The decision to write came from a desire to do more with her time and a desperate need to tell stories. For a while, Blume says in these candid interviews, she tried to be the perfect housewife. The newlyweds moved to a house in a suburban cul-de-sac populated with husbands who golfed and wives who did not work. They got married five weeks after her father died, which caused the writer to experience a mix of emotions that she wasn’t able to process for years. She studied at New York University, where she met her first husband John Blume. Rarely did they pretend in the same way as adults.īlume herself pretended for a while. Children were straightforward and honest. Listening to Blume recount her younger years, it makes sense that when she started writing later in life, she mostly identified with that age group. As a child, she was plagued by anxiety and the creeping sense that adults, especially her mother, were keeping secrets from the kids. Blume (born Judy Sussman) grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey, her childhood marked by fears of World War II. The film opens with a montage of collected news reels and excerpted interviews, all of which establish and underscore her enduring popularity. It is also a primer for this resurgence, a brief but satisfying guide to the author and her reach. Judy Blume Forever is a loving portrait of the writer and a survey of her influence.

And this spring, Lionsgate will release an adaptation of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret starring Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie.

Last November, Netflix bought a series version of Forever from Mara Brock Akil. The documentary, which premiered at Sundance and will stream on Prime Video on April 21, is part of a kind of revival campaign for Blume. Release date: Friday, April 21 (Prime Video) Venue: Sundance Film Festival (Premieres)

Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume