Fudge-a-Mania

Fudge-a-Mania is a middle grade realistic fiction novel written by Judy Blume and originally published in 1990. The novel is part of a five-book series all about Peter Hatcher and his precocious younger brother, Fudge. In Fudge-a-Mania, Peter and his family road trip to Maine for a summer vacation must share a house with two other families, resulting in a series of mishaps and unexpected events. Thematically, the novel explores The Trials of Approaching Adolescence, Navigating Chaotic Family Life, and learning The Importance of Levity. The novel won the Black-Eyed Susan Award, Iowa Children’s Choice Award, and Maine Student Book Award in 1992. It also won the Nene Award in 1993 and the Volunteer State Book Award in 1994.

This guide refers to the 2007 Puffin Books edition of the novel.

Plot Summary

Peter Hatcher is 12 years old and hears from his mother that the family is going to spend three weeks in Maine with the Tubman family. Peter dislikes Sheila Tubman, his longtime rival, and dreads the idea of vacationing with her. At the same time, Fudge—Peter’s five-year-old brother—announces that he has plans to marry Sheila. When the Hatcher family goes out for supper, Peter complains about the vacation and adds that Sheila has cooties, prompting questions from Fudge. Peter is told he can invite his best friend Jimmy Fargo, but Jimmy seems just as hesitant about the idea of vacationing with Sheila. Still, he agrees to come for a week, and Peter has something for which to look forward.

The 10-hour drive to Southwest Harbor, Maine, is long and painful, as the car is filled with the talkative Fudge and his equally talkative parrot, Peter’s dog Turtle, their baby sister Tootsie, and all their luggage. When they finally arrive at the house, Peter is shocked to find out that they will be staying in a duplex with a shared kitchen and living room and that he has to share a small room with Fudge. After assuring Jimmy that Sheila would be far away, Peter now dreads the day that Jimmy arrives. Peter meets Sheila’s grandpa, Buzzy Senior, and Sheila’s new dog, Jake. Sheila immediately insults Turtle, whom she finds disgusting. Sheila’s parents and her sister, Libby, are also there. Peter begs to go home, but his parents don’t entertain the idea. Peter is more than relieved when his grandma arrives, as she carries a youthful spunk that is surprising for her age.  

Peter wakes up on his first morning in Maine and bangs his head on the ceiling. He looks outside and sees that the world is covered in a thick fog. Downstairs, everyone is already having breakfast. Before long, Sheila notices that Fudge’s bird, Uncle Feather, isn’t in his cage. Fudge is distracted by his cereal but soon admits that he let the bird out upstairs. When Peter goes to check, he finds the window open (as Sheila opened it) and the bird gone. Peter doesn’t stop to think, instead getting Fudge dressed and taking him out into the fog to find the bird. They decide to stop at a nearby house along the shore and meet a friendly older lady named Mrs. A, who gives them snacks and drinks and mistakes Fudge’s descriptions of his bird for a missing human uncle. She tells Fudge to come back the next day and meet her granddaughter, Mitzi, who is the same age as Fudge. After visiting two more houses, Peter and Fudge head home, and Uncle Feather is found moments later when Libby starts screaming that a “bat” is chasing her. The family coaxes the bird back into its cage, and the chaos temporarily dims.

Sheila makes a deal with Peter’s mother to babysit Fudge during the vacation for a little extra money. Peter finds it offensive and wants in on the deal, but Sheila rejects his proposal of a partnership. Peter is sure that Sheila won’t be able to handle Fudge on her own, but she manages to take him on a peaceful rock-collecting excursion later that afternoon. Alone and bored, Peter follows them, and the kids then meet Mitzi. Mitzi is shy at first, but when Peter comments on her baseball glove, Mitzi tells him that she got it from her grandfather, a (fictional) famous baseball player named Big Apfel. Peter is stunned, and when Mitzi adds that Big Apfel plays a community game every Sunday, Peter is thrilled at the idea of getting to play with a retired baseball legend. When he calls Jimmy to tell him, Jimmy hasn’t heard of the man, nor does he seem enthused about baseball in general. Peter falls asleep that night wondering how he can break the news to Jimmy about having to live with Sheila.  

