Here's to you, Rachel Robinson by Judy Blume

[Liveandforget]

Currently reading this book with dc and we're trying to decipher a bit which feels pivotal towards the end of the book. It's where Rachel and her brother Charles visit the Immigration museum on Ellis Island with her father with his history class. On seeing records of their immigrant great grandparents, Charles runs out and and jumps on the seawall, amid fears he was about to throw himself into the sea. What made him do this?
Really intrigued. I think it may have something to do with the fact that he realised his father had kept their original immigrant surname.

I read this as a teenager and have always wondered about this, it never really made sense to me, hope someone replies!

I haven't read it for probably 20 years, but was it him seeing their struggle and sacrifice and just realising what a dick he'd been/how lucky he is/how easy he has it etc?

I don't know but I imagine that learning a bit about what your ancestors went through when it was so traumatic is quite sobering.

I'm more inclined to think of it this way: that earlier in the book, as dad's birthday present, Charles had made an attention seeking 'gift' of declaring that he would be legally changing his surname to their original Polish, Rybcynski, so the family name lived on. When he saw that dad had beaten him to it, and changed his own name to adopt the original Polish as a middle name, the rug was pulled from under Charles.

DC made me read the whole book so I could explain that particular occurrence!

I'd forgotten what an amazing writer Judy Blume was.

Charles is the older, teen brother right?

My memory is hazy, it's been a good few years since I read it (maybe 3 or 4, I did actually steam through them all not long ago!) but I think my assumption was always that he was humbled by the experiences of his great grandparents and realised he was being a bit of self-indulgent brat.

By the way, if you haven't read her most recent book, In the Unlikely Event, I can highly recommend!

I can understand those saying he was affected by the experiences of his forefathers. However, the entire trip to the museum passed by without incident. Whereas when he saw his father's name on the records with the newly adopted middle name of Rybzynski, he just lost it, and went charging out of the museum, jumping on the seawall as though to throw himself into the sea. That he is very much angry with his father is the subtext and is running away from HIM.

Much earlier, he'd accused his father of being a weak and pathetic man. Seeing his father has beaten him to legally adopting the family name before he, Charles, could, enrages him. He feels bested and cheated.

I KNOW I'm too invested in this.

@Terror, yes Charles is the older brother, who's pushing the family to breaking point. Also, thanks for the recommendation, will take a look!

I haven't read the book in ages. From what I remember was that Charles was a bit 'lost' in life and that was why he acted the way he did. His younger sister (Rachel) was an academic genius. I can't remember if the older sister had a special talent though.
I am really curious now to have a re read. Unfortunately my Judy Blume books aren't with me where I am now.
I was always disappointing that JB didn't do a third book telling Alison's story. I am always hoping one day she might.

Oh I loved this book as a kid! So happy to be reminded of it! I think Charles was angry at the father as well for beating him to the name change. I love all of Judy Blume's books. She is such a wonderful author. Thank you for the reminder, OP!

@Greyblueeyes re-reading her books have reminded me what an awesome writer she is, especially in the children's books genre. Very very few like her.

Just reading this now with DS and who’s wrong at this scene! Does anyone remember that there is also the word “Donor” in brackets before his father’s name on the screen? What does that mean? Does it mean he donated to the museum? Feeling quite perplexed by this scene!

Wondering at this scene, not who’s wrong at this scene (dumb autocorrect).

Hi @OhhBiskits! Was pleasantly surprised to see this thread again. Yes this scene is very perplexing even for an adult let alone a child hence I posted in the first place.

As far as I remember, the father became a patron of the museum I think and beat his son in changing his name back to their original names, something the son had been telling everyone he was going to do, in a carry on the family name sort of way. There is a power struggle going on between father and son, and the son sees his father as weak and pathetic, but the father gets the upper hand here. Hence the petulant boy finally dropping the big man act and rushing out onto the seawall, showing himself to be the child he really is inside.

Hope I've managed to explain that and not confused you further.

I thought I'd read all Judy Blume's books in my early teens, I'd not heard of this one! Must get it now!

@StaceySolomonSwash I think it's the most thought provoking and adult of her children's books. Definitely worth a read

Thanks @Liveandforget! I’ve just realised DS read some pages without me so I must have missed the part about the father becoming a patron of the museum!

I was confused, thinking maybe the “donor” was something to do with an earlier conversation about suspecting the son was adopted, but it made no sense in the context of the museum.

The power struggle makes sense, as does the idea that the son reverts to being a child when he can’t keep up the big man act anymore. Appreciate your insight, thanks for coming back to share!

Really enjoying rediscovering how good Judy Blume is :) We’re reading Are You There God?… next, in anticipation of the film coming out this spring.

I'm looking on Amazon now 😁

@StaceySolomonSwash It’s a continuation of Just As Long As We’re Together, from another character’s point of view. Really well observed and written as ever.

There is no one quite like Judy blume in children's writing especially when it comes to that exciting/scary cusp of adulthood phase.

I did not know there was a film out this year! I will have to reread the books in preparation haha!

Can't wait! She's a brilliant writer.

You’re right, such a good way to describe that phase too!

They’re quick reads too, won’t take long to read in preparation for the film. I can’t believe so few of them have had the film treatment actually.

Think I’ve only read her adult novels once each, as opposed to multiple times throughout my teens for the YA ones, will have to go back to her adult stuff too. She’s a great interviewee too if you go down that internet rabbit hole!