Iggie's House

infobox Book |
name = Iggie's House


image_caption =
author = Judy Blume
country = United States
language = English
translator =
cover_artist =
genre = Children's novel
publisher = Yearling
release_date = 1970
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 117 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-440-44062-9
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"Iggie's House" is a 1970 novel by Judy Blume dealing with racism and white flight. The story concerns Winnie, whose best friend Iggie has moved to Japan. The new people moving into Iggie's house are the first African-American family in the neighborhood. While Winnie is quick to make friends with the new kids, she realizes that not everyone, her parents included, can see past a person's color.

Plot summary

Winnie misses her best friend Iggie, whose family has moved away, and she tries composing a letter, but throughout the book (which takes place over a week, at the end of the summer) she keeps crumpling it up and starting over. She is fascinated that a black family, the Garbers, have moved into Iggie's old house, for she has never met black people before. At first, she embarrasses herself by blurting out her stereotyped views in front of the kids, but soon she becomes friends with them.

Mrs. Landon organizes a petition to pressure the Garbers into moving. She claims to have nothing personal against them, worrying instead that their "element" will take over and negatively influence the community. Much to Winnie's distress, her parents seem ambivalent on the issue, though they do not sign the petition. Mrs. Landon later nails a harassing sign to the Garbers' lawn.

To counter Mrs. Landon's actions, Winnie creates a questionnaire to determine community members' attitudes about blacks, hoping to raise support for the Garbers. She has an argument with the Garber kids, however, who accuse her of befriending them only because she thinks having black friends is cool. The Garber parents are seriously considering moving.

Mrs. Landon visits Winnie's parents again. She not only complains about Winnie's questionnaire, but also announces that she will be moving away and tries to pressure the Barringers to move. Mr. Barringer flatly refuses, and in the ensuing argument Winnie confronts Mrs. Landon about her racism.

The next morning, Winnie discovers that her parents really are considering moving. She decides that if they do, she won't go with them as she would be ashamed of having racists for parents, and will instead become a stowaway and live with Iggie in Japan. But soon she makes up with the Garbers, and finds that neither they nor her parents have ultimately decided to move.

Characters

*Winnie (Winifred) – a tomboy about to start sixth grade, protagonist
*Mr. and Mrs. Barringer – Winnie's parents
*Glenn, Herbie, and Tina Garber – African-American siblings who have just moved in
*Mrs. Landon – a neighbor who does not want black people moving into the neighborhood
*Clarice – Mrs. Landon's daughter, whom Winnie despises