Freckle Juice

First published in 1971, Freckle Juice is one of the earliest works by acclaimed novelist Judy Blume. Throughout her writing career, Blume became one of the most beloved authors of children’s literature in history with classics such as Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Much like her other works, Freckle Juice is a story about a child trying to find comfort in his own identity, infused with lighthearted antics sure to make readers of all ages smile. The version used for this guide is the hardback by Four Winds Press, a division of the Macmillan Publishing Company.

Plot Summary

Second-grader Andrew Marcus wants freckles, just like his classmate Nicky Lane. Whereas Nicky is covered in freckles, Andrew has none. Andrew thinks that if he had freckles like Nicky, his mother wouldn’t be able to tell if he didn’t wash his neck and ears, and then he wouldn’t be late to school.

Another classmate, Sharon, tells Andrew that she has a secret recipe for freckle juice, which she will sell to him for only 50 cents. Andrew dismisses her claims at first but decides to try the freckle juice. He pays Sharon 50 cents for the recipe but doesn’t look at it until he gets home. When he looks at the paper, he discovers that the recipe is simply a blend of household condiments and pantry items. Still, he decides to make the freckle juice and drink it.

The recipe makes Andrew very sick, and he has to stay home. He declares that he is never going back to school to face Sharon again, but when his mother forces him to go, he comes up with a plan. He covers his face with fake freckles, but he has to use a blue marker because he can’t find brown. At school, the children giggle at Andrew, and his teacher, Miss Kelly, lets him use her secret “freckle remover” to take off the blue freckles. Andrew washes his face, and he is freckle-free once again.

Andrew is shocked when Nicky asks if he can use the freckle remover too because he hates his freckles. Miss Kelly reminds her students that they look perfect just the way they are and that Andrew looks best without freckles, whereas Nicky looks best with his freckles. However, Sharon uses this opportunity to swoop in and offer to sell Nicky her secret recipe for freckle removing juice.