“I'm not afraid of anything. Except maybe swimming.”
— Sheila claims bravery while admitting her fear of swimming.
Archivist's Choice
Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
Judy Blume (1972)
Genre
Children's / Young Adult
Reading Time
90 min
Key Themes
See below
Track Your Reading
Sign in to track this book
Sheila Tubman, a girl who calls herself 'great,' faces her secret fears and carefully built image during a summer away. She learns to accept her real, imperfect self with help from a new friend.
Synopsis
Sheila Tubman, a ten-year-old who seems confident, secretly has many fears: dogs, spiders, the dark, thunder, and she cannot swim or use a yo-yo. She carefully keeps up the image of "Sheila the Great" for everyone, especially her friends, thinking that hiding her weaknesses will control how others see her. However, a summer vacation in Tarrytown, away from her familiar New York City home, makes Sheila face her hidden worries. She becomes friends with Mouse Ellis, who swims, uses a yo-yo, and likes dogs, and who sees through Sheila's act. Through challenges like swimming lessons, a yo-yo contest, and living in a house with a dog, Sheila slowly starts to admit her fears. By the end of the summer, she learns that it is fine not to be perfect and that strength comes from accepting oneself. This leads to new self-acceptance and confidence.
Reading time
90 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Heartwarming, Relatable, Gentle Humor, Hopeful
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy heartwarming stories about overcoming fears and self-discovery, especially if you're a young reader or looking for a nostalgic read.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer complex plots, high stakes, or stories with a darker tone.
Plot Summary
The Grand Illusion of Sheila the Great
Sheila Tubman, almost eleven, is shown dealing with her social life, especially through 'Slam Books' where friends write anonymous opinions about each other. Sheila is proud that she can hide her many fears—dogs, spiders, the dark, thunder, swimming, and even not knowing about things like yo-yos or Washington Irving. She believes no one, especially her friends, knows the 'real' Sheila Tubman, the one full of worries. Her public image, 'Sheila the Great,' is confident, witty, and fearless. She works hard to keep this image, even while battling constant worries that she thinks would make her seem weak or uncool. Her biggest fear is being seen as less than perfect.
Summer in Tarrytown: A New Beginning (and New Fears)
Sheila's carefully built world changes when her parents say they are renting a house in Tarrytown for the summer. This news brings fear because the house comes with a dog named Jennifer, a golden retriever, and a swimming pool – two of Sheila's biggest fears. To make things worse, Sheila has to sleep in the bedroom of the previous tenants' son, a boy's room, which she finds uncomfortable. Her older sister, Libby, is happy about the change, but Sheila is filled with worry about the new challenges and facing her fears. She immediately plans how to avoid the dog and the pool, determined to keep her 'Sheila the Great' image.
First Encounters and New Friendships
When they arrive in Tarrytown, Sheila meets the Ellis family next door. Mrs. Ellis offers to give Sheila swimming lessons, which Sheila dreads. Sheila quickly becomes friends with Mouse Ellis, a girl her age who is everything Sheila is not: a good swimmer, a dog lover, and a junior yo-yo champion. Mouse is also direct and sees through Sheila's 'great' act. Sheila is both drawn to Mouse's confidence and intimidated by her skills. Mouse's younger sister, Merle, also adds to the busy atmosphere. Sheila feels uneasy, trying to hide her discomfort around Jennifer the dog and the swimming pool, while also trying to impress Mouse.
Swimming Lessons and Public Humiliation
Sheila's fear of swimming makes the lessons with Mrs. Ellis hard. She tries many ways to avoid getting in the water, like pretending to be sick or not interested. But Mrs. Ellis is persistent and patient. During one lesson, Sheila panics and causes a scene, embarrassing herself in front of Mouse and other kids. This public display of her fear breaks her 'Sheila the Great' image, at least in her mind. The experience makes her even more set on avoiding the pool, strengthening her belief that she is a failure at swimming. She feels shame and inadequacy, especially compared to how easily Mouse handles the water.
