Despite selling over 90 million books worldwide, Judy Blume remains one of the most banned authors in America. On Your Radical Truth, host Margaret Mary O’Connor welcomes bestselling author and cultural commentator Rachelle Bergstein to explore Blume’s fearless legacy - and the fierce censorship she faced.
In this powerful episode, Rachelle, author of The Genius of Judy, shares why Blume’s honest portrayals of puberty, sexuality, and family life resonated so deeply with generations of readers - and why her books continue to spark controversy today. From the 1970s battles over Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret to today’s alarming surge in modern-day book bans, Judy Blume’s story remains more relevant than ever.
Rachelle and Margaret Mary dive into:
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How Blume’s books became lifelines for young readers when adults stayed silent
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Why today’s censorship battles are even more dangerous than those of the past
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The chilling rise of historical erasure through modern legislation
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How Blume’s creative rebellion helped fuel the modern feminist voice
Rachelle also discusses her new book, The Genius of Judy, a USA Today bestseller praised by BookPage, The Los Angeles Times, Kirkus Reviews, and more. Learn why Blume’s timeless stories still matter - and why protecting the freedom to read has never been more urgent.
Find The Genius of Judy wherever books are sold and follow Rachelle’s work on her Substack newsletter, Banner Year, where she tracks the escalating crisis of book banning in America.
Full shownotes: www.YourRadicalTruth.com/034-Rachelle-Bergstein
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