Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Blume, J. (1970). Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. New York: Yearling.

Plot Description: Margaret is almost twelve and has just moved to the suburbs where she meets a new group of friends. They are all worried about when they are going to develop breasts and start menstruating. Even though she does not practice any particular religion she talks to God every night and asks that he help her. Neither of her parents are religious any longer, and Margaret decides to make her school project about religion so she can decide what she wants to be. Over the course of the book, her friends start hitting developmental milestones and she also notices changes in herself. She finally decides that she isn’t ready to decide on her religion and it may be a long time before she knows what she wants to be.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Group: This book would be appropriate for grades 5-9.

Series Information/Similar Books: The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo, Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself, and Just as Long as We’re Together all by Judy Blume.

Personal Thought: This book looks at many of the developmental issues pre-teen girls think about such as when will I start menstruating, when do I need to start wearing a bra, or why am I not developing sooner.

Subject/Themes: Puberty, Friendship


Character Description: Margaret is an eleven year old girl who recently moved to the suburbs of New Jersey from New York City.

Nancy Wheeler is a girl in Margaret’s new neighborhood. She is the same age but is trying to act sophisticated and grown up. She is already practicing for her first kiss and has a drawer full of makeup.


Annotation: Ever felt like you were going to be the last kid in the grade to physically develop? Well you are not alone. Follow Margaret and her three friends as they discuss and over analyze when they are each going to reach different milestones.