Blume, Judy. Are You there God? It’s Me, Margaret. Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books (2001). ISBN-10: 0689841582

Plot Summary

Margaret Simon is a young girl who has just moved to New Jersey from New York City. She makes friends with a girl named Nancy in her new neighborhood and three other girls in school. Altogether, they form a secret club called the “Pre-Teen Sensation” where they discuss many of their pre-teen concerns. Margaret spends time wondering about all the changes that her physical body will begin to go through when she reaches puberty. At this age, Margaret is secretly interested in boys and she discovers that that this is a difficult subject to share with her parents (or even her best friend). Along with all the changes Margaret is about to encounter, she also struggles with figuring out her religion. Secretly, Margaret develops her own imagined God, whom she believes can share her deepest thoughts and feelings. She prays to her God whenever she is confused or wants to be heard.

Critical Evaluation

Are You There God? It’s me, Margaret by Judy Blume has won numerous awards and has been a top choice for young readers for many years. In this book, Judy Blume’s Margaret explores many of the themes and topics that young girls are too afraid to talk about. Margaret touches on puberty, religion, boys, and life in general. The book contains humor, and it is wonderfully light-hearted!

Reader's Annotation

Margaret Simon is a realistic character who questions the growing changes that she is sure to endure in the future as a teenager.

About the Author

Judy Sussman, also known as Judy Blume, grew up in New Jersey. As a child, she loved to ballet dance and play piano for her friends and family. She even dreamt of becoming a move star someday! Growing up, Blume loved reading mystery books such as the Nancy Drew series. In 1961, she graduated from the university of New York with a bachelor’s degree in Education. When Blume’s early writing attempts failed, she returned to school to take a class called Writing for Children and Teenagers. After her professor commended her writing ability, Blume was motivated again to pursue her dream. In 1969, Judy Blume’s first book The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo was published. The rest, of course, is history!

Genre

Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties

Language Arts, Health Education

Booktalking Ideas

Are you wondering what your life as a pre-teen girl will be likel? If you are interested, then Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is the book for you! Margaret Simon is an twelve-year-old girl who just moved to New Jersey from New York City. She makes friends with another girl named Nancy in her new neighborhood and three other girls in school. Altogether, they form a secret club called the “Pre-Teen Sensation” where they spend time discussing many of the concerns and changes that girls experience today.

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 9-12

Reason for Book Selection

I remember hearing all of the hype surrounding this book when I was a young teen. There was so much talk about the topics discussed in this book, and how shocking they were for kids our age. Of course, that just made me want to read it more! And all of these years later, I discovered that, like Margaret, my own daughter “wished” for the day when she would become a woman! ARGH!