Bullying sucks, but true friendship is worth fighting for. From the author of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret , Judy Blume's Blubber is a sensitive exploration of bullying and self-esteem. Blubber is a thick layer of fat that lies under the skin and over the muscles of whales . When Linda innocently reads out her class project, everyone finds it funny. Linda can't help it if she's fat, but what starts as a joke leads to a sustained and cruel ritual of humiliation. Jill knows she should defend Linda, but at first she's too scared. When she eventually stands up to the bullies, she becomes their next victim - and what's worse, Linda is now on their side .