Career Honors and Awards

For a book awards list click here.

2024

The National Book Critics Circle announce that Judy Blume is the recipient of its Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award for exemplifying how literacy and literary access lead to liberation.

2024

The Eleanor Roosevelt Center announce that Blume is the first-ever recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Lifetime Achievement Award for Bravery in Literature. This is the inaugural Roosevelt awards for “authors and books that advance human rights in the face of an alarming rise in book banning and censorship.” This award recognizes the influence of Judy’s voice in fighting for intellectual freedom and honors the impact she has had on a generation of readers.

2023

Forbes Annual 50 Over 50 includes Judy Blume: Lifestyle Visionary reshaping entertainment and culture. Women creating their greatest impact at 50 and beyond.

2023

TIME100: The 100 Most Influential People Of 2023 included Judy with an introduction by Molly Ringwald.

2023

Judy was an honoree at Variety’s Power of Women 2023 Awards.

2021

National Coalition Against Censorship’s Free Speech Defender Lifetime Achievement. Moving forward the NCAC’s award will be named the Judy Blume Free Speech Defender Lifetime Achievement Award. Click here to watch NCAC’s Gala evening.

Presentation of Judy’s award starts at 1:04:20. Click here to read about Judy’s award.

2021

Yale University honorary Doctor of Letters. In awarding the 2021 honorary degrees, President Peter Salovey read the following personalized citation about Judy’s Doctor of Letters. 

“Gifted storyteller, nothing is off limits and no taboo is too great for your uncensored and honest voice. Treasured by readers young and old, you push past shame and convention to help us understand the world and our place in it. For championing the freedom to imagine while encouraging us to love ourselves, Yale is forever proud to award you this Doctor of Letters degree.”

Click here to read more about Judy’s Doctor of Letters.

View the conferral of this year’s honorary degrees. Judy’s Doctor of Letters conferral is at 5:59.

2021

New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway named it Monmouth rest stop after Judy who was born about an hour’s drive away in Elizabeth, NJ. 

2020

Authors Guild Foundation’s Honoree for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community.

2020

Humanitarian of the Year was presented by the American Red Cross, the Greater Miami & The Keys Chapter, to Judy and her husband George Cooper. The Florence Spottswood Humanitarian of the Year “honors community members who demonstrate leadership and compassion through community service.”

2020

NYU Changemakers of the Year: Vison. Perseverance. Belief. A NYU alumna (Steinhardt ’61), Judy was honored for having “Revolutionized the young adult genre by tackling controversial themes in her coming-of-age classics.” Click here for brief video or click here for award summary.

2018

Carl Sandburg Literary Award presented by the Chicago Public Library Foundation for literary works that have shaped generations and made indelible contributions to literature. Click here to view NPR’s Scott Simon’s introduction of Judy or click here to watch Judy and Neil deGrasse Tyson in conversation with NPR Saturday Host Scott Simon.

2017

American Academy of Arts and Letters E.B. White Award for lifetime achievement in children’s literature.

2015

Catholic Library Association: Regina Award

2013

National Coalition of Teachers of English (NCTE): NCTE/SLATE National Intellectual Freedom Award

2013

ALAN (Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE): ALAN Award

2013

New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA): The NAIBA Carla Cohen Free Speech Award

2013

New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA): NAIBA Legacy Award

2013

Chicago Tribune: Young Adult Literary Prize

2011

Smithsonian Associates: The McGovern Award

2010

Rutgers: The State University of New Jersey: Honorary Doctor of Letters

2010

Inducted into Harvard Lampoon

2010

New Jersey Hall of Fame Inductee

2009

National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) honored and paid tribute to Blume’s longstanding defense of free speech and her courageous battles against all kinds of censorship.

2009

University of Southern Mississippi Medallion for her lifelong contributions to the field of children’s literature.

2004

National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters

2003

Mount Holyoke College – Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts

2000

Library of Congress Living Legends Award

1996

Margaret Alexander Edwards Award was presented to Judy for Forever in recognition that she broke new ground in her frank portrayal of Michael and Katherine, high school seniors who are in love for the first time. Their love and sexuality are described in an open, realistic manner and with great compassion. 

1993

Columbian University College of Physicans and Surgeons Dean’s Award

1992

National Hero Award, Big Brothers/Big Sisters

1989-91

Favorite Author, Children’s Choice Award, Harris County, Texas

1989

“Most Admired Author,” Heroes of Young America Poll, World Almanac

Children’s Choice Award, New Jersey Region III

1988

South Australian Youth Media Award for Best Author

1987

Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Kean College, Union, New Jersey

Children’s Choice Award, Harris County, Texas

Excellence in the Field of Literature Award, New Jersey Education Association

1986

Civil Liberties Award, Atlanta Civil Liberties Union

John Rock Award, Center for Population Options, Los Angeles

1984

Carl Sandberg Freedom to Read Award, Chicago Public Library

1983

Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award