4:05 PM
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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume
Publisher: Delacorte
Publication date: 1971
ISBN: 9780385739863
Source: Library
Margaret is adjusting to a new home and new school. Her new friends wonder right along with her, will she ever be able to fill her training bra? When will she get her period? While also documenting the prejudices and cruelty of elementary and middle school life, it also reminds us of just how hard it is to fit in. The other part of this book shows us a young girl trying to understand what her relationship with God really is? Should she be a Jew or a Christian? Her parents' different choices contribute to this dilemma, but she wants to be her own person. Will she ever figure it out?
Things I Liked:
This really is a great book. I wish I'd read it while I was a tween. While I never wished I would get my period, I did wonder when my body would start changing. I love that her family is close and that they have a relationship (so many books today don't have any kind of parental involvement at all). I was also quite surprised at the depth of religious feeling that went with this iconic book. I definitely wasn't expecting it - but I certainly enjoyed it. This book captures the emotions and drama that epitomize that time in life. And I really just like Margaret - she's fun.
Things I Didn't Like:
The cultural references can be distracting in their dated-ness. However, I think most kids today won't be bothered by it. I wonder if they'll ever "update" them to include modern issues or technology (you know, records are rather antique).
Read-alikes:
Blubber and many other Judy Blume
The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few
mrg-factor: X
frank discussions of growing chests and periods
v-factor: none
Overall rating: ****
Did you read this as a kid? Do you feel differently about it now?
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
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