Originally published: 1970 (This edition 2023)

Author: Judy Blume

Published by: Pan Macmillan

Genre: Children’s (Age 10-12)

Length: 176 pages

Reading dates: 30 April 2023

Meet Margaret. She’s going through all the same things most teenage girls have to face; fitting in, friendship and first bras.

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 . . .

When Book Break offered copies of Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, I jumped at the chance to read it. I know it is a firm favourite with many, especially of my age or there about and I’m not entirely sure I have ever read it. The story did seem familiar though so I can’t be sure!

Margaret is 12 years old and has just moved from the centre of New York to the suburbs, leaving behind her beloved Grandmother. She quickly makes a new group of girlfriends at her school but is worried about when puberty will happen to her, if she should wear socks with shoes to school and about which boys she should like! She is also curious about religion when she realises she is one of the only people at school who do not have a religion. Her dad is Jewish and her mum is Christian but neither are practicing or have ever taken Margaret to a synagogue or church so Margaret decides to investigate for herself to see if she feels a particular allegiance to any.

This story is just adorable! I loved Margaret so much – I remember myself being worried about having no boobs and being the only one to have not started her period and to worry there was something wrong with me. I’m not sure how relatable it would be to a young girl of today who I think are probably more knowing but I hope they would still enjoy it and take something from it.

Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret has been made into a film which is out now and it also looks brilliant – the casting and charm of the novel to movie seem to be spot on. I really emjoyed reading this book and I can see why it is such a much loved classic.

Thank you to Book Break and Pan Macmillan for my gifted copy.

About the author:

Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, NJ, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places, doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Superfudge; Blubber; Just As Long As We’re Together; and Forever. She has also written the best-selling novels Wifey; Smart Women; and, Summer Sisters. More than 75 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into twenty-six languages.

Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year that American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. She has won more than ninety awards, none more important than those coming directly from her youngest readers.

She serves on the boards of the Author’s Guild, currently as Vice President; the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, where she sponsors an award for contemporary fiction; and the National Coalition Against Censorship, working to protect intellectual freedom. In Spring 2002, Judy was a spokesperson for the Cheerios “A Book for Every Child” literacy campaign which benefited Reading is Fundamental, America’s largest literacy organization. She is also the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation.

Judy lives on islands up and down the East Coast with her husband George Cooper. They have three grown children and one grandchild.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/judyblume
Website: https://judyblume.com/