IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT
by Judy Blume
I never realized what I was missing by never having read anything by Judy Blume until I heard Jenna Bush Hager interview her on her podcast “Open Book with Jenna.” They discussed why Jenna chose Blume’s Summer Sisters, a novel published 25 years ago, for her “Read With Jenna” book club. I immediately bought and read that book and found it delightful (read review here). Since then, I traveled to Key West, Florida and visited Blume’s absolutely charming independent bookstore, Books & Books. Make sure you check it out if you’re in Key West! While there, I bought autographed copies of are you there god? it’s me, margaret. and In the Unlikely Event.
In the Unlikely Event takes place in Elizabeth, New Jersey in the 1950s. Blume creates three generations of endearing characters, all of whom connect to 15-year-old Miri Ammerman and her mother Rusty. Over the course of one winter, several planes crash at nearby Newark airport, affecting each character in very real and traumatic ways. In the Unlikely Event will leave you gobsmacked because the characters may be fictional, but the plane crashes really happened. Judy Blume grew up in Elizabeth and experienced ‘the winter of plane crashes.’ This is her fictionalized retelling of that winter. You won’t be able to turn the pages quickly enough to find out how things get resolved and you’ll find it hard to believe that such a winter really existed. (Liz)
