Freckle Juice

by Judy Blume

Other authorsSonia O. Lisker (Illustrator)
Paperback, 1979

Status

Available

Call number

J3E.Blu

Publication

Yearling

Pages

47

Description

Andrew wants freckles so badly that he buys Sharon's freckle recipe for fifty cents.

Collection

Barcode

1287

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

1971

Physical description

47 p.; 7.7 inches

ISBN

0440428130 / 9780440428138

Other editions

Freckle Juice by Judy Blume (Hardcover)

Similar in this library

Lexile

560L

User reviews

LibraryThing member akg118
Great book that can tackle self-confidence issues in young children. A young book is self-concious about his freckles and even takes the time to count them. This story shows how his freckles effect him and his feelings toward them. But in the end comes out with a great moral lesson every child
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should learn!
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LibraryThing member Miss.Barbara
Master storyteller and award-winning author Judy Blume creates this funny tale about wanting something that you weren't born with — and trying the craziest things to get it! This 48-page picture and early chapter book features black-and-white illustrations that add so much to this already
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exuberant story, and the short chapters make this ideal for both challenged and on-target readers.

Poor Andrew wishes he had freckles like his classmate, Nicky. While sitting behind him one day, Andrew counts 68 of them, until he is "interrupted" by the teacher. Andrew figures that if he did have freckles, he'd live a much easier life, beginning with the fact that his mother would never know if he washed behind his neck. When he decides to chuck all embarrassment and ask Nicky how he got his freckles, he doesn't realize that Sharon, who's always bugging him, is standing nearby. Amused that Andrew would do anything to get freckles, Sharon offers him her "special" recipe for — you guessed it — Freckle Juice! However, not all wishes come easily: Sharon asks him for 50 cents for the stuff and won't budge from her asking price. Although 50 cents is a lot of money, Andrew feels he has no choice. Trusting the ever-creepy Sharon, he mixes the concoction at home, and waits for the magic to happen. Suddenly, Andrew doesn't feel so well. But does he give Sharon the satisfaction of knowing that she tricked him? No! When Andrew decides to exact his "vengeance" by using a magic marker to draw freckles on his face, his classmates laugh. But the next day, Andrew discovers something truly amazing: one teeny-tiny freckle!

Blume's descriptions make the story and its issues very real, and as usual, her style is infused with insight, warmth, and humor. Fresh, funny, and poignant, this book is one that may inspire readers to check out more books by this truly stellar author.
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LibraryThing member loeb001
This book is about a little boy named Andrew who wants freckles more than anything else like the little boy, Nikky, who sits in front of him. He thinks that if he had freckles his mom would never be able to tell if he was clean or dirty. Another girl in the class claims that she has the ingredients
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to make freckle juice, so Andrew buy the recipe and mixes it up and thinks he is on his way to an overwhelming amount of freckles.
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LibraryThing member mlsweatman
This is one of the first novels that by Judy Blume and she writes about a second grader named Andrew and his friend Nicky that has freckles. Of course Andrew wants freckles because his mother always says he is dirty and he thinks that she will not be able to see the dirt if he has freckles. So the
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wise girl named Sharon in his class sells him a recipe for freckles and of course the rest of the book is him trying to make it and realizing he got tricked. It was a very funny book but it is defiantely a childrens book.
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LibraryThing member bamabreezin4
This book is good for mid-age elementary readers. Many kids deal with insecurity about their appearance, and this book's moral is something kids can really relate to.
LibraryThing member CjWilson
This book is one i read as a child. This book was written in the 1980's and it was a hand-me-down book to me. The plot is about a boy, Andrew, who wants freckles. Amdrew mixes up a crazy mixture that has lots of things in it including ketchup and lemon juice he calls feckle juice. Andrew trys many
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things to get freckles but none of his plans work. Info on this book can be found at bookrags.com this book is an appropriate independent reading levle for an older elementary studnet such as a 4th or 5th grader.
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LibraryThing member Melanielooper
This book is about a boy in the second grade who really wants to have freckles. One of his classmates has freckles and he becomes very distracted by wanting freckles. One day a classmate offers him a secret recipe for freckle juice for fifty cents. He buys the recipe and trys it as soon as he gets
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home.

