Are you there God, it's me, Margaret, reviewed by Joy

Blume, J. (1970). Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. New York: Bantam.
$6.50 ISBN 0-440-40419-3

Judy Blume's 1970, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, is a “coming of Age” text that presents the realities experienced by one 11-year-old Margaret Simon. Although this text was printed in 1970, it is a classic example of an effective coming-of-age novel that accurately examines the experience of some adolescents. Blume gives a detailed account as Margaret tries to develop her “religious heritage” and begins a journey in faith, prayer, and confusion she is constantly hitting brick walls as she finds herself questioning both her faith and herself during the process. Margaret begins an inquiry project on other people's beliefs as a school assignment and this experience reveals thoughts and realizations about Margaret as a person amidst her religious struggle between her religious classification and that of her grandparents'. She has two different sets of grandparents and they both practice different religions. One set is Christian and the other is Jewish. Her trek results in an obvious dichotomy as she identifies as grandma's little Jewish girl, or a mainstreamed Christian. Her revelation in the conclusion will both surprise and shock you as a reader.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret is considered a “coming of age” text as it addresses how most children's lives revolve around family, friends, and classmates, but during the preteen and teen years a shift toward self-discovery and independence occurs. It also acknowledges how rapid growth and change are seen in the physical, emotional, moral, and intellectual domains of life. These changes are reflected in books for adolescents and are referred to as coming-of-age stories. With these ideas in place, I recommend this book for ages 9-13.

This book can be categorized as Religious Cultures Literature and can be considered potentially controversial because the United States is traditionally a Christian nation and the nonmainstream religion of Judaism presented in this text or the informal approach to religion used by Margaret categorize the book as such. The difficulty of identifying or categorizing herself within a specific religious group due to her beliefs and family background is a relevant and realistic event for human beings throughout their development. This text would serve as a catalyst in discussing religious freedom, student choice and family heritage or tradition for students within the classroom setting. Although discussing religion could be a controversial issue, teachers can outline the context of the discussion so that no one religioin is being put on a pedestal. Blume presents the realistic difficulty of puberty for a young, pre-pubertal girl as Margaret's friends are experiencing their periods, she begins to doubt herself and even question if something is wrong with her. This is a common occurrence for children in this age range and would be a relevant discussion point to address with all of the students in a classroom. As both boys and girls will have the pleasure of experiencing the trials and tribulations associated with puberty, this text can be used as a reference point or discussion opener when addressing this transitional period for adolescents. Blume is able to capture the realistic experiences of Margaret in a manner that is easily comprehended by adolescents ages 9-13.

~ Written by Joy