The next morning, Peter goes outside to look at his baseball cards, and Mitzi approaches him. She tells him about a special monster spray that her grandma makes her and then asks where she can find Fudge. Peter takes Mitzi over to Fudge, who is creating a rock garden with Sheila behind the house, where they dug up some grass. Mitzi gets down to help, and chaos soon ensues as Fudge and Mitzi start playing with the mud and twirling in circles, calling it “Fudge-a-mania.” Peter soon joins in, but Sheila finds them all foolish. Libby storms outside and lectures the kids for being too noisy. When Peter’s parents come back from their outing, Peter hopes they will be angry at Fudge for digging up the grass without asking, but instead they compliment his ingenuity. This frustrates Peter, who takes his anger out on Tootsie and then receives a stern look from his mother. Peter’s grandma comforts him and knows he is struggling with the new responsibilities being added to his life as he grows up.

Peter receives bad news when he hears that Big Apfel is out of town and the next baseball game is cancelled. Mitzi comes over and shows off a book she has entitled Tell Me a Mitzi. Fudge wonders why there’s no book written about him. Fudge asks his dad to get him a glove like Mitzi, and Fudge and Peter stop at the town library afterward. There, Peter meets Isobel, a 16-year-old girl who works at the library and on whom Peter develops a fast crush. Fudge asks for a book about himself, but Isobel sadly replies that the library has nothing of the sort. That night, Peter thinks about Isobel and hopes she’s thinking of him too. Fudge asks Peter for help starting a book about himself, since one doesn’t currently exist.

The house prepares for Jimmy Fargo to arrive by moving Fudge into Grandma and Tootsie’s room. Fudge admits he’s glad that he gets to sleep with Grandma, since she snores, which keeps monsters away. He clarifies that his whole reason for wanting to marry Sheila is so that he can sleep free of monsters. Fudge asks Buzzy why he and Grandma don’t sleep together, noting how close they’ve become, which makes Peter chuckle. Jimmy and his father, Mr. Fargo, arrive hours later while Sheila and her parents are in town shopping. The Tubmans arrive home soon after, and Jimmy is confused to see Sheila entering the same house. She explains before Peter has the chance to, and although Jimmy seems uncomfortable with the idea at first, he is won over quickly when Sheila shows him her dog, Jake. Mr. Fargo announces that he plans to stay as well, and the living room couch is given to him as a last resort. Jimmy feels embarrassed by his father, and Peter feels embarrassed by Sheila; both boys apologize and resolve to enjoy the trip anyway. The next morning, Fudge gives Jimmy all the details of the trip so far, including Peter’s crush on Isobel. Sheila and Jimmy make fun of Peter, who becomes uncomfortable. Sheila suggests biking into town and seeing Isobel, and the whole way, Peter rides ahead, embarrassed and jealous of the friendship forming between Jimmy and Sheila. On the ride, he swallows a bug, and the kids stop off to see Bicycle Bob, who welcomes Peter to a club for people who have swallowed flies and suggests he go get an ice cream. 

Mr. Fargo starts creating a massive painting using blue paint. At the same time, Fudge eats too many blueberries and makes himself sick. Peter’s dad rents a boat and brings Peter, Sheila, Jimmy, Sheila’s parents, and Grandma out for a sail on the ocean. They picnic and have a great time until the wind picks up and the boat starts rocking violently. Jimmy gets sick, and both he and Sheila get scared and hold onto Peter for safety. Peter’s dad loses control of the boat and falls into the water, and Grandma takes over, sailing the crew back to shore successfully. Later that day, Tootsie walks over Mr. Fargo’s painting, creating tracks with her feet. Mr. Fargo loves the way it looks and decides to make a whole series of baby foot paintings.

On the day of the baseball game with Big Apfel, Peter faces one disappointment after another. He doesn’t get to play on Big Apfel’s team (since he doesn’t play on any team), is chosen for Fudge’s team and not Isobel’s, and fails his catches and battings. Unlike his usual pessimistic self, Peter looks ahead to next weekend and knows he can always do better. At the end of the vacation, Buzzy Senior and Grandma announce that they plan to get married. It is shocking news at first, but the families and town come together to throw them a beautiful but modest wedding. Fudge gets to be the ring bearer, and he and Mitzi temporarily lose the rings when they fling them into the grass by accident. Afterward, Sheila and Peter realize that even though they’re now related, they’d still prefer to go on hating one another—even if only in words.