Module 2: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Blume, J. (1970). Are you there God? It's me, Margaret. New York, NY: Atheneum Books.

Summary

Margaret Simon is a sixth grader who has just moved from New York City to a suburb in New Jersey and is facing lots of changes and questions in her life. She misses her grandmother who lives in the city and is also dealing with the physical changes (or lack thereof in Margaret's case) of puberty. She makes friends in New Jersey, and they form a secret club where they talk about the boys they like, make a pact to start wearing a bra (whether they need one or not), and frequently checking in to see if anyone has started her period yet. Throughout the story, Margaret is also trying to figure out what religion she is because she has been raised without religion. Her father was raised Jewish, and her mother was raised Christian, but as a family, they don't practice any religion. Margaret continues her own close relationship to God and frequently talks to him, always starting with, "Are you there God? It's me, Margaret."

Worth Another Cup of Tea?

Absolutely! Judy Blume is an expert in YA literature, and this one is no exception. I think this is an excellent book for young girls to read. Even though it was written in 1970, its themes are still timely and relevant. I believe it is written in such a way that today's girls would enjoy it and not think of it as an older book.

Reviews

Judy Blume's body of work returns to her original editor, Richard Jackson, with the rerelease of four classics in hardcover. An African-American family moves to all-white Grove Street in Iggie's House, to be released in April. The author's breakthrough title, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, about 11-year old Margaret Simon's struggles with puberty and religion, is now available in hardcover as well as in a Spanish-language edition, Estas ahi Dios? Soy yo, Margaret. Two additional titles came out last season: Blubber takes on preteen teasing; and It's Not the End of the World explores the effects of divorce. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.--Publisher's Weekly, March, 2002

If anyone tried to determine the most common rite of passage for preteen girls in North America, a girl's first reading of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret would rank near the top of the list. Judy Blume and her character Margaret Simon were the first to say out loud (and in a book even) that it is normal for girls to wonder when they are ever going to fill out their training bras. Puberty is a curious and annoying time. Girls' bodies begin to do freakish things--or, as in Margaret's case, they don't do freakish things nearly as fast as girls wish they would. Adolescents are often so relieved to discover that someone understands their body-angst that they miss one of the book's deeper explorations: a young person's relationship with God. Margaret has a very private relationship with God, and it's only after she moves to New Jersey and hangs out with a new friend that she discovers that it might be weird to talk to God without a priest or a rabbi to mediate. Margaret just wants to fit in! Who is God, and where is He when she needs Him? She begins to look into the cups of her training bra for answers.--Amazon.com

In The Library

This would be good for individual reading for girls in late elementary and early middle school or possibly in a book group. Personally, I don't find the contents to be inappropriate, but I can see how some could find this book to be controversial. I think that parent permission would be a good idea before using it in a book group.