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

In Judy Moody Was in a Bad Mood., the protagonist experiences the ups and downs of being an elder sibling to her mischievous little brother, Stink. The two siblings fit into a typical older-younger sibling dynamic, as Stink tends to be clumsier and more naive, and Judy tries to correct his behavior. For instance, when Stink comes downstairs in his American flag costume, Judy is quick to critique it, noting that he has the wrong number of states and looks silly. She tells him, “Guess what. There are 50 states, Stink…You look like a star-spangled mummy and walk like a banana” (71). Judy also wants to maintain her own friendships and sometimes tries to exclude Stink from her activities, which he is desperate to join. For instance, Judy wants to go to the store with her friend Rocky and leave Stink at home: “‘I’m going too,’ said Stink. ‘No you’re not,’ Judy told him. ‘You and Rocky can take him along,’ said Mom, giving her one of those looks” (24). These conflicts demonstrate the challenges of their sibling dynamic. 

By showing how much they are initially prone to conflict, Judy’s forgiveness and collaboration at the end of the novel allow McDonald to display the protagonist’s character development.