Superfudge

Superfudge is a children’s novel written by Judy Blume first published in 1980. Blume is an author of children’s novels that have won several awards. Superfudge won the Children’s Choice Award in 1981 and the Early Readers Award in 1991. It was adapted into a television series which ran from 1995-1997. Superfudge is the third book in the Fudge series. This guide utilizes the 1988 publication of this novel.

Plot Summary

At the beginning of the novel, Peter receives some upsetting news from his mother: She is pregnant, and he is going to have a sibling. Although his parents seem thrilled, he does not take this news well. He is upset that his parents did not think to check with him before bringing another baby into the family. Peter already has a four-year-old brother, Fudge, and he worries that his new brother or sister might be as much of a pain to live with as Fudge is. Overcome with emotion, Peter feels that he must take drastic action. He plans to run away, but the smell of his mother cooking dinner convinces him to stay, at least for one more night.

Before long, the new baby arrives, and Peter finds out that he has a new little sister named Tootsie. Just as he is getting used to the idea of the new addition to the family, Peter receives another piece of startling news. His family is leaving New York City and moving to Princeton, New Jersey. Once again, Peter feels betrayed by their failure to consult him in such a monumental decision. Once again, he plans to run away, but then at the last minute agrees to go along with their plans.

Peter and his family arrive in Princeton at the beginning of the summer. Although Peter is determined not to like it, he quickly makes a new friend, Alex. Things actually seem to be falling into place for him in his new hometown. He finds ways to cope with the big change and to enjoy his new life in New Jersey. Peter is doing remarkably well in spite of his annoying little brother Fudge who is constantly misbehaving and taunting their younger sister Tootsie in ways that make their mom and dad angry. Peter’s dad is struggling to find his feet in the new environment and to get his new project underway, it being the main reason for their move. Peter’s dad has plans to research and write a book.

Peter makes the most of his summer, and when school starts in the fall, he realizes that he likes his new teacher a lot. There is even a girl called Joanne in his class whom he immediately finds interesting. Peter is still struggling to cope with the fact that he misses his friends in New York and is having trouble dealing with Fudge’s troublesome behavior, which Peter often finds selfish and immature. Peter feels that his younger siblings take up most of his parents’ time and attention, and this sometimes makes him feel left out.

When Christmas rolls around, Fudge suggests that everyone in the family write letters to Santa Claus. In his own letter, he begs Santa to bring him a new bike just like his brother Peter’s. His wish is granted, and Fudge receives the bike. He is thrilled and insists that Peter be the one to teach him to ride it. Peter does his best to teach his brother to balance and pedal, but Fudge keeps falling off. At one point, he even needs to visit the nurse to get his wounds tended to.

On the same day, Fudge embarrasses Peter at a school assembly where he becomes involved in a situation that has the potential to humiliate the principal; the principal seems not to notice that anything is amiss. Peter is grateful for the principal turning a blind eye to the situation, but this does not lessen his embarrassment at his brother’s behavior.

In the spring, Peter’s dad is still struggling to write his book, and Peter is growing increasingly frustrated with his parents’ behavior and his family situation as a whole. Peter and his friend Alex decide to go on a picnic, purposely leaving Fudge behind. When Peter comes home from the picnic, he finds that Fudge and his friend Daniel are missing. His parents initiate a search for the boys. His dad and Daniel’s mom go out scouring the neighborhood for their children while Peter and his mom wait at home. The phone rings. It is Fudge, who says that he and Daniel have gone to a bakery for lunch. The boys are brought home and their parents struggle to come up with a punishment for them. Peter suggests that they should be banned from riding their bikes for the next month, and everyone agrees.

As the school year ends, Peter’s parents ask him and his siblings whether they would like to stay in Princeton or move back to New York. The family is leaning towards New York, but Fudge insists that Tootsie’s voice should be included in the decision. Tootsie makes the vote unanimous when she makes sounds that sound like she is saying “York” but is really just saying “yuck.” Peter looks forward to moving back to the city, proclaiming himself a true New Yorker, despite sacrificing the wide-open spaces and new friendships he has gained in Princeton.