Judy Newman, Life of a Reader: A First Name Basis

LIFE OF A READER, JUDY NEWMAN

A First Name Basis

On the eve of Women’s History Month, I started thinking about the role of women in my reading life and realized that when I was a kid, most of the books I read and loved were by—and about—women and girls.

I grew up in an era of disruptive feminism. As an adult, I read and appreciate the work of the now-called “second wave” feminists that began in the 1960s: Gloria, Betty, Angela, and Erica. But as a kid, set against the frightening backdrop of Kent State, the Vietnam War on the TV in the kitchen each night, and the threat of a world leader pushing the dreaded “red button” and sending us all into oblivion—I was pretty terrified.

Marching for women’s liberation.

© Fred W. McDarrah/Getty Images

Before I understood the role of activism in society, I was scared by these loud feminist voices. My mother worked as a teacher, then as a social worker. My grandmother worked as a piano teacher. My own teachers were women. Miss Bartel was the principal of the John Ward School I attended, and even though she “went to hell” in an underground school anthem, she had real power and was revered and respected. I didn’t see any limits to what I could accomplish. Obviously, I didn’t get it.

But now decades later, I realize something. While I was too young to be out protesting (I felt so self-conscious even trying on a bra in Filene’s dressing room, let alone burn one in public!) and while at the time I didn’t see what “women’s lib” had to do with me, I must have internalized these feminist messages and expressed my interest and concern in my own way.

I loved reading books by these women—Beverly Cleary, Louisa May Alcott, Astrid Lindgren, E.L. Konigsburg, and Louise Fitzhugh.

From left to right: © Terry Smith/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images;© Culture Club/Getty Images; © ullsteinbild/ullsteinbild/Getty Images; © AP Photo/Florida Times-Union, Jon Fletcher; © John Cech/Recess

Looking back, I recognize virtually all of the books I read and loved as a kid featured two types of feminist heroes: real-life women who were the subjects of the Childhood of Famous Americans biographies; and a group of outspoken, self-determined characters who were usually around my age and fictional.

I went through a period in third grade when I would read and reread the biographies of women who had made their mark in American history. I was inspired by the paths of Amelia, Betsy, Florence, Clara, Harriet, and Sacagawea. I really wanted to fly around the world, make flags, volunteer for the Red Cross, abolish slavery, become a translator and a naturalist, and help others.

Beginning in fourth grade, other than the gorgeous National Geographic magazine that came to our house every month, I read mostly fiction. And the authors of those books—Beverly, Louisa, Astrid, Elaine, Louise, and Virginia—were mostly women I adored.

Now that I am (mostly) a grown-up, I still believe in the unparalleled power of female characters in books to show how strong and self-determined and worldchanging women can be.

And their characters—those outspoken, fierce girls— Beezus; Jo, Beth, Meg, and Amy; Pippi; Claudia, Harriet; and Zeely—were my role models for girls who could do anything. They inspired me. I consider them my friends for life.

Now that I am (mostly) a grown-up, I still believe in the unparalleled power of female characters in books to show how strong and self-determined and worldchanging women can be. My bookshelves always make room for new role models and friends who came into the world after me in life: Ha, Lanesha, Esperanza, Hermione, Katniss, and Stargirl, and so many others.

They take on boys and men and injustice in the neighborhood and in the world. They own their own stories. They don’t pass the buck or place blame. For them, every month is Women’s History Month.

In the world we live in, many heroes—real and fictional—don’t live up to their hype. They disappoint in some big or small way or fall out of style and become irrelevant. But not my girls: they are forever indomitable, fearless, and above reproach. They are equal-opportunity entertainers. They are generous and enthusiastic about each new generation of readers who comes their way. They often live in a man’s world, but they push through and around it.

We are on a first name basis and they set the bar high for me. •

Judy Newman is President and Reader-in-Chief of Scholastic Book Clubs. For more information, visit judynewmanatscholastic.com.