History Literature / IggiesHouse

* TheSixties: In addition to touching on the decade's turbulent race relations and resistance to integration, the book references the 1967 Detroit riots. Another sign of the times is the use of the word "Negro" to refer to Black people, which was considered acceptable then (the term "African-American" would not come into common usage until some time later). Sadly, despite these markers that date the story to the late 1960s, the themes remain very relevant today.

* ArmorPiercingSlap: At one point Winnie loses her temper with Herbie's [[DeadpanSnarker caustic sarcasm]], slaps him across the face, and accuses him of hating anyone who is white.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodSandwich: Winnie was looking forward to eating cherry tarts for dessert, but they never get touched as Dorothy Landon interrupts the Barringers' dinner to threaten them into leaving the neighborhood before people like the Garbers take over, only to get epically told off by Winnie's father. Winnie also gets a good shot in by telling Mrs. Landon that the Garbers use the same type of peanut butter that they do.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Dorothy Landon is described by Winnie as having an immaculate exterior who happens to be involved in a lot of local causes and as never raising her voice, but the woman is also a controlling [[TerrifiedOfGerms germ-phobe]] and a racist - although she'll deny she has anything against the Garbers and will claim she's only acting out of "concern" for their safety and happiness. That facade begins to crack when she leaves a hateful sign on the Garbers' front lawn expressly telling them to leave because "their kind" isn't wanted around there, and completely disintegrates near the end of the story as she all but admits she ''does'' hate the Garbers because of their race and threatens the Barringers into leaving the neighborhood before people like the Garbers take over.

* TheGhost: Iggie. Winnie keeps trying to write a letter to her, but [[RunningGag something ends up happening that causes her to tear up her previous letter and start over]]. By the end of the story, Winnie finishes writing her letter to Iggie.

* MyBelovedSmother: Mrs. Landon is explained to Winnie as this by a [[CoolOldGuy Mr. Berger]]. It makes Winnie begin to sympathize with Clarice, since it can't be easy having Mrs. Landon as a mother.

* TheSixties: In addition to touching on the decade's turbulent race relations and resistance to integration, the book references the 1967 Detroit riots. Another sign of the times is the use of the word "Negro" to refer to African-Americans, which was not considered racist then. (The Garbers' preferred terminology is "Black," since the phrase "African-American" was not part of the common vocabulary in 1970.) Sadly, despite these markers that date the story to the late 1960s, the themes remain very relevant five decades later.

''Iggie's House'' is a 1970 young adult novel by Creator/JudyBlume. The story concerns Winnie Barringer, whose best friend Iggie has moved away. The new family moving into Iggie's house are the first African Americans in the neighborhood, the Garbers. While Winnie is quick to make friends with the new kids, she realizes that some people, possibly including her own parents, have trouble seeing past a person's color. She also deals with her own preconceived notions about black people as she tries to keep the peace between herself and her new friends.

* CoolAunt: Aunt Myrna compared to Winnie's own mother, who lets Winnie do her own thing without much of any interference.

* LyingToProtectYourFeelings: Winnie lies to the Garbers about there being other black families in the neighborhood so as not to make them uncomfortable. Herbie isn't fooled.

* TheSixties: In addition to touching on the decade's turbulent race relations and resistance to integration, the book references the 1967 Detroit riots. Another sign of the times is the use of the word "Negro" to refer to African-Americans, which was not considered racist then. (The Garbers' preferred terminology is "black," since the phrase "African-American" was not part of the common vocabulary in 1970.) Sadly, despite these markers that date the story to the late 1960s, the themes remain very relevant five decades later.

* TokenBlackFriend: The Garber kids become this to Winnie. Herbie's distrust of Winnie seems to be based on this, as Glenn explains that the reason for Herbie's harsh behavior toward Winnie is that Herbie doesn't want to be "used" by someone who thinks it's "cool" to have black friends.

* WantonCrueltyToTheCommonComma: While ''Literature/AreYouThereGodItsMeMargaret'', published the same year, is perhaps Blume's most famous example of this trope, ''Iggie's House'' takes it UpToEleven - it's on nearly every page. "I forgot the brownies Mom!" "What brownies Winnie?"

** Also, Winnie's older brother, Matthew, who is away at camp during the events of that turbulent summer. The book ends with Winnie and her parents going to pick him up.

[[quoteright:150:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/iggies_house.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:150:Not everything is as simple as black and white.]]

* BlackBestFriend: The Garber kids become this to Winnie. Herbie's distrust of Winnie seems to be based on this, as Glenn explains that the reason for Herbie's harsh behavior toward Winnie is that Herbie doesn't want to be "used" by someone who thinks it's "cool" to have black friends.

* LyingToProtectYourFeelings: Winnie lies to the Garbers about there being other black families in the neighborhood so as not to make them uncomfortable.

* MyBelovedSmother: Mrs. Landon is explained to Winnie as this by a [[CoolOldGuy Mr. Berger]].

[[caption-width-right:350:Not everything is as simple as black and white.]]

* ImNotHungry: Winnie's response to her mother before she goes to the country club with her Aunt Myrna to go swimming.

* TheSixties: In addition to touching on the decade's turbulent race relations and resistance to integration, the book references the 1967 Detroit riots. Another sign of the times is the use of the word "Negro" to refer to African-Americans, which was not considered racist then. (The Garbers' preferred terminology is "black," since the phrase "African-American" was not part of the common vocabulary in 1970.)

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Dorothy Landon is described by Winnie as having an immaculate exterior who happens to be involved in a lot of local causes and as never raising her voice, but the woman is also a controlling [[TerrifiedOfGerms germ-phobe]] and a racist. Near the end of the story, that facade cracks as she threatens the Barringers into leaving the neighborhood before people like the Garbers take over.

* BlackBestFriend: The Garber kids become this to Winnie.

* {{Jerkass}}: Big Red, who gets Winnie in trouble for going into the public swimming pool without a bathing cap on.

* OpenMouthInsertFoot: Winnie experiences this several times on her first meeting with the Garbers, including asking if they're from Africa and, upon finding out they're from Detroit, asking them if they participated in the 1967 riots and if their father got shoes for them by looting. Glenn has the perfect comeback: "Is that how your father gets shoes for you?"

* ArmorPiercingSlap: At one point Winnie loses her temper with DeadpanSnarker Herbie, slaps him across the face, and accuses him of hating anyone who is white.
* BerserkerTears: Winnie experiences this after seeing the hateful sign Mrs. Landon and Clarice plant on the Garbers' front lawn. She flees home in hysterics, alarming her mother who believes she is sick.

* TheSixties: In addition to touching on the decade's turbulent race relations and resistance to integration, the book references the 1967 Detroit riots. Another sign of the times is the use of the word "Negro" to refer to African-Americans, which was not considered racist then.