The Yo-Yo Challenge and Unexpected Talent
Inspired by Mouse's yo-yo skills, Sheila decides to try learning herself, hoping to find something she can be good at. She practices secretly, determined to master the tricks. She finds she has a natural talent for it. This small success gives her a needed boost of confidence, a rare feeling for her in Tarrytown. She learns several tricks and even performs them for Mouse, who is impressed. This experience contrasts with her struggles with swimming and gives her hope that she is not completely bad at everything. It is a small step towards accepting that she does not have to be perfect at everything.
The Dog Dilemma and a Budding Connection
Sheila's fear of Jennifer stays strong, but as the summer goes on, she has to be closer to the dog. She sees Jennifer's gentle nature, especially around Mouse and Merle. Slowly, her terror starts to lessen. She begins to notice Jennifer's playful actions and the affection the dog shows to others. One day, Sheila is alone with Jennifer and, in a moment of unexpected bravery, she carefully reaches out and pets the dog. This small act is a big step for Sheila, a crack in her 'Sheila the Great' armor, as she faces one of her deepest fears directly and finds it less scary than she thought. The fear does not completely disappear, but it gets much less.
Overcoming the Dark and Thunderstorm
One night, a bad thunderstorm hits Tarrytown, making the house dark and filling it with loud thunder. Sheila, scared of both the dark and thunder, has to face these fears. She first hides under her covers, but the storm's strength makes it impossible to ignore. Her parents comfort her, and she eventually finds a way to deal with the noise and darkness, realizing she is safe. This experience, while scary, helps her understand that she can get through frightening situations and that her fears, while real, do not have to stop her. It is another step in her journey of admitting and getting over her hidden worries.
Swimming Progress and Self-Acceptance
Despite her first resistance, Sheila continues her swimming lessons with Mrs. Ellis. With encouragement from Mouse and Mrs. Ellis's patient help, Sheila slowly starts to make progress. She learns to put her face in the water, blow bubbles, and eventually, to float. The moment she realizes she can float on her back is a big discovery, a true success. She begins to feel the joy of being in the water, something she never thought possible. This progress is not just about swimming; it is about Sheila learning to trust herself, to face a challenge she once thought impossible, and to accept that it is fine to struggle and then succeed.
The End of Summer and New Perspectives
As the summer in Tarrytown ends, Sheila thinks about her experiences. She has not become a champion swimmer or completely fearless, but she has made big improvements. She can now float, she is no longer afraid of Jennifer the dog, and she has learned to deal with the dark and thunder. Most importantly, she has learned that it is fine to admit her fears and that doing so does not make her any less 'great.' She realizes that her friends, especially Mouse, like her for who she is, not for the perfect image she tried to keep. Sheila feels a strong sense of achievement and a new comfort in being herself, understanding that true strength comes from facing one's weaknesses.
Returning Home, a Changed Sheila
When it is time to go back to New York City, Sheila is a different person. She packs her yo-yo, a sign of her unexpected talent and new confidence. She says a fond goodbye to Mouse and the Ellis family, valuing the friendship and lessons learned. The thought of sleeping in her own room, which she once found boring, now feels comforting. She looks forward to seeing her old friends, not with the worry of keeping up an image, but with quiet confidence in her more real self. Sheila realizes that the summer, with all its challenges, was much more rewarding than any trip to Disneyland, giving her the gift of self-discovery and the courage to be 'Otherwise Known as Sheila Tubman' instead of just 'Sheila the Great.'
Principal Figures
Sheila Tubman
The Protagonist
Sheila learns to admit her fears and vulnerabilities, shedding her 'Sheila the Great' persona to embrace a more authentic and self-accepting version of herself.
Mouse Ellis
The Supporting
Mouse remains a consistent, supportive friend, acting as a catalyst for Sheila's development without undergoing significant personal change herself.
Libby Tubman
The Supporting
Libby remains a consistent character, serving mainly to highlight Sheila's internal struggles and growth through her reactions to Sheila.
