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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret Mass market paperbound - 1991

by Judy Blume


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.   

Summary

HASH(0x110c1b10)

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

  • Title Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
  • Author Judy Blume
  • Binding Mass Market Paperbound
  • Edition [ Edition: Repri
  • Pages 160
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Laurel Leaf Library, New York, New York, U.S.A.
  • Date 1991-10-01
  • ISBN 9780440904199 / 0440904196
  • Weight 0.18 lbs (0.08 kg)
  • Dimensions 6.88 x 4.17 x 0.46 in (17.48 x 10.59 x 1.17 cm)
  • Ages 09 to 12 years
  • Grade levels 4 - 7
  • Reading level 570
  • Library of Congress subjects Teenage girls, Conduct of life
  • 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

Dear Friends,
When I was growing up, I dreamed about becoming a cowgirl, a detective, a spy, a great actress or a ballerina. Not a dentist, like my father, or a homemaker, like my mother--and certainly not a writer, although I always loved to read. I didn't know anything about writers. It never occurred to me they were regular people and that I could grow up to become one, even though I loved to make up stories inside my head. I made up stories while I bounced a ball against the side of our house. I made up stories playing with paper dolls. And I made them up while I practiced the piano, by pretending to give piano lessons. I even kept a notebook with the names of my pretend students and how they were doing. I always had an active imagination. But I never wrote down any of my stories. And I never told anyone about them.
When I grew up, my need for story telling didn't go away. So when my own two children started pre-school I began to write and I've been writing ever since! My characters live inside my head for a long time before I actually start a book about them. Then, they become so real to me I talk about them at the dinner table as if they are real. Some people consider this weird. But my family understands. Many of my books are set in New Jersey because that's where I was born and raised. I lived there until my kids finished elementary school. Then we moved to new Mexico, the setting for "Tiger Eyes." I also spent two years in Connecticut, where "Just as Long as We're Together" and "Here's to You, Rachel Robinson" are set. And "Fudge-a-mania" grew out of a summer spent in Maine. I don't think I could set a book in a place without knowing it really well.
Now I live in New York City with my husband, George Cooper, who writes nonfiction. He thinks I'm lucky because I get to make things up. I think it would be fun to do research and discover stories, like George. Between us, we have three grown children and one incredible grandchild whose first word was book! That makes sense since we all love to read to him. Your letters are such an important part of my life! I wish there were time to answer more personally. But finding the time to write has become a real problem--and there are still so many stories I want to tell! I hope you understand. I'm going to try and answer as many of your questions as possible below.
So for now, good-bye. And keep reading! Love,
Judy Blume
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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

by Blume, Judy

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

by Blume, Judy

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

by Blume, Judy

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

by Blume, Judy

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

by Blume, Judy

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