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

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
by Judy Blume

Book Summary:

This coming-of-age novels follows Margaret Simon through her sixth grade year and all of the pre-teen angst that accompanies it. At the opening of the book the reader discovers that Margaret has recently moved to New Jersey from Manhattan where immediately Margaret is focused on trying to fit in after befriending Nancy, a fellow student entering the sixth grade who lives on her street. Margaret suffers through the worries associated with a changing body, or in her case, a body that isn't changing quite fast enough. The reader sympathizes with Margaret's struggle of feeling different because she is of "no religion." Although Margaret is neither Jewish or Christian, she has a personal relationship with God and checks in with him daily as well as pleads with him to let her be "normal." As the book continues, the reader joins Margaret as she deals with her first kiss, her secret crush on Moose, the older boy who mows their yard, and worrying whether she will be the last of her friends to get her period. As Margaret struggles to find herself and decide on a religion, she learns a thing or two about trust and friendship along the way.

Blume, J. (1970). Are you there God? It's me, Margaret. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Bradbury Press.

My Impressions:

I really enjoyed reading this coming of age novel, and only wish that it had been made available to me in 5th or 6th grade. Unfortunately, I attended an extremely conservative school and it was on our district's banned books list. I was immediately drawn back in time and could relate to the anxious feelings Margaret was feeling regarding her slow to develop chest area, not wanting to be the last of her friends to get her period, and secret crushes on older boys. If I had been able to read a book like this as an adolescent, I would have found solace in the fact that I was, in fact, normal - just as Margaret was hoping to discover. I also probably would have secretly tried her "we must, we must, we must -- increase our bust!" exercises in front of my own bedroom mirror! One day I will be giving a copy of this book to my daughter the summer between her fifth and sixth grade years in school because overall, the book could be extremely beneficial in opening the lines of communication and opportunities for discussion about coming of age issues.

Professional Review:

The comical longings of little girls who want to be big girls -- exercising to the chant of "We must -- we must -- increase our bust!" -- and the wistful longing of Margaret, who talks comfortably to God, for a religion, come together as her anxiety to be normal, which is natural enough in sixth grade. And if that's what we want to tell kids, this is a fresh, unclinical case in point: Mrs. Blume (Iggie's House, 1969) has an easy way with words and some choice ones when the occasion arises. But there's danger in the preoccupation with the physical signs of puberty -- with growing into a Playboy centerfold, the goal here, though the one girl in the class who's on her way rues it; and with menstruating sooner rather than later -- calming Margaret, her mother says she was a late one, but the happy ending is the first drop of blood: the effect is to confirm common anxieties instead of allaying them. (And countertrends notwithstanding, much is made of that first bra, that first dab of lipstick.) More promising is Margaret's pursuit of religion: to decide for herself (earlier than her 'liberal' parents intended), she goes to temple with a grandmother, to church with a friend; but neither makes any sense to her -- "Twelve is very late to learn." Fortunately, after a disillusioning sectarian dispute, she resumes talking to God. . . to thank him for that telltale sign of womanhood. Which raises the last question: of a satirical stance in lieu of a perspective.

[Review of the book Are you there God? it’s me, Margaret, by J. Blume].

          (1970, Oct. 1). Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com

Library Uses:

This book has appeared on many banned books lists, and would make a great display in a library promoting banned books week. Are you there God? It's me, Margaret is a good book to place on a recommended reading list for older middle school girls, under a "coming of age" category. I would also recommend this book to teachers as a choice for literature circles or a girl's book club, along with encouragement to discuss the issues brought up throughout the book with family members, in particular mother/daughter conversations.