Rereading Our Childhood

Rereading Deenie by Judy Blume, with Alex Poppe

Writer Alex Poppe joins us to talk about Deenie [https://bookshop.org/p/books/deenie-judy-blume/158771562a609221?ean=9781481410366&next=t], Judy Blume’s 1973 novel about a girl, pigeonholed as the pretty one in her family, whose life is thrown off track when she’s diagnosed with scoliosis. Alex is the author most recently of the memoir Breakfast Wine [https://bookshop.org/p/books/breakfast-wine-alex-poppe/a213ede7cd61abc9?ean=9781627205948&next=t]. Other books by Judy Blume: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret [https://bookshop.org/p/books/are-you-there-god-it-s-me-margaret-judy-blume/118d507e90c57dfd?ean=9781481409933&next=t] The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-one-in-the-middle-is-the-green-kangaroo-judy-blume/bcf54666d0887857?ean=9781481411318&next=t] Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great [https://bookshop.org/p/books/otherwise-known-as-sheila-the-great-judy-blume/64d04128cbe9f457?ean=9780142408797&next=t] Forever [https://bookshop.org/p/books/forever-judy-blume/8bcc819c347053dd?ean=9781481414432&next=t] Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing [https://bookshop.org/p/books/tales-of-a-fourth-grade-nothing-judy-blume/d81dc0d78b17d548?ean=9780142408810&next=t] Then Again, Maybe I Won’t [https://bookshop.org/p/books/then-again-maybe-i-won-t-judy-blume/580fa9471f55a538?ean=9781481413657&next=t] It’s Not the End of the World [https://bookshop.org/p/books/it-s-not-the-end-of-the-world-judy-blume/5e2a767d8eb849f8?ean=9781481411165&next=t] Blubber [https://bookshop.org/p/books/blubber-judy-blume/f5e1ff06eba572e0?ean=9781481410137&next=t] (this is the book Alex couldn’t remember the name of) In the Unlikely Event [https://bookshop.org/p/books/in-the-unlikely-event-a-novel-judy-blume/8256bfb4bce33e70?ean=9781101873984&next=t] (this is the adult novel we couldn’t remember the name of) Also mentioned: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, the 2023 movie (trailer here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzRzojHC3iE]) Judy Blume: A Life [https://bookshop.org/p/books/judy-blume-a-life-mark-oppenheimer/2bf077d5b300925c?ean=9780593714447&next=t] by Mark Oppenheimer New Yorker review [https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/judy-blume-a-life-and-the-problem-of-biography] of Judy Blume: A Life by Katy Waldman Otherwise Known as Judy the Great [https://bookshop.org/p/books/otherwise-known-as-judy-the-great-a-poetic-ode-to-judy-blume-selina-alko/6ef2765fbed70542?ean=9780316570633&next=t] by Selina Alko, children’s biography of Judy Blume Michigan Daily article about Deenie [https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/b-side/deenie-my-crooked-spine-and-why-judy-blume-is-my-hero/] by Rebecca Smith, a student with scoliosis To Kill a Mockingbird [https://bookshop.org/p/books/to-kill-a-mockingbird-harper-lee/e4db1b064c8dd758?ean=9780060935467&next=t] by Harper Lee Recommended for fans of Deenie: Alex: Fight Night [https://bookshop.org/p/books/fight-night-miriam-toews/39b3668fe3e4fbe8?ean=9781635579789&next=t] by Miriam Toews; “The River Nemanus,” a short story by Anthony Doerr from the collection Memory Wall [https://bookshop.org/p/books/memory-wall-stories-anthony-doerr/1ad977dfbd5cfe20?ean=9781439182840&next=t] Mary Grace: Karen [https://bookshop.org/p/books/karen-a-true-story-told-by-her-mother-marie-killilea/410bf2e45c53fce3?ean=9781504053303&next=t]and With Love from Karen [https://bookshop.org/p/books/with-love-from-karen-marie-killilea/432fa6f0f1391e28?ean=9781504053310&next=t] by Marie Killilea (MG) Deborah: Braced [https://bookshop.org/p/books/braced-alyson-gerber/2fdff9bcc63175d5?ean=9780545907613&next=t] by Alison Gerber Previous podcast episode: Rereading Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret [https://rereadingourchildhood.buzzsprout.com/2169533/episodes/12873352-rereading-are-you-there-god-it-s-me-margaret-by-judy-blume] You can find Alex at alexpoppeauthor.com [https://alexpoppeauthor.com/], Deborah at deborahkalb.com [https://www.deborahkalb.com/] and Mary Grace at My Life 100 Years Ago [https://mylife100yearsago.com/]. This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting [https://www.bespokenpodcasting.com/]. Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com [https://rereadingourchildhood.com/]

