[6] Blume was one of the first young adult authors to write novels focused on such controversial topics as masturbation, menstruation, teen sex, birth control, and death.

[10] She was recognized as a Library of Congress Living Legend and awarded the 2004 National Book Foundation medal for distinguished contribution to American letters.

[14] There have been several film adaptations of Blume's novels,[15] including Tiger Eyes, released in 2012 with Willa Holland starring as Davey,[15] and Are You There God?

A large collection of her papers are held at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University.

[25] A few years later, a mutual friend introduced her to George Cooper, a former law professor turned non-fiction writer.

[27] In August 2012, Blume announced that she was diagnosed with breast cancer after undergoing a routine ultrasound before leaving for a five-week trip to Italy.

[30] She has one child, Elliot Kephart, who is credited with encouraging his grandmother, Judy Blume, to write the most recent "Fudge" books.

[33][34] A lifelong avid reader, Blume first began writing through New York University courses when her children were attending preschool.

[40] Blume explained that she was inspired to write this novel when her daughter, 13 years old at the time, said she wanted to read a book where the characters have sex but do not die afterward.

[43] Despite its popularity, Summer Sisters (1998) faced a lot of criticism for its sexual content and inclusion of homosexual themes.

[9] Blume serves on the board for other organizations such as, the Authors Guild; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; the Key West Literary Seminar; and the National Coalition Against Censorship.

[48] The element in her work readers are said to love most is Blume's openness and honesty regarding issues like divorce, sexuality, puberty, and bullying.

[48] Her first-person narrative writing has gained positive appraisal for its relatability and its ability to discuss difficult subjects without judgment or harshness.

[2] Female novelists have praised Blume for her “taboo-trampling” literature that left readers feeling like they learned something about their bodies from reading her books.

[49] Blume's children's books have also been praised for their delicate way of portraying the hardships that kids can face at a young age.

[50] It’s Not the End of the World (1972) helped many kids understand divorce and the Fudge book series explored the various aspects of loving siblings despite the rivalry.

[27] Critics of Blume's novels say that she places too much emphasis on the physical and sexual sides of growing up, ignoring the development of morals and emotional maturity.

[37][51] Blume's children's novels have also been criticized for these reasons, especially Blubber (1974), which many believed sent the message to readers that kids could do wrong and not face punishment.

[53] The ALA Margaret A. Edwards Award recognizes one author who has made significant contributions to young adult literature.

[10] Blume won the annual award in 1996 and the ALA considered her book Forever, published in 1975, was groundbreaking for its honest portrayal of high school seniors in love for the first time.

[8] In April 2000, the Library of Congress named her to its Living Legends in the Writers and Artists category for her significant contributions to America's cultural heritage.

[54] Blume received an honorary doctor of arts degree from Mount Holyoke College and was the main speaker at their annual commencement ceremony in 2003.

[59] Forever is the story of two teenagers in high school, Katherine Danziger and Michael Wagner, who fall in love for the first time.

[59] A decade later, in 1988, Blume and her son wrote and executive produced a small film adaptation of Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great.

[62] Tiger Eyes is the story of a teenage girl, Davey, who struggles to cope with the sudden death of her father, Adam Wexler.

[64] Tiger Eyes stars Willa Holland as Davey and Amy Jo Johnson as Gwen Wexler.

[65][66] She is the subject of the Peabody Award-winning documentary Judy Blume Forever, which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.