Judy Blume gave Jenna Bush Hager a copy of “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” featuring a heroine with the same real name as Jenna’s 13-year-old daughter, Mila. Blume warned Jenna not to recommend the book directly to Mila, saying Mila would not want a recommendation from her mother and should instead find it on her own. Jenna agreed that kids need empowerment to discover their own way. Jenna is producing a new adaptation of Blume’s coming-of-age novel “Summer Sisters,” which she selected as a Read With Jenna pick for its 25th anniversary. Mila also shows enthusiasm for Blume after meeting her on a Zoom call.
"“You can't give that to Mila,” the author warned. “She doesn't want a recommendation from her mother. Hide it somewhere and let her find it.” Jenna, laughing as she recalled the exchange, admitted the advice felt spot on: “Kids need to be empowered to find their own sort of way.”"
"Jenna is producing a new adaptation of Blume's beloved coming-of-age novel set on Martha's Vineyard. For Blume, Jenna's attachment to the book made her an easy choice to help shepherd it onscreen. In 2023, Jenna selected “Summer Sisters” as a Read With Jenna pick in celebration of the book's 25th anniversary."
"“I was thrilled to learn that Jenna read the book every summer, knows the story and characters so well and is bringing it to a wider audience,” Blume said during an appearance on TODAY. Meanwhile, Mila appears to be just as much of a Blume fan as her mother."
"“I was like, 'Mila, this is Judy Blume,'” Jenna said. Mila's response immediately delighted her mom. “You wrote the first chapter book I ever read.” Jenna added, “How amazing is that?”"
Read at TODAY.com
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