Rereading The Moffats by Eleanor Estes

We had completely forgotten about Eleanor Estes's The Moffats [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-moffats-eleanor-estes/2d05f4279deaab33?ean=9780152025410&next=t] until a friend suggested that we reread it. Published in 1941, it's the first in a series about four children growing up in small-town Connecticut in the 1910s.  Mentioned on this episode: Other books in the series: The Middle Moffat [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-middle-moffat-eleanor-estes/2c2484e41accba3d?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=dsa_nonbrand&utm_content={adgroupname}&utm_term=dsa-19959388920&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12440232635&gbraid=0AAAAACfld40Q73L7_ZBjSgVzzFcKf2qbZ&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsYy9-aWAlAMVXE1HAR0jLQmVEAAYASAAEgIJG_D_BwE] (1942), a Newbery Honor Book Rufus M. [https://bookshop.org/p/books/rufus-m-eleanor-estes/a0fd3903ac458b6c?ean=9780152025779&next=t] (1943), a Newbery Honor Book The Moffat Museum [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-moffat-museum-eleanor-estes/ad500a7846de8ca2?ean=9780152025533&next=t] (1983)  Other books by Estes: The Hundred Dresses [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-hundred-dresses-eleanor-estes/f71883dc57becbd5?ean=9780152052607&next=t] (1944), a Newbery Honor Book Ginger Pye [https://bookshop.org/p/books/ginger-pye-eleanor-estes/3702e3b49ed22358?ean=9780544927810&next=t] (1951), winner of the 1952 Newbery Medal Pinky Pye [https://bookshop.org/p/books/pinky-pye-eleanor-estes/f7e91291c994165b?ean=9780544927803&next=t] (1958) Also mentioned: Many Moons [https://bookshop.org/p/books/many-moons-james-thurber/7f5adb77c0c8c58b?ean=9780156569804&next=t] (1943) by James Thurber, with illustrations by Louis Slobodkin "Eleanor Estes: Chronicler of the Family Story," [https://blogs.lib.uconn.edu/archives/2016/01/25/1428/] by Claudia Mills, on the UConn Archives and Special Collections Blog.  "Celebrating Children's Books Week--and a pioneering children's librarian," [https://mylife100yearsago.com/2019/05/04/celebrating-childrens-book-week/] on Mary Grace's blog, My Life 100 Years Ago Recommended by Deborah: The Saturdays [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-saturdays-elizabeth-enright/4f02ab0160f9d7d3?ean=9780312375980&next=t] by Elizabeth Enright; Beverly Cleary's books Recommended by Mary Grace: The All-of-a-Kind Family [https://bookshop.org/p/books/all-of-a-kind-family-sydney-taylor/df90576e0f38b8ac?ean=9780440400592&next=t] series by Sydney Taylor Other episodes: Rereading The Young Unicorns by Madeleine L'Engle [https://rereadingourchildhood.com/2026/02/20/rereading-the-young-unicorns-by-madeleine-lengle/] Rereading Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary [https://rereadingourchildhood.com/2024/08/08/rereading-ramona-the-pest-by-beverly-cleary/] Rereading Stuart Little by E.B. White [https://rereadingourchildhood.com/2024/05/16/rereading-stuart-little-by-e-b-white/] Rereading Charlotte's Web by E.B. White [https://rereadingourchildhood.com/2025/10/17/rereading-charlottes-web-by-e-b-white/] You can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com [https://www.deborahkalb.com/] and Mary Grace at My Life 100 Years Ago [https://mylife100yearsago.com/]. This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting [https://www.bespokenpodcasting.com/]. Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com [https://rereadingourchildhood.com/]

