About This Book
Reach for this book when your child uses bravado or bragging to mask their anxieties. It is a perfect choice for children who feel pressured to appear fearless or 'cool' while secretly struggling with common childhood phobias like dogs, water, or insects. The story follows Sheila Tubman during a summer in Tarrytown where her tough-girl persona is challenged by swimming lessons and new social dynamics. It gently explores the difference between the person we present to the world and who we really are inside. Parents will appreciate how Judy Blume validates that it is okay to be afraid, while encouraging the honesty required to overcome those fears. It is an accessible, humorous, and deeply relatable read for the 8 to 12 age range.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
Sheila experiences intense, visceral anxiety regarding dogs and water. Parents of children with similar phobias should be aware that her fear is portrayed vividly and, at times, through high-stress situations like forced swimming lessons.
Ideal Reader
A third or fourth grader who acts like they know everything but is secretly nervous about trying new things or joining a team.
Parent Prep
No historical context is needed, but parents may want to be ready to discuss the difference between "saving face" and lying, as Sheila frequently deceives her peers to hide her insecurities. A parent might notice their child lying about their abilities or refusing to participate in activities (like swimming or camp) out of a hidden fear of failure or embarrassment.
Age Experience
Younger readers (ages 7-8) will find Sheila's antics and her fear of the 'creepy' dog Jennifer very funny. Older readers (10-12) will better understand the social stakes of her lying and the psychological exhaustion of maintaining a fake identity.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many 'overcoming fears' books that focus on the fear itself, Blume focuses on the social cost of pretending to be fearless, making it a sophisticated study of ego and identity for middle-grade readers.
Read plot summary
Sheila Tubman, younger sister to Libby and friend to Peter Hatcher (from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing), spends her summer in Tarrytown, New York. Sheila projects an image of ultimate confidence, but she is actually terrified of dogs, spiders, and the water. Throughout the summer, she navigates a complicated friendship with a girl named Mouse, endures the torture of swimming lessons, and eventually has to decide if she can admit her vulnerabilities to others or if she must keep up her 'Sheila the Great' facade forever.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Sheila calls herself 'Sheila the Great.' Why do you think she uses that name even when she feels small or scared inside?
2
When Sheila is forced to take swimming lessons, she tries many ways to get out of them. Have you ever tried to avoid something because you were afraid of failing?
3
How does Sheila's friendship with Mouse differ from her relationship with her sister, Libby?
4
At the end of the summer, does Sheila really change, or does she just start to understand herself better? What is the difference?
5
Mouse is a champion swimmer and very brave. Why does she stay friends with Sheila even when Sheila is being difficult?
