Judy Moody Was in a Mood. Not a Good Mood. A Bad Mood.

Judy Moody is the protagonist of the novel and a round character. She is a third-grade American girl who lives in Virginia with her parents and little brother, Stink. The eldest child in her family, Judy enjoys playing with her brother but also bickers with him and sometimes bosses him around. The family has a pet cat named Mouse, with whom Judy finds too old and lazy to play. Judy’s latest addition to the family is her Venus flytrap plant, which she names Jaws.

In the story, McDonald portrays Judy as a passionate and opinionated girl. She has big feelings and struggles with Learning to Manage Emotions and Navigating School and Relationships. Judy’s grouchy moods can cause her to snap at her parents and overreact to her little brother. The author hints that Judy lashes out more when she feels anxious about new things like encountering a different classroom and teacher, as she likes to feel in control and enjoys familiar routines. Judy is assertive and is not shy about expressing herself honestly to her parents, teachers, and friends, making her low moods obvious to everyone.