Honestly, it’s rare for a book written in 1970 to feel like it was whispered into a microphone yesterday. But Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret manages it. Judy Blume didn’t just write a middle-grade novel; she basically mapped out the internal nervous system of every person who has ever felt like they were lagging behind the rest of the world. It’s a book about puberty, yeah. But it’s also a book about the desperate, itchy need to belong to something—a religion, a friend group, or even just a physical standard that feels impossibly out of reach.
Margaret Simon is eleven, going on twelve. She’s just moved from the clatter of New York City to the suburbs of Farbrook, New Jersey. And she is waiting. She’s waiting for her body to change, for her period to start, and for some kind of sign from a God she isn't even sure she's allowed to talk to.
The Relentless Honesty of Judy Blume
Why do we still care? Because Judy Blume didn’t blink.
In the early 70s, children’s literature was often sanitized. It was polite. Then came Margaret, obsessively checking her reflection and doing pectoral exercises with her friends while chanting, "We must—we must—we must increase our bust!" It’s funny because it’s true. It’s also deeply cringey in that way only being twelve can be. Blume captured the specific anxiety of the "early bloomer" versus the "late bloomer" with a precision that makes modern readers realize that while technology changes, the feeling of being a "freak" because you don't need a bra yet is universal.
Margaret’s internal monologues with God are the heartbeat of the story. These aren't formal prayers. They are status updates. She’s negotiating. She’s venting. She’s asking for things that feel monumental but are, in the grand scheme of the universe, tiny. And that’s the point. To an eleven-year-old, the arrival of a physical milestone is a cosmic event.
The Religious Tug-of-War
People forget that Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is as much about religious identity as it is about growing up. Margaret is the product of a "mixed marriage." Her mother is Christian, her father is Jewish, and her maternal grandparents basically ghosted the family because of it.
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The deal her parents made was that Margaret would choose her own religion when she grew up. That sounds progressive and "chill" on paper, but for a kid, it feels like being cast adrift. She goes on a literal "religion shop," attending services at a temple and various churches, trying to find a "feeling." She’s looking for a click. A sign.
What People Get Wrong About the Controversy
The book has been a staple on the American Library Association’s list of frequently challenged books for decades. But if you actually look at the complaints, they aren't just about the "period talk."
A lot of the heat came from the religious themes. Margaret’s casual, unfiltered relationship with God—and her eventual frustration when she feels God has abandoned her—was seen as irreverent. There’s a moment toward the end where Margaret is so angry she stops talking to God altogether. For a children's book in 1970, that was radical. It was an acknowledgment that faith isn't a straight line. It's messy. It’s full of doubt. Sometimes, it’s just a way to deal with the fact that your grandmother is pressuring you to be one thing while your other grandparents are pressuring you to be another.
From the Page to the Big Screen
It took over fifty years for a movie adaptation to happen. Fifty. Years.
Judy Blume famously turned down offers for decades. She was protective. She didn't want a Hollywood studio turning Margaret into a caricature or, worse, something overly glossy. It wasn't until director Kelly Fremon Craig (who did The Edge of Seventeen) approached her that Blume finally said yes.
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The 2023 film, starring Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret and Rachel McAdams as her mother, Barbara, did something brilliant: it kept the setting in the 1970s. By refusing to update it to the era of TikTok and smartphones, the movie highlighted how little the core experience of puberty has actually changed. The clothes are different, sure. The lack of social media makes the isolation feel quieter. But the raw, pulsating desire to just be normal is exactly the same.
McAdams’ performance also added a layer of depth to the mother-daughter dynamic that wasn't as central in the book. We see Barbara Simon struggling with her own identity as she transitions from a city artist to a suburban housewife, trying to navigate the "PTA life" while nursing the wounds of her own parents' rejection. It makes the story a multi-generational look at what it means to be a woman.
The "Secret" Club and Social Dynamics
The secret club Margaret joins—the Pre-Teen Sensations—is a masterclass in middle-school politics. Nancy Wheeler, the self-appointed leader, is that girl we all knew. The one who claims to know everything first. The one who lies about her own development to maintain power.
Blume captures the cruelty and the camaraderie of these groups perfectly.
- The rules are arbitrary.
- The exclusion is sharp.
- The pressure to conform is suffocating.
When the girls keep "boy books" and rank their classmates, it’s not just "kids being kids." It’s a practice run for the social hierarchies of adulthood. Margaret’s realization that Nancy—her "cool" friend—is actually kind of a liar and a bully is a pivotal moment in her maturation. It’s the moment she starts looking for her own moral compass instead of just following the loudest voice in the room.
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Practical Insights for Parents and Readers Today
If you’re picking up Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret for the first time, or handing it to a kid, keep a few things in mind.
First, the book is a time capsule. Some of the language around products (like the "sanitary belts" Margaret has to wear) will be baffling to modern kids who live in the age of tampons and period underwear. It’s worth explaining that menstruation used to involve a lot more literal hardware.
Second, use the religious plotline as a conversation starter. In a world that is increasingly polarized, Margaret’s search for her own truth—independent of her parents' baggage—is incredibly relevant. It’s okay to not have the answers. It’s okay to feel like a "nothing" religiously while you figure it out.
Lastly, don't sleep on the humor. People talk about this book like it’s a heavy "issue book," but it’s actually really funny. Margaret’s observations of the adults around her are dry and often hilarious. Blume trusts her readers to "get" the joke, which is why kids have loved it for half a century.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Read the book before the movie: If you haven't revisited the text since the 80s or 90s, do it. It’s a fast read (usually under 200 pages) and holds up surprisingly well.
- Watch the 2023 film for the "Mother's Perspective": It fills in the gaps that the first-person narrative of the book couldn't reach, especially regarding the family's religious rift.
- Discuss the "Unfairness" Factor: Whether you're a teacher or a parent, talk about the character of Laura Danker. She’s the girl who develops early and gets bullied for it. It’s a crucial lesson in how society punishes girls regardless of which "side" of the puberty curve they fall on.
- Explore Blume's broader catalog: If Margaret resonates, move on to Deenie (which tackles body image and scoliosis) or Then Again, Maybe I Won't (which covers similar ground from a male perspective).
The enduring power of the story lies in its refusal to offer easy answers. Margaret doesn't get a lightning-bolt sign from God. She doesn't become the "most popular" girl. She just grows up, one awkward, uncertain day at a time. And honestly? That’s more than enough.