Rereading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konisburg

For the first episode of our fourth (!) season, we reread E.L. Konigsburg's Newbery Medal winner From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler [https://bookshop.org/p/books/from-the-mixed-up-files-of-mrs-basil-e-frankweiler-e-l-konigsburg/7d7f306d83db0d8b?ean=9780689711817&next=t], which was published in 1967. This book, one of our all-time favorites, has one of the best plot premises of all time: a suburban brother and sister run away from home and camp out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Mentioned on this episode: Other books by Konigsburg: Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth [https://bookshop.org/p/books/jennifer-hecate-macbeth-william-mckinley-and-me-elizabeth-e-l-konigsburg/2fcec5627a93c969?ean=9781416933960&next=t] A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver [https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-proud-taste-for-scarlet-and-miniver-e-l-konigsburg/202ab3106cf71080?ean=9780689846243&next=t] About the B'nai Bagels [https://bookshop.org/p/books/about-the-b-nai-bagels-e-l-konigsburg/6967065872ddb041?ean=9781416957980&next=t] Also mentioned: Ban this Book [https://bookshop.org/p/books/ban-this-book-alan-gratz/8e7bd8f6ccd88a6a?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=dsa_nonbrand&utm_content={adgroupname}&utm_term=dsa-19959388920&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12440232635&gbraid=0AAAAACfld43qAuC27umBfzrXO9XvOT24T&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk_WR1eWqkwMVc1xHAR1UbzEJEAAYASAAEgLhTvD_BwE] by Alan Gratz 1965 New York Times article [https://www.nytimes.com/1965/10/26/archives/a-225-sculpture-may-be-a-masters-worth-500000-225-sculpture-may-be.html] about the Metropolitan Museum's purchase for $225 of a statue that may be a Leonardo da Vinci 1996 New York Times article [https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/27/opinion/art-lost-and-found.html] about a cupid statue at the French cultural center in New York that may be by Michaelangelo Post on the Metropolitan Museum website [https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/50-years-of-mixed-up-files] about celebrating the 50th anniversary of From the Mixed-Up Files 2017 Smithsonian magazine article [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/fifty-years-ago-two-kids-slept-over-met-museum-and-literary-classic-was-born-180963325/] in which Johnny Doran reminisces about playing Jamie in a film version of From the Mixed-Up Files Recommended by Mary Grace: Freaky Friday [https://bookshop.org/p/books/freaky-friday-mary-rodgers/8489c78831528d32?ean=9780063454118&next=t] by Mary Rodgers Other Rereading Our Childhood episodes mentioned: Rereading Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth by E.L. Konigsburg [https://rereadingourchildhood.buzzsprout.com/2169533/episodes/12925606-rereading-jennifer-hecate-macbeth-william-mckinley-and-me-elizabeth-by-e-l-konigsburg] Rereading Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers [https://rereadingourchildhood.buzzsprout.com/2169533/episodes/13900064-rereading-freaky-friday-by-mary-rodgers] Rereading Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh [https://rereadingourchildhood.buzzsprout.com/2169533/episodes/13108791-rereading-harriet-the-spy-by-louise-fitzhugh] You can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com [https://www.deborahkalb.com/] and Mary Grace at My Life 100 Years Ago [https://mylife100yearsago.com/]. This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting [https://www.bespokenpodcasting.com/]. Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com [https://rereadingourchildhood.com/]

