Name: Are You There God? It's Me Margaret
Rating: 3.8 (185 reviews)
ISBN: 9780689841583

Judy Blume

Are You There God? It's Me Margaret

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

read this in about two hours and was pretty entertained considering i’m 10 years older than the target audience.

overall, a witty and fast-paced commentary on the simple life of a 12 year old girl who feels, as all 12 year olds do, that everything is the end of the world.

i especially liked the commentary on her confusion about religion but, mostly, that she had a relationship with God outside of any religion.

i think this is the official declaration that the slump has ended! at long last!

Emilia Vulliamy

read this in about two hours and was pretty entertained considering i’m 10 years older than the target audience.

overall, a witty and fast-paced commentary on the simple life of a 12 year old girl who feels, as all 12 year olds do, that everything is the end of the world.

i especially liked the commentary on her confusion about religion but, mostly, that she had a relationship with God outside of any religion.

i think this is the official declaration that the slump has ended! at long last!

Laura Walden

Loved the is sweet, funny pre teen story. Margaret is a cute sweet funny girl, and I loved  the way the narrative was so simply put. Adorable.

Sarah Chauvidon

Sarah Sammis

Recently saw the film adaptation and and wanted to revisit Judy Blume—haven’t read anything from her in years and never got around to 

. A rare instance where I think the film lovingly expands upon and improves the book. 

Still, Blume’s original work remains a lovely and refreshingly honest look at growing up and the societal pressures of school and religion. It certainly shows its age with its heteronormativity, both in gender roles and sexuality, but I think it’s safe to say it’s still quite progressive at heart. It may not represent everyone, but it feels real and true for many. 

Michael Klepacki

Recently saw the film adaptation and and wanted to revisit Judy Blume—haven’t read anything from her in years and never got around to Are You There God. A rare instance where I think the film lovingly expands upon and improves the book. 

Still, Blume’s original work remains a lovely and refreshingly honest look at growing up and the societal pressures of school and religion. It certainly shows its age with its heteronormativity, both in gender roles and sexuality, but I think it’s safe to say it’s still quite progressive at heart. It may not represent everyone, but it feels real and true for many. 

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

I never read this book as a preteen, but it’s a classic coming-of-age story and I’m glad I finally listened to it. It’s funny and sweet, as well as extremely honest about the realities of growing up. I personally was touched by the openness surrounding religion and enjoyed the fact that Margaret’s parents were so supportive in not forcing any religious beliefs on her. I do wish there had been a conversation included at the end with her teacher about her letter, though, as I felt like it was left unfinished. Otherwise, a quick and satisfying listen.

Erin Goss

Faced with the difficulties of growing up and choosing a religion, a 12-year-old girl talks over her problems with her own private God. Reissued with a fresh new look and cover art. Simultaneous.

Wynter

I wish I read this when I was 11. What a beautiful, sincere book about what it feels like for a girl growing up. I am agnostic myself, and still enjoyed every word. In fact, the title is a little misleading. While the main character does talk to her "God", the spiritual being on the other end does not belong to any religion. Besides spirituality, the book discusses the most relevant topics that secretly all pre-teen girls obsess about: boys, breasts, first kisses, first period, bullying, alienation, desire to fit in. I know if I ever have a daughter, Are You There God? will be on her bookshelf.

Heaven Adore

Probably because I'm much, much older than the characters, I didn't enjoy this book all that well. It was cute, but it was very juvenile. And then there were a few situations that weren't resolved, so that was a bit frustrating as well.

Hailey Vinson

Life isn't easy for Margaret. She's moved away from her childhood home, she's starting a new school, finding new friends - and she's convinced she's not normal. For a start she hasn't got a clue whether she wants to be Jewish like her father or Christian like her mother. Everyone else seems really sure of who they are. And, worst of all, she's a 'late developer'. She just knows that all her friends are going to need a bra before she does. It's too embarrassing to talk to her parents about these things. So she talks to God instead - and waits for an answer . . . Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret? is a teen classic and loved around the world. Judy Blume has written some of the best books of our time about real-life issues - family stress and pressures, what happens when your parents divorce, the problems of growing up and sexual awakening, bereavement - with insight, sensitivity and honesty. The response of readers all around the world continues to make her one of the best-loved writers ever published.

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret

Nia C

Kinda feel sorry for all those girls who looked forward to getting their period and developing breasts only to realize it comes with pain, objectification, and just plain annoyance. 

Although I did like reading the book, it didn't really have anything going for it other than the easy-to-read aspect. Maybe I've read a lot more coming-of-age YA since the book was published almost fifty years ago but it didn't feel complete. I expected some more on the Margaret-Laura angle, it would have been nice for them to become friends. I don't expect a 12yo to be able to choose a religion so that part was very nicely done, I must say. Some of the bits felt a little haphazard and had little meaning or any consequences at all — Nancy's lie, the maternal grandparents' visit, the way Margaret's first period happened. Some of it was rushed. Or incomplete. 

Also, what are the (period) belts they talk about??

Are You There God? It's Me Margaret

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