Fudge-a-Mania

Title: Fudge-a-Mania
Author: Judy Blume
Genre: Humorous Fiction
Sub-genre: Children & Young Adult
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Date of Publication: 1990
Primary/ Secondary Characters: Peter Hatcher, Fudge Hatcher, Shelia Tubman, Mom, Dad, Mr.& Mrs. Tubman, Grandma, Buzzy Senior, Libby, Tubman, Mrs. A, Big Apfel, Mr. Fargo, and Tootsie
Theme: What is on the inside is what matters.
Summary: Peter and his family were going on vacation to Maine, but Peter just heard the worst news they are staying next door to his enemy Shelia Tubman. To make things better, Peter mom told  him he could invite his friend Jimmy to go with them, but Jimmy could only go a couple of weeks. Once Fudge and his family arrived at the house in Maine he realized that not only were they next door to the Tubmans, but they were sharing a house. Peter truly thought this was going to be the worst vacation ever. A couple of days after being there Shelia asked Mrs. Hatcher if she could babysit Fudge and Mrs. Hatcher agreed, Peter did not like this either. While on vacation the families made friends with another family down the street where the grandfather happened to be Big Apfel the baseball star, who is Peters hero. In fact they all got to play a baseball game with him. At the end of the book to everyone's surprise Buzzy Senior and Grandma got married.
Summary of how to use with students: This book could be used in the classroom as a way to show the students that what you see on the outside is not necessarily what is on the inside. Just like Peter sees that Shelia can have good traits students can see that even their enemies can be good. Another example of not judging people just by what is on the outside is how nobody really knew that Buzzy Senior and Grandma were in love till they said they were getting married.