Judy Moody Gets Famous!

Envy is a powerful motivator in Judy’s life and her main reason for seeking fame in the initial stages of her journey. For Judy, envy is both a flaw and a source of motivation, because it leads her to be judgmental and rude toward Jessica and Stink, but it also motivates her to persist and to keep trying various things until she succeeds. This duality—envy as both corrosive and catalytic—drives much of the story’s emotional arc. In the opening chapter, Judy is depicted as deeply envious of Jessica’s tiara and her appearance in the newspaper. While Judy has never had an interest in spelling, she suddenly wants to become a master speller so she can become famous like Jessica. Judy also takes the idea of being in the newspaper as something of extraordinary importance and sees fame as the main goal. This emphasis on recognition over substance highlights Judy’s initial immaturity and her preoccupation with outward appearances.

Judy’s jealous tendencies come out in her interactions with Jessica and with Stink. When Stink creates a Moody Hall of Fame, Judy doesn’t compliment his pictures or his idea; instead, she races to her room to find something to put on the fridge for herself.