I thought this was a great book. I really liked Sharon, the little girl who sold him the recipe, manipulative, yet very creative. I also liked the way Miss Kelly, the teacher, was portrayed.

In the classroom I could use this book to open a conversation about self image. I could also make the freckle juice and begin a conversation about self image that way.
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LibraryThing member rheasly
Judy Blume has an honest and candid style that is easy to relate to. In Freckle Juice, one boy is determined to find out what life is like with a freckled face. He is given a recipe for freckles from his classmate, and upon trying it he (eventually) comes to the realization that he should find
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happiness and satisfaction with who he is naturally, instead of striving to be what he is not. A great story for kids of any age, and also a great story for teachers, as the teacher is a great hero in this tale. Ages 8 and up.
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LibraryThing member Necampos
Freckle Juice was a childhood favorite of mine! Andrew was so intrigued by one of his classmates with freckles that he wanted them himself. After getting a recipe from hiss classmate, Andrew creates what is "freckle juice." He comes to realization that he should be content with who he is, without
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looking for something else to make him different.
This is a great story to teach kids that they each are unique in their own ways.
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LibraryThing member Caitlyn24
this book was ok I,ve read better but it was still funny at some points and its short too.
LibraryThing member AshleyFletcher
Andrew wanted freckles so badly so his mom would not notice he was dirty while Nicky had millions of them all over his face and neck. Andrew would stare at Nicky’s freckle and daydream what it would be like to have then, so much he did not hear the teacher ask him to get into his reading group.
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Sharon was a girl in Andrews class whom he did not care to much for. She told him she had a recipe for freckle but it would cost his 50 cents. Andrew said 50 cents that was 5 weeks of chores. He wondered if she was telling the truth but that night he went home and counted his 5 dimes out of his bank. The next morning he got dressed in a hurry and did not wash behind his neck and ears. He put the 5 dimes in a tissue and shoved them in his jeans. He rushed downstairs hoping to get to school before the 1st bell. His mom said let me check your neck and he begged her to let it slide this morning since he had important things to do at school. He ran to school that morning and went up to Sharon and said ok did you bring it. She said do you have my 50 cents. He wanted to see it first but she wouldn’t allow it. The second bell had rang and it was time to sit. Ms. Kelly wanted to begin class so Andrew went and sat down and when Ms. Kelly wasn’t looking he dropped the 50 cents on the ground and Sharon scooted it over to her with her foot. She then tossed the recipe on the floor but Andrew lost his balance of and fell out of his desk. Ms. Kelly ask Andrew for the note and read it to herself. She told him to could have it after class at 3pm. He could not hardly wait to get home. When 3pm came he got his recipe and ran home. It was a concoction of different ingredients and he mixed it all up and drank it fast like it said to. He just knew he would get freckle! However, he got sick as a dog and his mom got upset because he made a mess. He had a huge belly ache and no freckles. His mom let him stay home 1 day to get over the belly ache but the following day she made him go. So before he left for school he found a blue marker that he would draw his own freckles with. So he hide it in his bag and headed for school but just before he got there he looked in a car mirror and drew blue freckles all over his face. When Andrew got to school everyone stared and giggles but Ms. Kelly knew Andrew wanted freckle. So she let him wear them for a while. Then she called him to her desk and gave his a magic freckle remover so he could wash his face. Andrew went into the bathroom and they all came off. He thanked Ms. Kelly for her help but now Nicky wanted the freckle remover because he hated his freckles and Andrew was shocked because he loved Nicky’s freckles. So Sharon being he devilish little self said Nicky I have a recipe for removing freckles but it will cost you 50 cents while making a super duper frog face at Andrew!