Rereading The Young Unicorns by Madeleine L'Engle

For this episode, we reread Madeleine L’Engle’s 1968 novel The Young Unicorns [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-young-unicorns-book-three-of-the-austin-family-chronicles-madeleine-l-engle/6a38f958672af2d4?ean=9780312379339&next=t], the third book in the Austin family series. We discussed 1960s New York, racial representation, family musical evenings, and how absolutely bonkers this book is. Mentioned on this episode: Other books by L’Engle: A Wrinkle in Time [https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-wrinkle-in-time-50th-anniversary-commemorative-edition-newbery-medal-winner-madeleine-l-engle/493ab5e95d247d59?ean=9781250004673&next=t] (1962) Meet the Austins [https://bookshop.org/p/books/meet-the-austins-book-one-of-the-austin-family-chronicles-madeleine-l-engle/36108948615c6565?ean=9780312379315&next=t] (1960) The Moon by Night [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-moon-by-night-book-two-of-the-austin-family-chronicles-madeleine-l-engle/af2adc507e8ad8c5?ean=9780312379322&next=t] (1963) A Ring of Endless Light [https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-ring-of-endless-light-the-austin-family-chronicles-book-4-newbery-honor-book-madeleine-l-engle/99b65cf0521638d4?ean=9780312379353&next=t] (1980) Troubling a Star [https://bookshop.org/p/books/troubling-a-star-the-austin-family-chronicles-book-5-madeleine-l-engle/f09120648aa53356?ean=9780312379346&next=t] (1994) A Severed Wasp [https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-severed-wasp-madeleine-l-engle/430e0a4f90ef7bf4?ean=9781504047746&next=t] (1983) New York Times review [http://wojciechowska/] of The Young Unicorns by Maia Wojciechowka Blog posts on The Young Unicorns on Pickle Me This [https://picklemethis.com/2019/02/19/the-young-unicorns-by-madeleine-lengle/] (this is the one where the writer thinks L’Engle wrote Dave as a Black character) and Lady Fancifull [https://ladyfancifull.wordpress.com/2017/12/28/madeleine-lengle-the-young-unicorns/] Article on The Young Unicorns [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/movies/heathcliff-jacob-elordi-wuthering-heights-whitewashing.html?unlocked_article_code=1.NVA.jRx5.rUl0pTF4HakE&smid=url-share] by Mari Ness on Reactor 2004 New Yorker article [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/04/12/the-storyteller-cynthia-zarin] about Madeleine L’Engle New York Times article [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/movies/heathcliff-jacob-elordi-wuthering-heights-whitewashing.html?unlocked_article_code=1.NVA.jRx5.rUl0pTF4HakE&smid=url-share] on race in the Wuthering Heights movie (gift link) Other episodes: Rereading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle [https://rereadingourchildhood.buzzsprout.com/2169533/episodes/13721597-rereading-a-wrinkle-in-time-by-madeleine-l-engle] You can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com [https://www.deborahkalb.com/] and Mary Grace at My Life 100 Years Ago [https://mylife100yearsago.com/]. This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting [https://www.bespokenpodcasting.com/]. Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com [https://rereadingourchildhood.com/]

Rereading A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

On this episode, Deborah introduces Mary Grace to A Bear Called Paddington, [https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-bear-called-paddington-michael-bond/5b79c8ca12307a66?ean=9780062312181&next=t] the first book in the beloved series about a bear from Peru who ends up living with a London family. We discuss Paddington’s timeless appeal to children, his status as a British icon, and how the book can be read as a refugee’s story. Mentioned on this episode: Paddington, the 2014 movie (trailer here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxeBdrGGU8U]) “Paddington Bear, Refugee,” [https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/paddington-bear-refugee] by Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, June 28, 2017 Olga da Polga series [https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/olga-da-polga-michael-bond/10962?ean=9780192737434&next=t] by Michael Bond Monsieur Pamplemousse series [https://www.goodreads.com/series/60892-monsieur-pamplemousse] by Michael Bond “Ma’amalade Sandwich, Your Majesty? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UfiCa244XE]” (video of Queen Elizabeth with Paddington on the British royal family’s website) Article about the Paddington movie [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/movies/paddington-a-new-film-based-on-michael-bonds-books.html] in the New York Times, January 9, 2015 Recommended for Paddington fans: Mary Grace: Mary Poppins [https://bookshop.org/p/books/mary-poppins-p-l-travers/b05ea793f544371f] by P.L. Travers, Winnie-the-Pooh [https://bookshop.org/p/books/winnie-the-pooh-a-a-milne/4da269a49c21bebb?ean=9780525555315&next=t] by A.A. Milne Deborah: Pippi Longstocking [https://bookshop.org/p/books/pippi-longstocking-astrid-lindgren/e56f0a777bedab9e] by Astrid Lindgren, Stuart Little [https://bookshop.org/p/books/stuart-little-e-b-white/3a3648c376ba9331] by A.A. Milne Other episodes mentioned: Rereading Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren [https://rereadingourchildhood.buzzsprout.com/2169533/episodes/14148968-rereading-pippi-longstocking-by-astrid-lindgren] Rereading Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers [https://rereadingourchildhood.buzzsprout.com/2169533/episodes/17171050-rereading-mary-poppins-by-p-l-travers] Rereading Stuart Little by E.B. White [https://rereadingourchildhood.buzzsprout.com/2169533/episodes/15065052-rereading-stuart-little-by-e-b-white] You can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com [https://www.deborahkalb.com/], Mary Grace at My Life 100 Years Ago [https://mylife100yearsago.com/], and Jean at jeanfreedman.com [http://jeanfreedman.com/]. This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting [https://www.bespokenpodcasting.com/]. Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com [https://rereadingourchildhood.com/]