In the Unlikely Event

In the Unlikely Event (2015)
by Judy Blume

When I was eleven years old, Judy Blume was my absolute favourite author. I adored her. I read every single one of her books (or at least, every one published prior to 1992) - I know this, because I ticked them off on a list I'd made. Arguably a little bit tragic, but I was completely devoted to all things Blume. So, when I heard she'd released a new novel this year (and adult novel, even), I was all sorts of excited. And much like the books I loved in childhood, In the Unlikely Event is a fantastically absorbing story, although in this case it's a story focused around the frightening events of Judy Blume's own adolescence.

In the early 1950's, three commercial airliners crashed in Judy Blume's hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey within a period of just eight weeks, killing 118 people. In the Unlikely Event tells a fictionalised version of the real-life events, seen mostly through the eyes of fourteen-year-old Miri Ammerman. The short chapters switch narrators, including viewpoints from Miri and her friends, as well as their parents, grandparents and other adults in town, even down to chapters narrated by passengers on the doomed airliners. Most of the action, though, revolves around Miri - she's a spirited, independent teenager (reminiscent of a number of the characters from Judy Blume's earlier YA novels) from a single-parent family. Surrounded by great friends and devoted to mysterious new boyfriend Mason, Miri's life is pretty well derailed by the series of crashes.
As planes continue to fall on their town, the people of Elizabeth are panicked and confused - conspiracy theories abound and petitions are drawn up. In the aftermath of the crashes, people's attitudes begin to change too, with some relationships crumbling and others blooming (get it?) as priorities and beliefs are turned upside down.

In the Unlikely Event is chock-full of detail, bringing 1950s America to life in full colour. Clearly I don't have personal experience of 1950s America, but this all seemed completely convincing to me (and educational. Who knew there were fax machines in the 1950s?). There are so many rich little details in every chapter - things like jukeboxes, angora sweaters, Elizabeth Taylor haircuts, Oldsmobile cars, rumours of Commies and A-Bombs...
None of this comes across as cheesy or contrived; it's just a completely convincing portrait of a very particular time and place.

 

Priorities in the airline industry were arguably a little different in the 1950s...

The short chapters and regular switches between characters work well to keep the story short, punchy and interesting, despite it being a relatively long book at 397 pages. This unique style gives the reader a glimpse into the lives and stories of a number of different people, but also means that there's not a particularly clear over-arching storyline. Each of the characters has their own story happening and the structure of In the Unlikely Event gives the reader a real slice-of-life view of a whole community during an incredibly challenging time; like the coming-of-age story of an entire town.

Reporting on the real-life events in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

This can't have been an easy book for Judy Blume to write, but I'm so glad that she did. Like so many other Judy Blume books, it's an absorbing and entertaining coming-of-age story but it's also a sweet and heart-felt tribute to her hometown and a series of terrible events that happened there. Clearly it's a topic close to the author's heart. In the book, she writes:
"After enough time it fades and you're grateful.
Not that it's ever completely gone.
It's still there, buried deep, a part of you.
The stench is gone from your nostrils now
Unless someone leaves the kettle on to boil and forgets about it.
The nightmares have tapered out.
There are more pressing things to dream about, to worry over, to keep you awake at night.
Aging parents, adolescent children, work, money, the state of the world.
Life goes on, as our parents promised that winter.
Life goes on if you're one of the lucky ones.
But we're still part of a secret club,
One we'd never willingly join,
With members who have nothing in common except a time and a place.
We'll always be connected by that winter.
Anyone who tells you different is lying."

Now 77 years old, Judy Blume has implied that In the Unlikely Event could be her final novel. I sincerely hope that's not the case - the world is a better place with Judy Blume books in it.

10/10