Online since 1997 DeenieClick on a title to get information such as reviews, price comparisons, and availability or to purchase. Search Again-Enter Keyword, Title, or ISBN: |
|
Deenie
by: Judy Blume |
||
 |
|
or |
|
Binding: Mass Market Paperback EAN: 9780440932598 ISBN: 0440932599 Label: Laurel Leaf Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 144 Publication Date: October 01, 1991 Publisher: Laurel Leaf Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: September 01, 1991 Studio: Laurel Leaf Features:
|
||
| Customer Reviews | ||
  - Body Image and Gaining Independance in Blume's DEENIEDear Readers, Today I finished reading DEENIE by Judy Blume. In the story, beautiful 13-year-old Deenie's mother wants her to become a model. Deenie isn't too hot on the idea, but she doesn't despise it either. She goes along with her mother's wishes only to please her. All these dreams come to a crashing halt when Deenie gets diagnosed with scoliosis. What's worse, her doctor tells her the best way to treat her spine is to put her in a Milwaukee brace for four years. Deenie takes the news hard, but it seems like her mother takes it even worse. The rest of the book explores how Deenie copes with this new change in her life. I would recommend this book to girls between the ages of 12-16. It addresses issues that concern girls in that age group. This book changed my perception of scoliosis. Prior to reading this book, I thought the brace was only worn for a few weeks or maybe a few monthes. I had no idea it was worn for years. My heart goes out to anyone who has had to cope with this adjustment. In my opinion, the most important part of this book is when Deenie accepts that this temporary problem will lead to a long-term solution and handles it with grace and maturity. ~Miss L Rating:  - A timeless book about a serious subject told by a 13-year-oldI picked up this book because it's commonly a "banned book", and I have to read a selection of those for a childrens/teens writing course I am taking to polish up my writing for publication. Judy Blume is one of my favorite authors. From her popular "Fudge" series, to "Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret," she has a fresh way of writing about teenagers and the struggles they go through. "Deenie" is one such teenager. She's a 7th-grade teenager who loves to hang out with her friends, has a crush on a boy named Buddy, and isn't quite sure how to stand up to her selfish, domineering mother when she insists on taking Deenie to modeling interviews each Saturday when she's rather go to the mall with her friends. Pretty typical teenager, huh? However, she is also nervous and unsure (and a bit cruel) in her dealings with the handicapped. For example, one of the girls in her gym class has bad eczema rashes (that are NOT catching), yet Deenie privately calls her "The Creeping Crud" and is afraid to hold her hands in modern dance, and runs to wash her hands several times if she does. So, it's a bit ironic that she almost become "one of them" when she gets diagnosed with "adolescent idiopathic scoliosis". What that jumble of words means is that is that she has a case of teenage scoliosis (it progress rapidly during growth spurts) and they have no idea why she got it, especially since there is no sign of it either on her mothers side or her father's. She ends up having to wear an uncomfortable-sounding metal-and-plastic brace of sorts that is supposed to correct the curvature of her spine while she's a teenager and hopefully prevent the need for surgery to correct it when she gets older. The brace, called a Milwaukee Brace, goes from a sort of metal collar around her neck, to the base of her spine, and she has to wear it for 23 hours, 365 days a week (unless she's swimming or bathing); and that includes sleeping. This book is often classified as a "banned book," because it deals frankly (yet a little vaguely) on the topic of masturbation. Deenie sometimes "touches her special place" when she's feeling scared and can't sleep. Then, in sex ed at school, the topic comes up again, and the teacher explains that is normal and not dangerous if young boys and girls do it. Personally, I don't see what all the hoopla is about. This book was written for teenagers to show them that it is normal to feel scared, unsure about growing up or to have hormones and want to kiss the opposite sex. However, it was written at a time when all that sort of talk was taboo, I guess, and this book is frequently pulled from libraries and reading lists because some parents can't look past those bits, and see the character of Deenie as being a frightened teenager who has to deal with a monumental change. This book is written for 10-14 year-old kids and it's not really for anyone younger. However, I would have no problem letting my daughter read this and discuss its content with me when she becomes a teenager. A great book; no wonder is a classic, even if it was originally written in 1971! Rating: - Deenie helped me while in the hospitalI read this book 29 years ago on the recommendation of my doctor. I was 10 years old and in NYU hospital ready to under go scoliosis surgery. I had worn an ugly, bulky brace from my chin to me hips for 8 months but ended up needing the surgery. It was great to read a book that struck such a chord at a hard time. It was good to know that I wasn't the only kid going through such a thing. If you know a kid who has scoliosis, this is a great book. How often, at that age (9 - 13) do we actually get to read a book that could be written about us and what we are actually going through at that moment? Rating: - A heartwarming tale of love and well Deenie (Deenie by Judy Blume)Deenie was an awesome book by Judy Blume because it had regular teenage feelings but more importantly, Deenie had scoliosis, which is the curve of the spine. She must wear a Millwakee brace for 4 years to correct her curve. I have scoliosis too, and I was glad to see a famous author had written about it. It was a very heartwarming book and you really got to know Deenie. I would defenitly recomend it for readers of all ages who need a little inspiration in their lives. P.S. It's a very quick and easy read, but still has a rich plot and juicy descriptions.Deenie Rating: - An excellent young adult story with a strong messageDeenie is a beautiful seventh grader whose mother desperately wants her to be a model. Deenie doesn't really know if she wants to be a model, but goes along with her mother's wishes so as not to rock the boat. Whenever she goes on modeling interviews, they seem to always comment about her posture, which makes her mother angry. Deenie promises that she will begin working on her posture. When her school gym teacher notices that Deenie's posture is a problem, she notifies Deenie's parents who take her to a specialist. It turns out that Deenie has adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and that she will have to wear a brace to correct it. So much for her modeling career. In the tradition of most Judy Blume books, Deenie tackles many issues that teenage girls face. Deenie's mother is constantly harping on her looks and the hopes that she had for Deenie to become a successful model, whether Deenie wanted to or not. She is a typical stage mom who puts both of her daughters into very specific roles: Helen is the brains, Deenie is the beauty. When things don't work out the way that she plans, she takes her frustration out on Deenie. In turn, Deenie wonders if the disease is her fault. Deenie also has to deal with the issue of being self-conscious about something that is really outside of her control. At the beginning of the novel she focuses on others' deformities: a girl with eczema, which Deenie refers to as "creeping crud," is avoided because of her red and flaky skin; Deenie never makes eye contact with a woman who has a hunchback until her own spine malformation is noticed. Deenie is a story about growing up and maturing, and the change in Deenie from start to finish is evident. Unfortunately, for some, Judy Blume also tackles teenage sexuality in this novel, which has caused it to be one of the most challenged works of young adult fiction. Personally, I felt the references were mild at best, and completely appropriate. Deenie mentions touching herself as a way of feeling better when things spiral out of control. The subject of teenage masturbation is handled with tact and elegance, and I think people just make more out of it than they should. As a whole, Deenie was an excellent book, and one I never got a chance to read when I was younger. I'm glad I picked it up now, and can honestly say that it has a lot of good messages for young adults. If you can look past the mild sexual references to the heart of the story, a young girl who has to learn to look past exteriors to see inner beauty--including her own--I think you'll enjoy this story. |
||