Cover of Blubber

Blubber

by Judy Blume

Blubber by Judy Blume is assigned in US schools at grades 4–7. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Blubber is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Grade range
Grades 4–7
Age range
Ages 9–12
Pages
192
Reading time
about 3h 30m (est.)
First published
1974
Genre
Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13
9781481414401
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About this book

Judy Blume's 1974 novel looks unflinchingly at fifth-grade cruelty. When Jill goes along with the class ringleader in tormenting an overweight classmate nicknamed 'Blubber,' she enjoys belonging — until the bullying turns on her. Blume refuses easy lessons, showing how ordinary kids drift into meanness and how hard it is to stand apart.

Why widely assigned

This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades 4–7. Written in the 1970s; pairs with curriculum units on bullying and friendship; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Themes

bullying · friendship · school · identity

Where this book is assigned

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Blubber→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Common questions

What grade level is Blubber?
Blubber is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
How long does it take to read Blubber?
It takes about 3h 30m to read Blubber (192 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 210 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Blubber?
Blubber appears on reading lists for North Dakota Flicker Tale Children's Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Blubber banned in schools?
Blubber does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
What themes does Blubber explore?
Central themes in Blubber include bullying, friendship, school, identity. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

Why this book is on this list

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 4–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.