Judy Blume

Event: Judy Blume in conversation with Times television critic Mary McNamara When: 2:30 p.m. Sat. Where: Bovard Auditorium on the USC Campus Information: http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/

Judy Blume blogged Wednesday that she was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer. She's now recuperating after a successful mastectomy. Blume, 74, is the author of wildly popular books for children and young adults, including "Deenie," "Forever," "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing," "Blubber" and "Freckle Juice. " She appeared at the L.A. Times Festival of Books in April; she was diagnosed with cancer in June. Because she opted to get a mastectomy, she met with a reconstructive surgeon.

Judy Blume blogged Wednesday that she was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer. She's now recuperating after a successful mastectomy. Blume, 74, is the author of wildly popular books for children and young adults, including "Deenie," "Forever," "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing," "Blubber" and "Freckle Juice. " She appeared at the L.A. Times Festival of Books in April; she was diagnosed with cancer in June. Because she opted to get a mastectomy, she met with a reconstructive surgeon.

Since the 1970s, the books of Judy Blume have prepared generations of girls for the emotional and biological hurdles on the way to womanhood: The sting of first love, those mysterious undergarments and the harsh reality that not even divine intervention can save you from puberty. In honor of Blume's legacy, the Cavern Club Theater in Silver Lake hosts "Are You There God? It's Me, Karen Carpenter," a musical parody that mashes up memorable moments from Blume's coming-of-age classic "Are You There God?

When "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" first came out, publisher Dutton did not send Judy Blume around the country to talk about it. "There were no book tours!" she says. "I don't think they sent children's book writers on tour. " That was in the 1970s, when Blume had a string of hits for young readers, from small children to those grappling with adolescence. "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" (1970), "Then Again, Maybe I Won't" (1971), "Freckle Juice" (1971), "Deenie" (1973)

Judy Blume has written "a book for every conversation you do not want to have with your child," quipped one of the emcees at Blumesday -- a sold-out event celebrating the 70th birthday of the bestselling author at Hollywood's M Bar on Friday night.

Standing at the window in Judy Blume's Central Park West apartment is like looking out at Fudge territory. Remember Fudge, Peter Hatcher's incorrigible little brother? Remember when Fudge fell off the jungle gym in Central Park while Sheila (otherwise known as "Sheila the Great") was supposed to be watching him? Remember how the ambulance had to be called once because Fudge had swallowed Peter's turtle?

A good play for children is hard to find. So says Joe Lauderdale, director of the Laguna Playhouse Youth Theater. For three years now, it has been part of his job to put together a season of four plays for young audiences. "I read a lot of bad scripts," he bemoaned over the phone last week. "It's more and more difficult every year. If I think of a title I like, I go out and search for it." It seems he knows where to look.

Since the 1970s, the books of Judy Blume have prepared generations of girls for the emotional and biological hurdles on the way to womanhood: The sting of first love, those mysterious undergarments and the harsh reality that not even divine intervention can save you from puberty. In honor of Blume's legacy, the Cavern Club Theater in Silver Lake hosts "Are You There God? It's Me, Karen Carpenter," a musical parody that mashes up memorable moments from Blume's coming-of-age classic "Are You There God?

These days, it's easy for the bestselling novelist to maintain contact with the readership. Jennifer Weiner, whose 2001 debut "Good in Bed" chronicled the life and relationships of plus-size Cannie Shapiro, connects almost daily with her fan base via her Web log "SnarkSpot" (jenniferweiner.blogspot.com). She reports on her very advanced pregnancy ("Just got back from the doctor's. This baby is never leaving."

Event: Judy Blume in conversation with Times television critic Mary McNamara When: 2:30 p.m. Sat. Where: Bovard Auditorium on the USC Campus Information: http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/

When "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" first came out, publisher Dutton did not send Judy Blume around the country to talk about it. "There were no book tours!" she says. "I don't think they sent children's book writers on tour. " That was in the 1970s, when Blume had a string of hits for young readers, from small children to those grappling with adolescence. "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" (1970), "Then Again, Maybe I Won't" (1971), "Freckle Juice" (1971), "Deenie" (1973)

On May 5, subscribers to Planned Parenthood's mailing list received an e-mail from author Judy Blume. Cleverly headed "Are You There [Your Name Here]? It's me, Judy" (a reference to Blume's classic young-adult novel, "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret"), the message made a pitch for Mother's Day donations. "It's not easy to be a mother these days," Blume wrote.

Judy Blume has written "a book for every conversation you do not want to have with your child," quipped one of the emcees at Blumesday -- a sold-out event celebrating the 70th birthday of the bestselling author at Hollywood's M Bar on Friday night.

Standing at the window in Judy Blume's Central Park West apartment is like looking out at Fudge territory. Remember Fudge, Peter Hatcher's incorrigible little brother? Remember when Fudge fell off the jungle gym in Central Park while Sheila (otherwise known as "Sheila the Great") was supposed to be watching him? Remember how the ambulance had to be called once because Fudge had swallowed Peter's turtle?

These days, it's easy for the bestselling novelist to maintain contact with the readership. Jennifer Weiner, whose 2001 debut "Good in Bed" chronicled the life and relationships of plus-size Cannie Shapiro, connects almost daily with her fan base via her Web log "SnarkSpot" (jenniferweiner.blogspot.com). She reports on her very advanced pregnancy ("Just got back from the doctor's. This baby is never leaving."

Just as Long as We're Together by Judy Blume (Orchard Books/Watts: $12.95 hardcover; 296 pages) Like that of Ann Landers (which it rather resembles), Judy Blume's career is a great American success story: how a warm-hearted Jewish girl with a keen sense of humor but no specialized training became the respected adviser of a whole generation of readers.

Ours is an age of intense self-preoccupation, yet with little of the dogged reflectiveness that leads to self-knowledge and humility. The tabloids become our confessional. It is there we often look to professionals for guidance, and avidly read their columns and books, in the hope, maybe, of a quick therapeutic fix. We know their pen-names: Ann Landers, Dear Abby, Ask Beth and, lately, Dr. Ruth Westheimer.

Fudge has a profound effect on 9-year-old Peter Hatcher. Fudge can make Peter's stomach churn, his head swim and, on rare occasions, even his heart warm. Fudge, as it happens, is the name of Peter's 3-year-old brother in Judy Blume's 1972 children's novel "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing." Peter isn't sure when Fudge toddled so utterly out of their parents' grip and into his, but he knows one thing: Being his brother's keeper is making Peter feel like a big fat nothing.

If there's a fourth-grader in your family, skip right to the bottom of this story and find the phone number for reservations to "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing." For decades, Judy Blume's book has provided comfort and joy to 9-year-olds with troublesome younger siblings. An adaptation for the stage comes to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza at 7 p.m. Friday.