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

by College Guide World

It is said to be the author’s most successful novel. The significant point is that the book was written just after she had begun her literary career. During that period, her children were at preschool.


There are several themes such as adolescence, puberty, menstruation, crushes and love, religion etc. The skillful handling of these themes has been highly admired by critics and scholars.


Quick Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Copyright
Chapter Introduction
Chapter Plot Summary
Chapter Characters
Chapter Complete Summary
Chapter Critical Analysis

ebook

First published June 1, 2014

Reviews

[Hannah Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book today as I did when I was 11-12 back in the late 1980s. However, in reading it now, as a parent to a pre-teen and a teen, I am so unsettled by the emphasis on being sexual. This is not a criticism of the book or of Judy Blume. Rather, this is me reflecting on how that really was the emphasis (and still is in some families) for girls—that they are the sexual objects for boys and for society. The not-so-subtle focus on being thin and attractive (scenes with Margaret's friends) and on women/girls criticizing one another's bodies was a sad truth (and still is). I read this book with such a different perspective now because I, like generations of us, was so adversely affected by the diet culture of my growing up years. I want better for my girls now. Nonetheless, I adore this book and it also has such a 1970s feel to it that it reads now like historical fiction!

[Monique Liddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am rating tis as if I was 10 years old, which is when I see it and read it again, over and over, and when I was 11, 12, and probably even 13 years old. This is a powerful book that helped me get through the preteen years. I can't remember how many times I have repeated the lines over the years, "I must, I must, I must increase my bust!" This book was influential in helping me to understand my physical and emotional development beginning at age 10. I strongly recommend this to all parents first to read before giving it to their daughters. It will determine the right age for your daughters to read. Times have changed from when I was 10, but I honestly don't think I could give this to my niece before her 10th birthday.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret., is a book that I read as a young teenager (because my mother would not let me read it as a middle schooler!), and now, as an adult. This book is perfect for any girl, 11-13 years old especially, who is beginning to go through puberty and, as is normal, beginning to ask questions about many things – not only about adolescence and her ever-changing body, but also about God and religion. During my second read of this book as an adult, I paid more attention to the religious aspect of this book. That is not what I remembered most about the book; rather, I remembered the parts dealing with young girls’ physical changes and puberty. Yet confusion about religion plays a large role in this book, with the main character Margaret trying to figure out what she believes, and who she believes in. Her continual prayers throughout the book show a natural progression of this struggle to figure out what it all means – starting with one belief, rejecting it later, and posing questions as to why a God would let something happen (or in Margaret’s case, NOT happen) in her life in the way and within the timeframe that she wanted.

The book is immensely entertaining with the “secret” group of girls who meets to talk about boys, wears their bras, and practices their exercises to make their breasts grow bigger. I believe every girl can relate to going through puberty and all of the fear and wonder that comes along with it, as well as the jealousy when other girls go through it before them and wanting desperately to be like everyone else. I find it comical that when you become an adult and learn what it’s all about, you realize it’s not so great to have a period after all! I see my 12-year-old daughter behaving this way already. She just wants to be like all the other girls, and constantly makes comments such as “that’s what everyone else does.” I also enjoyed this book because it made me remember a particular girl in our class in the fifth grade who went around the school playground bragging that she had gotten her period and how it was no big deal – and all the girls gathering around her, asking her questions and wishing they could be like her. I think most girls can relate to this book - both then and now – and it is a timeless classic.