The Genius of Judy is a wonderful mix of biography and social commentary, and despite discussing books published decades ago, is still incredibly timely. As Judy Blume tells us, her works - Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret, Forever, Blubber, to name only a few - have always been rooted in honesty. They tackle topics that children and teens face in their real lives, including divorce, bullying, and yes, even sex, and they do so in hopes of teaching readers that they are not alone, that they are not strange or wrong for feeling what they feel.

Blume's career and her writing have been both lauded and attacked throughout the years. She has been involved with her fair share of book bans and has been questioned about her choices to include sex, masturbation, and even throwing up in her novels. Yet she remained undeterred, and readers (myself included) are better for it.

In today's political climate, I have to say, it is heartening to read about those who fought - and continue to fight - censorship, specifically regarding young readers. Bergstein did a wonderful job of not only telling Blume's story, but also of highlighting how impactful (and revolutionary) her works truly were.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.