It's hard to escape the influence my next guest has had on the literary world, and more specifically, young readers.

Judy Bloom and her books have been a write-a-passage for kids and preteens for generations.

The prolific author has written 29 books with more than 90 million copies sold,

printed in more than 39 languages.

Her stories are touchstones for kids and adolescents, eager to be seen and understood.

She's responsible for bestsellers like

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. And are you there, God? It's me, Margaret, which recently

became a Hollywood movie, more than 40 years after she wrote the book. Bloom's love of literature

started early. Growing up in New Jersey, she spent her childhood making up stories in her head.

Luckily for us, she spent her adult years doing the same, but bringing those stories to life.

She started writing picture books for her two young children, a labor of love and a creative

escape for the New Jersey housewife. Bloom went on to write novels for adults, too,

and recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of Summer Sisters, which just happens to be one of my

favorite books and a recent Read With Jenna Book Club pick. Now at 85, Bloom turned the page to her most

recent chapter, opening her very own independent

bookstore in Key West, Books and Books, with her beloved husband, George.

And while the walls are lined with literary legends, you can also find one working behind

the counters and helping customers, Bloom herself.

I recently visited Bloom at Books and Books to talk about her love of reading, her connection to her fans, and how she wants to be

remembered. I'm Jenna Bush-Hager. Welcome to my podcast. Read with Jenna.

Thank you. Jenna. So we're here in Key West, and I know that you have a great love for this city, and it happened kind of by accident.

I think it happens like that with most people who got, you know, you come on a vacation.

...