Mrs. Ellis
The Supporting
Mrs. Ellis consistently provides guidance and support, facilitating Sheila's growth in swimming and self-confidence.
Jennifer
The Supporting
Jennifer's role is static as a dog, but her presence acts as a catalyst for Sheila's significant emotional and behavioral change regarding her fear of dogs.
Mr. and Mrs. Tubman
The Supporting
They remain consistent parental figures, providing the context and opportunities for Sheila's development.
Merle Ellis
The Mentioned
Merle's character remains static throughout the story, serving primarily as background detail.
Themes & Insights
Identity and Self-Acceptance
The main theme is Sheila's struggle to match her 'Sheila the Great' image with her real, fearful self. During the summer, Sheila learns that admitting her weaknesses and fears does not make her less worthy, but lets her be more real and truly 'great.' Her journey shows how important self-acceptance is over keeping a false image to get approval. She finds that real strength comes from acknowledging and working through one's weaknesses, rather than pretending they do not exist.
“Sometimes I think I am really two people. I am the only one who knows Sheila Tubman—afraid of dogs, spiders, the dark, thunder...can't swim, work a yo-yo, never heard of Washington Irving. Everyone else knows only SHEILA THE GREAT—knowledgeable, witty, afraid of nothing.”
Overcoming Fear
This theme is shown through Sheila's many fears: dogs, swimming, the dark, and thunder. The summer in Tarrytown makes her face these fears directly. Through slow exposure, patient teaching from Mrs. Ellis, and Mouse's friendship, Sheila learns that fears can be managed and even overcome. Her progress with Jennifer the dog and her ability to float in the pool are important steps, showing that facing what scares you is the only way to beat it, rather than avoiding it.
“Maybe it wasn't so bad being afraid of some things. Maybe it was even good to admit it.”
The Power of Friendship
Mouse Ellis helps Sheila change. Mouse's real acceptance, her lack of judgment, and her constant encouragement help Sheila relax. Unlike Sheila's city friends, Mouse is not fooled by the 'Sheila the Great' image and gives Sheila a safe place to be herself. Their friendship shows how good peer relationships can help build self-confidence and personal growth, allowing people to face challenges they might otherwise avoid.
“Mouse didn't make fun of me. She just looked at me. Then she nodded, as if she understood.”
Growth Through Discomfort
Sheila's summer in Tarrytown first fills her with dread because it takes her out of her comfort zone. Sleeping in a boy's room, living with a dog, and facing swimming lessons are all things Sheila tries to avoid. However, these uncomfortable situations are what help her grow. The story shows that real development often happens when people are pushed beyond what they think they can do, leading to new skills, ways of thinking, and a stronger sense of self. The 'disneyland' comparison at the end makes this point clear.
“I decided that sleeping in a boy's room, sharing the rented house with a dog, and taking those dread swimming lessons were not so bad, after all, perhaps even better than a trip to Disneyland.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
First-Person Narration
Provides direct access to Sheila's internal thoughts and fears.
The story is told entirely from Sheila Tubman's perspective. This allows the reader direct access to her internal monologues, anxieties, and the detailed machinations of her 'Sheila the Great' persona. It effectively highlights the discrepancy between her outward presentation and her inner turmoil, making her struggles with fear and self-acceptance deeply personal and relatable. The reader experiences her every worry, triumph, and moment of embarrassment alongside her, creating strong empathy for her character.
The 'Sheila the Great' Persona
A facade Sheila uses to hide her insecurities, serving as a central conflict.
This is Sheila's carefully constructed public identity, designed to mask her numerous fears and perceived flaws. It acts as a central plot device because much of the story's conflict stems from Sheila's efforts to maintain this facade, and her subsequent journey involves slowly dismantling it. The persona highlights themes of identity, self-deception, and the pressure to conform to an idealized image, making her eventual shedding of it a significant mark of her growth.
The Tarrytown Summer Setting
A new environment that forces Sheila to confront her fears.
