The movie itself was mentioned in description in the book, though the name of the movie was not.Īn important topic is that of parents exhorting their children to take up professions that the parents feel that are suited for them, whether or not the children are amenable to the idea.

Other story arcs include Deenie's friendship with Barbara Curtis, a girl whose eczema alienates her from her other classmates, and Deenie's anxiety over whether her crush will still like her in spite of her back brace.ĭeenie is named after the character Natalie Wood played in Splendor in the Grass. In defiance, Deenie brings her old outfit to Janet's house, intending to remove the brace and change clothes once there, but she changes her mind she leaves her brace on and her old clothes in Janet's room, where they stay for the duration of the party.

Though Thelma gives her consent, Frank, who, until then, was rather mute about everything, firmly refuses, rightfully pointing out that Deenie would want to not wear the brace for every special occasion thereafter, if he gave in that night. She asks her father, Frank, for permission to not wear her brace to the party. In the final chapter, Deenie takes off her brace and puts on an old favorite outfit in anticipation of attending a party at her friend Janet's house. She finds herself at peace with the idea of not becoming a model, and, inspired by her experience, begins to ponder a future career as an orthopedist, concluding that she never really wanted to be a model anyway. Though initially upset at having to wear the body brace, Deenie eventually resigns herself to her fate. Fearful that Helen hates her because Thelma's excuse for letting Joe go was because of the family's doctors' bills, Deenie is astonished to learn that Helen refuses to blame her for Joe's departure, and the sisters close ranks. Thelma, upset that her plans for her daughters are coming undone, has Joe fired and exhorts Deenie to resume the pursuit of a modeling career once she stops wearing the back brace.

At the same time, Helen has fallen in love with Joe, a charming and romantic young gentleman who works for the Fenners' family business, a gas station.

One day, Deenie is diagnosed with scoliosis, and is prescribed a body brace to wear for the next four years. At the same time, Deenie's 16-year-old sister, Helen, who is academically proficient, is being pushed by Thelma to keep her grades up so that she can eventually become a doctor or a lawyer. Deenie is a 1973 young adult novel written by Judy Blume.ĭeenie chronicles the life of 13-year-old Wilmadeene 'Deenie' Fenner, whose mother, Thelma, is determined to have her become a model.

Deenie by Judy Blume