Module #1 Classic Literature

Title:  Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

Citation:  

Blume, Judy (1970).  Are you there God? It’s me Margaret. New York, NY: Bantam 
      Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers.

Summary:

Maragret Simon moves from New York City to New Jersey with her mother and father when she is eleven years old.  She must leave her friends and grandmother behind and make a new life in the suburbs. To help ease her angst about the big move, Margaret, who has no religious background, begins talking to God when she alone.  She is immediately embraced by a small group of girls from her class and school turns out to be fun.  As with most adolescent girls, Margaret and her friends are preoccupied with their ever-changing bodies. They are anxious to start their periods and grow breasts believing that these events will make their lives perfect. The new 6^th grade teacher challenges his students to spend the year studying something of personal importance to them and write a report at the end of the year. Much to her parents dismay  (and her grandmothers delight) Margaret chooses to study religion and visits a variety of churches.

Review:

Parents need to know that this book presents a pretty realistic take on what it's like to be a sixth-grade girl (which means it's fine for girls a bit younger since they are always looking ahead): Readers will find it easy to relate to honest Margaret, who says "I want to be like everybody else." There's some talk about periods, boys, bras, and bodies -- and Margaret sneaks her father's Playboy for her curious friends to look at. She and her friends gossip about the most-developed girl in class, and, at a party, the kids play "Two Minutes in the Closet" and other kissing games. Margaret grapples with some big questions about growing up, including what religion she should be (if any). She talks to God in a very personal way and at one point even gets so angry at him that she refuses to talk to him anymore. Ultimately, tweens learn that they're not alone in wishing that they would hurry up and grow up. 

Families can talk about the fact that author Judy Blume is the author of five books that appear on the American Library Association's Top 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2000-2007. Are you surprised that this book is on the list? What do you think makes it controversial? Margaret worries a lot about being normal, and she wants to grow up -- but she still gets embarrassed by things like bra shopping. This book was written in 1970 -- do you think a lot has changed since then? Do you feel like you relate to Margaret? Margaret's friend Nancy spreads gossip about Laura -- she says that Laura lets boys feel her up and that even their teacher can't keep his eyes off her figure. What do you think it's like to be Laura? Do you think girls who develop early still get targeted in this way?

 

Review Source:

Olney, Katherine. More on Are You There God, It's Me Margaret. [Review of the book Are You There God, It's Me 

Margaret.]. Commonsense Media. Retrieved from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret#tabs-review-details

Impressions:

I’m sure in 1970 this was a bold book containing controversial topics. By today’s standards it’s pretty mild, but is still as relevant as it was then. Girls are still just as curious and anxious as ever about their changing bodies. Fortunately for Margaret, her life is stable with two involved, loving parents who actually talk to her. This isn’t the case for many girls today. So many parents are too busy or hesitant to talk openly about menstrual cycles leaving girls wondering and talking among themselves, which leads to anxiety and misinformation. This would be a good book for girls and their mothers to read together to get the conversation started.

Suggested Use(s):

1.     This book could be used in a girl’s health class to open the discussion about menstruation, body image and healthy relationships.

2.     This book was quite controversial when it came out and was often targeted for censorship. Students could compare and contrast current books with this book. How are they different or the same?

3.     Have a discussion about censorship. Why might they come under fire? By whom? What themes do some people object to? Discuss the school policy & procedure when a book is challenged.

4.     Use this book as a spring board to open a dialogue about religions practiced by students in the class. How are they the same? How are they different? Have students write a report of their own religion (if the have one) and share it with the class. Let kids ask each other questions.

Additional Information:

Awards: 1975 Hawaii Nene Award winner

Interest Level: 3-6

Reading Level: 3.6

AR Interest Level: MG

Lexile Measure: 590