The summer in Tarrytown serves as a controlled environment designed to challenge Sheila's fears. The rented house comes with a dog (Jennifer) and a swimming pool, directly confronting her two biggest phobias. Being away from her familiar surroundings and old friends also removes her established social safety nets, forcing her to build new relationships (with Mouse) and face her anxieties without her usual coping mechanisms. The setting is crucial in facilitating her personal growth.
Symbolism of Swimming
Represents Sheila's deepest fears and her journey towards self-mastery.
Sheila's inability and fear of swimming is a potent symbol for her overall anxieties and lack of confidence. The swimming pool and her lessons become a battleground where she confronts not just the water, but her fear of failure, embarrassment, and vulnerability. Her eventual ability to float and enjoy the water symbolizes her growth in self-acceptance, her willingness to face challenges, and her mastery over her own internal resistance, signifying a broader emotional liberation.
The Yo-Yo
A symbol of unexpected talent and a boost to Sheila's self-esteem.
Initially, the yo-yo is something Sheila knows nothing about, contrasting with Mouse's expertise. When Sheila secretly learns to yo-yo and discovers a natural talent, it becomes a crucial symbol of her ability to learn new things and succeed in areas she never expected. This small victory provides a much-needed boost to her self-esteem, showing her that she doesn't have to be 'great' at everything to be good at something, and that genuine skill can emerge from unexpected places.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“I'm not a baby. I'm ten years old.”
— Sheila asserts her maturity when others treat her like a child.
“I'm not going to let a little thing like a spider scare me.”
— Sheila tries to convince herself to face her fear of spiders.
“I'm Sheila the Great. I can do anything.”
— Sheila uses this mantra to boost her confidence in challenging situations.
“I don't need anybody to help me. I can do it myself.”
— Sheila insists on independence, often when struggling with a task.
“Maybe it's okay to be scared sometimes.”
— Sheila reflects on her fears and learns to accept them.
“I'm not going to cry. I'm too old for that.”
— Sheila suppresses her emotions to appear mature.
“I wish I could be brave like my friends.”
— Sheila compares herself to others and feels inadequate.
“It's not fair that everyone else can swim and I can't.”
— Sheila expresses frustration over her inability to swim.
“I'm going to try, even if I'm scared.”
— Sheila decides to face her fears, such as learning to swim.
“Being brave doesn't mean you're not afraid.”
— Sheila learns a lesson about true bravery from her experiences.
“I'm not perfect, and that's okay.”
— Sheila comes to terms with her imperfections by the end of the story.
“Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do.”
— Sheila acknowledges the necessity of facing challenges.
“I'm still Sheila, even if I'm scared.”
— Sheila affirms her identity despite her fears.
Quiz
Test Your Knowledge
Ready to see how well you understood this book? Take our interactive quiz with 10 questions.
10
Questions
~5
Minutes
?
Best Score
Key Questions (FAQ)
The book follows Sheila Tubman, a 10-year-old girl who spends a summer in Tarrytown, New York, where she grapples with her insecurities and fears. Through interactions with new friends like Mouse Ellis and the revealing 'Slam Books,' Sheila confronts her hidden anxieties about dogs, swimming, and appearing perfect, ultimately learning to accept her true self.
About the author
Judith Blume is an American writer of children's, young adult, and adult fiction. Blume began writing in 1959 and has published more than 25 novels. Among her best-known works are Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (1970), Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (1972), Deenie (1973), and Blubber (1974). Blume's books have significantly contributed to children's and young adult literature. She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2023.
Similar books
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
Dan Gemeinhart
4.5
The Runaway
Kate O'Hearn
4.4
The Penderwicks in Spring
Jeanne Birdsall
4.4
The Prince and the Dressmaker
Jen Wang
4.4
The Running Dream
Wendelin Van Draanen
4.3
The Rabbits
John Marsden
4.3
The Polar Express
Chris Van Allsburg
4.3
The Runaway King
Jennifer A. Nielsen
4.2