Double Fudge

Fudge is the middle child in the Hatcher family and the titular character in the Fudge series. In the first novel in the series, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Fudge is only two-and-a-half years old, but in Double Fudge, Fudge is a five-year-old with the same carefree exuberance that readers know and love. Double Fudge highlights Fudge’s newfound fascination with money and his exasperation with being mimicked by his younger cousin.

Throughout the novel, Fudge tells everyone he meets that he loves money: He likes to talk about it, count it, draw it, and sing about it. He brags that he “mise[s] [his] money every night before [he] go[es] to sleep” (5), and he daydreams about buying entire cities with the money he’ll have someday. He announces that he’ll “never share [his] money” (6), but he is quick to ask for money from other people. Fudge might have an emerging understanding of the value of money, but when it comes to social cues and respecting the complicated emotions around money, Fudge has a lot to learn. When Sheila Tubman says that Fudge has no values, Peter quickly reminds her that Fudge is only five years old and doesn’t know any better.

In Double Fudge, Peter notices that Fudge is becoming his own person. At the shoe store, Peter suggests that Fudge choose the same shoes as him, but Fudge declines. Peter remembers how once upon a time, “Fudge only wanted to wear the same shoes as [Peter],” but “now he has his own ideas” (11). Peter is a little surprised—and perhaps even a bit hurt—that his little brother doesn’t want to copy everything he does anymore. Still, Peter receives a firm reminder that Fudge is still a small child when he throws a temper tantrum in the shoe store: “Suddenly [Fudge] [is] whirling through the store like a tornado, destroying everything in his path” (15) when he learns that he can’t have two pairs of shoes. Despite Fudge’s antics, he is a friendly child and “always manages to find a friend” (37) no matter where he goes. When Uncle Feather appears to be sick, Fudge is consumed with worry and wishes he had lots of money to make his bird better. When Peter tells Fudge that he got into all kinds of mischief when he was younger, Fudge asks if Peter hated him. Fudge is a sensitive child, and even though he is growing up, he still wants his older brother’s love and advice.

Anne and Warren Hatcher are the parents of Peter, Fudge, and Tootsie. Mrs. Hatcher is a dental hygienist, while Mr. Hatcher works in advertising. Peter’s parents are even-tempered people who want what is best for their children, and although Peter thinks his parents are a little too patient with Fudge’s antics, Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher’s patience does have a limit when it comes to unruly family members and guests.

Mrs. Hatcher prides herself on being a patient, communicative parent. Peter tells her that she shouldn’t always try to explain to Fudge why he can’t have his way. Mrs. Hatcher is shocked and states that she “always trie[s] to explain things to [her] children” (17) and values communication in her relationship with her children. She is positive and protective and sees the best in others, especially Fudge. However, Mrs. Hatcher isn’t afraid to become stern when necessary. She accommodates her guests but reaches her limit when people disparage her home, cooking, or lifestyle. When Fudge’s friend Rich implies that the Hatchers are “poor” because they don’t have a cook, Mrs. Hatcher becomes defensive, and her attitude towards Rich doesn’t improve when Fudge compares his lifestyle to Rich’s. When the Hawaii Hatchers show up and criticize the New York Hatchers for watching television, eating sugar, and not having freshly-squeezed orange juice, Mrs. Hatcher rolls her eyes in a rare show of annoyance. Still, Mrs. Hatcher tries to play the role of a helpful host, and she values family and friendship too much to oust even unwanted guests from her home.

Mr. Hatcher is sterner than his wife, but he never resorts to yelling at his children. He tries to reason with Fudge, just like his wife does, and his reactions are often careful and measured. When Fudge loses his shoe on the subway, Mr. Hatcher doesn’t yell but calmly tries to figure out how to get the shoe back. When Peter complains that Fudge’s obsession with money means he has no values, Mr. Hatcher reminds Peter that “it’s not unusual for young children to want things” (9) and implies that Peter shouldn’t be so hard on his brother. However, Peter sees a different side of his father when the Hawaii Hatchers show up. When Howie teases Mr. Hatcher for being overweight as a child, Peter notices that his father “suck[s] in his gut and [stands] up really straight” (76). Peter’s father isn’t happy about reconnecting with Howie, especially when Howie criticizes Mr. Hatcher for going into advertising instead of becoming a forest ranger. However, Mr. Hatcher feels indebted to Howie and his family because they were there for him when his mother got sick years ago. Mr. Hatcher might be annoyed by Howie, but he won’t say no to the man whose family helped him through such a difficult time.