book as I was with my earlier read of Ramona; some of this was due to the fact that Judy Blume does the narration and really, really, shouldn't. Towards the end it was kind of like nails on the chalkboard listening to her read. And as an adult, I found I was way less tolerant of Fudge's antics and Sheila's obnoxiousness than I was when I was a teen reading these and thinking it was cute.
I had Super Fudge in the wings to listen to and am now going to pass. 4 hours with JB as a narrator is NOT how I want to spend an afternoon.
I had Super Fudge in the wings to listen to and am now going to pass. 4 hours with JB as a narrator is NOT how I want to spend an afternoon.
February 14, 2012
I didn't really like this book; as much as I love Judy Blume, I just couldn't get into this book. It is part of a series, but the Fudge books just are not my favorite. I chose to re-read this book because I wanted to see if perhaps it would change my mind, but it didn't. It is definitely a family based humor book. This would be at the fourth grade reading level and I would not recommend it for a serious read a loud or study.
April 28, 2015
Kids review - it was better than I expected. I liked that they got to play baseball with Big Apfel. It was cool that Jimmy Fargo got to go on vacation with the Hatchers and Sheila was less annoying as usual.
December 31, 2012
A cute, quick read.
May 14, 2015
I liked it because it had funny moments and even love moments. Also it had some part where you just wanted to keep reading forever.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 866 reviews