About this book
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is about a sixth-grade girl growing up and wondering about God and puberty and boys. It was challenged a lot after the 1980s because of its frank discussion of topics like religion and sex. Blume was one of the first Young Adult novelists to write about subjects long considered taboo for teenagers, and is credited for helping to get generations of pre-teens into reading although she has also been named one of the most frequently challenged authors according to the American Library Association.
The novel was Blume's third published book. It has become a touchstone coming-of-age novel for girls. Through the five decades of popularity it has received updates from the publisher, including a controversial 2014 cover art depiction of Margaret texting God, following by an ellipsis in a message bubble. In 1998, Blume updated the novel herself, changing Margaret and her friends from using 'sanitary' napkins with belts, to disposable pads.
Judy Blume’s books have won hundreds of awards. She is the recipient of the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. She lives in Key West and New York City. You can visit her at
www.judyblume.com.
From the publisher
Margaret Simon, almost twelve, has just moved from New York City to the suburbs, and she's anxious to fit in with her new friends. When she's asked to join a secret club she jumps at the chance. But when the girls start talking about boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret starts to wonder if she's normal. There are some things about growing up that are hard for her to talk about, even with her friends. Lucky for Margaret, she's got someone else to confide in . . . someone who always listens.
First Edition Identification
The first edition of Are you there God? It's Me, Margaret was published by Bradbury Press in 1970. It has a yellow cover with a girl sitting on the side of a bed.
Details
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Title
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
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Author
Judy Blume; Read by Laura Hamilton
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Binding
Compact Disc
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Edition
Unabridged
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Pages
3
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Volumes
3
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Language
ENG
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Publisher
Listening Library (Audio), U.S.A.
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Date
2011-01-11
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ISBN
9780307745682 / 0307745686
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Weight
0.26 lbs (0.12 kg)
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Dimensions
5.8 x 5 x 0.6 in (14.73 x 12.70 x 1.52 cm)
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Ages
10 to UP years
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Grade levels
5 - UP
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Library of Congress subjects
Teenage girls, Conduct of life
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Dewey Decimal Code
FIC
Excerpt
Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret. We’re moving today. I’m so scared God. I’ve never lived anywhere but here. Suppose I hate my new school? Suppose everybody there hates me? Please help me God. Don’t let New Jersey be too horrible. Thank you.
We moved on the Tuesday before Labor Day. I knew what the weather was like the second I got up. I knew because I caught my mother sniffing under her arms. She always does that when it’s hot and humid, to make sure her deodorant’s working. I don’t use deodorant yet. I don’t think people start to smell bad until they’re at least twelve. So I’ve still got a few months to go.
I was really surprised when I came home from camp and found out our New York apartment had been rented to another family and that we owned a house in Farbrook, New Jersey. First of all I never even heard of Farbrook. And second of all, I’m not usually left out of important family decisions.
But when I groaned, “Why New Jersey?” I was told, “Long Island is too social-Westchester is too expensive-and Connecticut is too inconvenient.”
So Farbrook, New Jersey it was, where my father could commute to his job in Manhattan, where I could go to public school, and where my mother could have all the grass, trees and flowers she ever wanted. Except I never knew she wanted that stuff in the first place.
The new house is on Morningbird Lane. It isn’t bad. It’s part brick, part wood. Also, there is a very nice brass knocker. Every house on our new street looks a lot the same. They are all seven years old. So are the trees.
I think we left the city because of my grandmother, Sylvia Simon. I can’t figure out any other reason for the move. Especially since my mother says Grandma is too much of an influence on me. It’s no big secret in our family that Grandma sends me to summer camp in New Hampshire. And that she enjoys paying my private school tuition (which she won’t be able to do any more because now I’ll be going to public school). She even knits me sweaters that have labels sewed inside saying MADE EXPRESSLY FOR YOU…BY GRANDMA.
And she doesn’t do all that because we’re poor. I know for a fact that we’re not. I mean, we aren’t rich but we certainly have enough. Especially since I’m an only child. That cuts way down on food and clothes. I know this family that has seven kids and every time they go to the shoe store it costs a bundle. My mother and father didn’t plan for me to be an only child, but that’s the way it worked out, which is fine with me because this way I don’t have anybody around to fight.
Anyhow, I figure this house-in-New-Jersey business is my parents’ way of getting me away from Grandma. She doesn’t have a car, she hates buses and she thinks all trains are dirty. So unless Grandma plans to walk, which is unlikely, I won’t be seeing much of her. Now some kids might think, who cares about seeing a grandmother? But Sylvia Simon is a lot of fun, considering her age, which I happen to know is sixty. The only problem is she’s always asking me if I have boyfriends and if they’re Jewish. Now that is ridiculous because number one I don’t have boyfriends. And number two what would I care if they’re Jewish or not?
About the author
Judy Blume's books have won hundreds of awards. She is the recipient of the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. She lives in Key West and New York City. You can visit her at www.judyblume.com.
