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

Module 2: Classic Children's and Young Adult Literature

Are You There God? It's Me Margaret. 

Author: Judy Blume

Book Summary:

 

Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret is a book about a young girl named Margaret and her life in the sixth grade. She just moved to New Jersey with her family, has a first year male teacher, and has a group of friends who are desperately trying to “grow” up. When her teacher assigns a project that must have personal meaning for each student, Margaret decides to try to choose a religion. With parents of differing religious backgrounds, Margaret doesn’t know if she should join the Y or the Jewish Community Center. The book follows Margaret through her experiences as she privately talks to God to look for answers.  

APA Reference of the Book:

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

Impressions:

 I know that Judy Blume is a popular author for adolescent girls; however this is the first of Blume’s books that I have ever read. I’m unsure as to why I was never interested in reading this book when I was in the sixth grade, but I can now understand that I may have liked it. While the main storyline in book, as the title suggests, is Margaret’s search for religion, the book also touches on issues of girls growing up such as buying bras and kissing boys. The book does not attempt to mask any of the issues, and Margaret’s thoughts and her “conversations” with God are honest and relatable to girls her age. If young girls reading this book cannot relate to the religious aspects of Margaret’s life, they could possibly relate to going to their first dance, first supper party, first day in a new school, or any of Margaret’s other experiences.

Professional Review:

In full blume. (2002). Publisher's Weekly, 249(9). 82. Retrieved from: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA83711731&v=2.1&u=txshracd2679&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w&asid=1e5751c3ebd895c2c8a11448e4057342

  

"Judy Blume's body of work returns to her original editor, Richard Jackson, with the rerelease of four classics in hardcover. An African-American family moves to all-white Grove Street in Iggie's House, to be released in April. The author's breakthrough title, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, about 11-year old Margaret Simon's struggles with puberty and religion, is now available in hardcover as well as in a Spanish-language edition, Estas ahi Dios? Soy yo, Margaret. Two additional titles came out last season: Blubber takes on preteen teasing; and It's Not the End of the World explores the effects of divorce."

Library Uses:

This book could possibly be part of a “Coming of Age” display in a library especially considering that the book has a strong theme of maturation. Other books in the display could include The Dangerous Book for Boys or the Dork Diaries series.