Are you there, God? Its me, Margaret
This famous 1970 Young Adult novel has recently been made into a movie. I read a review of the film, which is how the novel came to my attention. I knew the name Judy Blume, but I knew nothing about her. I didn't know (although I suspected) that she specialized in novels for girls. The movie review mentioned that the famous book Are you there God? It's me, Margaret (about which I knew nothing) was subject to censorship in the 1970s because of its description of pubescent girls experiencing menstruation for the first time and talking about it amongst themselves - as children do. And, because the subject of the story is irreligious as a result of her parents’ inter-faith marriage. Now, in 2020s America, when political parties are wholeheartedly neck-deep in the censorship movement, the film is expected to be subject to a blast of criticism and censorship.
That's why I became interested in it. I might be a conservative stick-in-the-mud in many ways, but I disagree with banning books, and I'm not much afraid of diverse opinions and unrestricted access to information. What I am afraid of is unashamed stupidity. Stupidity by its very nature tends to be unashamed, because it tends to be unaware of itself. The act of banning a book only motivates me to read it. So, I am interested in reading banned and challenged books. I’ve accumulated a fair list. I read Margaret in just a few hours and, frankly, I thought there was nothing embarrassing, shocking or offensive, inappropriate, obscene or censorship-worthy about it. It was kind of endearing. I’m speaking as a middle-aged man with some experience, not as a school-aged child, but I think my assessment is valid.