Book Review by Lia Constanda

“It’s not the end of the world”

 by Judy Blume

 Reviewed by Lia Constanda

Judy Blume, the writer, has written many successful books for different age groups. Her books identify the concerns of young children and teenagers in relation to a variety of issues, such as Religion, Coming of age, Overweight, Physical disability, Siblings, Racial prejudice, Divorce, Death & Alcoholism and other related matters. She deals with these topics in a sensitive and empathetic manner. She has been commended for her honesty, warmth and wit, her keen observations of childhood and her books’ appeal to the children.

Her style is pleasant and easily readable. Some reviewers consider that the problems of her characters are sometimes left unresolved; others think that it is to her credit that some problems are left for the reader to solve.

The book “Is not the end of the world” provides light reading and is most enjoyable. It has an optimistic tone and is appropriate for any young child and teenager. At the same time deals with the range of concerns of 3 children from a family, whose parents are in process of starting a divorce.

The central character, Karen Newman, a twelve year old girl, can’t believe it when the father moves out of the family home following repeated and frequent arguments with the mother. Initially, the arguments appear to be over trivial matters.  The bottom line is however that the parents no longer like each other and the only way to resolve their differences is to go their separate ways. Karen is the middle of the 3 children but she is the most mature and very quickly assumes a responsible role. She deals with the upset caused to her younger sister by the parents’ separation and with the trying teenage behavior of her older brother.

The mother returns to school to complete her education. In a way, the divorce liberates her. She learns how to stand on her own feet, trust her abilities and value herself.

The book focuses on the children’s concerns about not having both parents under the same roof, about financial issues such as will they be able to continue living in the same home with their father gone, will their mother be able to provide for them, how will the other children at school react when they will find out, and most importantly will they be able to bring their parents back together. Karen is trying to bring the parents to talk to each other face to face. She thinks of a plan which in the end does not work. The parents refuse to consider any prospect of reconciliation.

When all is said and done, the children accept the situation and move on with their life. They adapt themselves to their new circumstances and accept that their parents divorce is final but that really that “is not the end of the world”.