I am a person with freckle who has loved them and hated them at one time or another in my life. My parents always told me I was beautiful even with the freckle but sometimes I wish I could have a remover just like Nicky. I am who I am and look like I look and that cant be changed so I learned to love everything about myself. Our society today put a judgment on anyone who is not what they consider perfect. What is the perfect face? No one really can say because it is only their opinion. This was a very cute book and it has a good moral to the story. Which is love you face!

In the classroom, I can have the students draw a portrait of themselves and if they have freckle draw them if not don’t! I can also have them tell me what they like about their face and what they do not.
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LibraryThing member aflanig1
A cute story about a 2nd grader who wants freckles and the adventure he goes on to get freckles.
LibraryThing member rwetherell
A little boy named Andrew wishes he could be covered in freckles like another boy in his class. Another girl in his class named Sharon knew this and took advantage of it by selling him a recipe for Freckle Juice that you drink and is suppose to make you get freckles. Andrew rushes home from school
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and drinks the concoction which makes him very sick, and gives him no freckles. When he goes back to school he tries to put freckles on with a blue marker and everyone laughs at him. He teacher gives him a "secret formula for removing freckles" and he takes it to the bathroom and washes his face. When he comes back the teacher tells him he looks better without freckles and Nicky looks better with them.
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LibraryThing member jl624
The book tells a story about how a boy named Andrew Marcus wants to have freckles like his friend. He doesn't have a positive self-image about his appearance and he tries to have freckles in order to get away from what he doesn't want to do. He tries every possible means to get freckles, even
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including drinking a distasteful "freckle juice".
The book deals with the issue of positive self-image. Andrew of course doesn't succeed in growing freckles on his face. It is his perspective of his self-image getting challenged. It is a funny book and very interesting to read through.
It is a great book for kids to read, since it helps the kids to see themselves in another angle and let them understand the concept of self-image.
Recommended for children in grade 3-5.
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LibraryThing member angietangerine17
Judy Blume is the best! I love the whimsical and fun loving way she writes. Any child of any age would find something to like about this book. I certainly enjoyed it.
LibraryThing member Samantha_Wright
Freckle Juice is a very cute well written book. The main character Andrew Marcus wants to have freckles like some kids in his classroom. He pays 50 cents to get a secret receipt that ends up turning out bad and just making him sick. In the end he realizes that some children that have freckles wish
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they did not have them and that he was special and perfect just the way God made him. This book would be a great connector application for 1st-3rd grade students because most children growing up go thru a stage where they are not confident in the way that they look and so by reading Freckle Juice it can show them that each person is very unique and special in their own way.
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LibraryThing member emilylock
This is a Contemporary Realistic fiction book about a boy who wants to have freckles like his friend. He doesn’t like his appearance and thinks that having freckles will make him look better. He gets some “freckle juice” which he thinks will make him grow freckles and it tastes horrible.
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Needless to say he was not able to get the freckles, but was able to learn that appearance isn’t everything.
I remember reading this book in elementary school and loved it. It was a great book to think about yourself and realize that everything isn’t about looks.

It is a great book for kids to read, since it helps the kids to see themselves in another angle and let them understand the concept of self-image.
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LibraryThing member tterry6901
Andrew Marcus wants to be like the kids in his class and have freckles so he pays someone fifty cents to get a recipe that ends up turning out really bad and makes him really sick. He realizes that this freckle juice is not going to work and that being different is ok.

I grew up reading this book
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and it was great to share with my daughter. The book is great to show how each child is different and special in their own way.

