How many of you remember the book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume? I probably read this book three or more times as a pre-teen girl and to this day the story had stuck in my mind. As I was browsing the library for children’s titles for this week I came across it and I couldn’t resist listening to the audio. It is still just as good today as it was then and I am very much out of the age range for this one. LOL. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is still relevant for a young girl growing up and struggling with puberty and just where she fits in the world. I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Laura Hamilton and she does a wonderful job and the way she portrayed Margaret brought her alive in this book!
Twelve-year-old Margaret has just moved to a new neighborhood in Farbrook, New Jersey and she’s not too happy about it. She’s had to leave her friends behind and most importantly her grandmother. Margaret is sure that is why they moved as her parents didn’t approve of how Margaret’s grandmother spoiled her with private schools and many more things. Now Margaret will be attending a regular public school and she’s worried. Will she fit in? Will she be able to make friends? Lucky for her Nancy, who lives nearby comes over and befriends her. They are the same age and in the same class at school. Soon enough Margaret finds herself in a private girl’s group with Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie.
The girls decide the first order of business is to get them all in bras which leaves Margaret mortified as she’s going to have to ask her mother to take her shopping for one. Margaret is pretty gutsy though and goes home and just blurts it out and ends up in a training bra soon enough. The biggest thing though is they are all so anxious to get their periods. Margaret especially felt this would be the gateway to making her more grown up. I found it so funny because it isn’t long before us women are wishing we didn’t have them anymore. Another one that cracked me up was the ‘We must, we must, increase our bust’. LOL. I do remember doing that when I was a teen. Then there was the more serious side of things with Margaret’s confusion over religion. Her parents aren’t any religion, her grandmother is Jewish, and Margaret is caught in the middle. Her parents told her when she was old enough she could choose what she wanted and there again the book highlights how hard it can be growing up and having to figure things out for yourself.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret was a trip down memory lane for me but for a pre-teen girl I think it would be a valuable resource. Margaret is a normal, everyday teen girl making her very easy for a teen to connect with. She realistically tells of her feelings, concerns, and fears and they are many that all girls go through. I can still remember when I read it and it made me feel as though I was normal. All the feelings I had were just the same as other girls had and that had made me feel better. An excellent choice for a pre-teen girl!
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is available in paperback, Kindle, or Audiobook from Amazon
Kid Konnection is hosted by Booking Mama and it posts each Saturday so I’ll be linking up my children’s books there. If you have a post relating to a children’s book, middle grade or young adult from the last week head on over and you can participate too!
Source: Copy from Library
