Young-adult novelist Judy Blume has become the subject of controversy this Mother’s Day.   A mother of three and author of such loved writings as Freckle Juice, Superfudge, and Are You There God?  It’s Me, Margaret, her recent letter on behalf of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund has some circles calling for the Scarlet Letter.  A, for Abortion.

Judy Blume’s letter is a declaration of her support for the pro-choice, pro-family organization as well as a call for donations.  Her detractors see this as a pro-abortion move, and Blume has been bombarded with hate mail and phone-calls from antichoice extremists (jezebel.com article).  However, these claims ignore the mission of Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood’s policy is “to ensure that family planning and reproductive health care services are available to everyone who wants and needs them.”  Their directives include keeping birth control affordable, ensuring access to health care, fighting for real sex education, expanding global reproductive rights, and protecting abortion access.  So hold your horses, put down your pitchforks and douse your torches; this is no call to arms for abortion issues. 

This isn’t the first time Judy Blume has come under public critique.  This hell-raiser can claim a spot on the Top 100 Frequently Challenged Books (i.e. banned books) of the past decade for Are You There God?  It’s Me, Margaret.  Margaret is the story of a 6th grade girl in a mixed-religion household, coming to terms with her relationship with religion, as well as crises of puberty.  The book’s frank treatment of sexuality and religion brought critical acclaim, a devoted following, and conservative opposition.  Can’t please ‘em all.