I would have the students work up their list of what makes them different and have them share their list.
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LibraryThing member mannperkins
I have read this books many times in the classroom but I just read it for the first time to my 6 year old son. He loved it! It is a very easy read that kids really enjoy listening to.
LibraryThing member AriadneAranea
How far would you go to get freckles? Kind of cute, and my daughter liked it.
But, kids, and I can't emphasise this enough - DON'T TRY IT AT HOME!
LibraryThing member lppeters
Freckle Juice is a story about a boy who longs for something he can not have- freckles. Andrew Marcus, the main character, goes through many obstacles throughout the story, such as getting in trouble in class, drinking a 'magic potion', and going to drastic extremes to try to obtain freckles. It is
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a cute and short read that teaches children that trying to change the way you look is never worth it because they are perfect the way they are!
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LibraryThing member jerome25
This book is about Andrew Marcus who wanted freckles. A girl in his class, Sharon, told Andrew she knew of a family recipe to get freckles. Andrew bought the recipe and ran home and tried it. After a couple of days and no freckles, he made his own from a marker. When he walked into class, everybody
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laughed at him.

This book reminded me of when I was in grade school. I always wanted glasses because my best friend at the time had them. Looking back now, I am glad i didnt have to have glasses.

As a class, I would have the children go around in a circle and tell what they always wanted to have but didnt. Then they could draw a picture of themselves and that special something.
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LibraryThing member rfewell
Q loved this book. We had lots of fun with it, and I'm excited to share the rest of Judy Blume's books with him!
LibraryThing member mkaray1
Summary:
In this humorous chapter book, Andrew Marcus, a young school boy, admires his classmate Nicky who has freckles that cover his face, neck, and ears. Because Andrew is so determined to get freckles, he asks Nicky where he got his freckles from, and Andrew’s other classmate, Shannon,
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overhears the conversation. Shannon offers him her “secret” freckle juice recipe, although she tells Andrew that he needs to pay 50 cents. To Andrew, 50 cents is about five weeks of allowance, and although he is hesitant to spend it on the freckle juice recipe, his determination overrides his need to save money. Once he mixes all the ingredients, freckles do not appear on his face, or any other place on his body. Andrew finds a blue marker, and draws freckles all over his face and neck one morning before school. All the kids laugh at him, but his teacher gives him a “magic eraser” to privately go to the boys bathroom and wash off the freckles. When Nicky saw how Andrew’s freckles came off, he asked the teacher for the same magic eraser and she said, “Andrew didn’t look good with freckles. But you look wonderful! I’d hate to see you without them. They’re a part of you. So, I’m going to put away this magic formula. I hope I never have to use it again.”
The central message of this book is to be confident in one’s self-image. Although this is a chapter book geared toward young elementary school children, I believe it would benefit older children as well, especially since an older age range struggles with confidence and self-image. I particularly liked the black and white drawings that assisted certain events throughout the book. For instance, during the exchange of money and the “freckle juice” formula in class, the pictures demonstrated how Andrew and Shannon passed the note by kicking it to each other from each other’s desks. The pictures provide an excellent visual for events in the book.
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LibraryThing member LynleeRae
Summary: Andrew wanted freckles so badly that he would do anything to get them. He paid a snooty girl in class 50 cents for a secret formula to get the freckles he wanted. It ended up being a mixture of food ingredients that when mixed together was terrible, but he drank it all anyways. He then
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became sick and could not go to school the next day. When he was well enough to go back to school he needed to make himself look like he had freckles to prove the girl who tricked him wrong. However, he could only find a blue marker so he made freckles on his face and neck with a blue marker. Everyone made fun of him and his teacher sent him to the bathroom with her secret formula for freckle remover. He came back to class and was told he looked better without them.

Personal Reaction: This is a great story for a child to read because it talks about how everyone is different and we are all made that way for a reason. Older kids start getting into groups by their looks and this just proves that we all are different and that we should like each other not for looks.

Classroom Extension Ideas: 1. Have my students write down something that they dislike about themselves, but keep it anonymous.
2. Read a few out loud and talk about how everyone is different and we all have things we would rather look like but we were made the way we are for a reason.
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Rating

½ (494 ratings; 3.6)

Call number

J3E.Blu
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