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.
Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret.
by Judy Blume
(Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2022)
I don’t think people start to smell bad until they’re at least twelve.
Page 1.
My parents don’t know I actually talk to God. I mean, if I told them they’d think I was some kind of religious fanatic or something. So I keep it very private. I can talk to him without moving my lips if I have to. My mother says God is a nice idea. He belongs to everybody.
Page 17.
I love the way people always think they know somebody your age until you tell the how old you really are!
Page 20.
I wasn’t scared because I knew I could always scream and my father would rescue me if it turned out to be a burglar or a kidnapper.
Page 21.
Grandma has certain ideas of her own.
Page 23.
My mother’s always telling me about when she was a girl. It’s supposed to make me feel that she understands everything.
Page 29.
If you aske me, being a teenager is pretty rotten - between pimples and worrying about how your smell!
Page 30.
“I’m not any religion,” I said.
“You’re not!” Gretchen’s mouth fell open.
“What are your parents?” Janie asked.
“Nothing,” I said.
“How positively neat!” Gretchen said.
Page 40.
I want to be like everyone
Else. You know God, my new friends
all belong to the Y or the Jewish Community Center. Which way am I
supposed to go? I don’t know what you
want me to do about that.
Page 43.
I hate people who call you dear. I walked over to the counter and raised my right eyebrow at her.
Page 48.
When I got home I carried my package straight to my room. I took off my dress and put on the bra. I fastened it first around my waist, then wiggled it up to where it belonged.
Page 51.
You should always be a little scared of your teacher.
Page 52.
“If you ever want to g et out of those baby bras you have to exercise,” she told us.
“What kind of exercises?” Gretchen asked.
Like this,” Nancy said. She made fists, bent her arms at the elbow and moved them back and forth, sticking her chest way out. She said, “I must - I must - I must increase my bust.” She said it over and over. We copied her movements and chanted with her. “We must - we must - we must increase our bust!”
Page 54.
Have you thought about it God?
About my growing, I mean. I’ve got
a bra now. It would be nice if I had
something to put in it.
Page 58.
I think it’s
time for me to decide what to be. I can’t
go on being nothing forever, can I?
Page 61.
Grandma’s hair color changes about once a month.
Page 62.
I’ve never been
inside a temple or a church. I’ll look
for you God.
Page 65.
It’s bad enough trying to act natural at a dance, but when your mother’s there it’s impossible.
Page 76.
The film told us about the ovaries and explained why girls menstroo-ate. But it didn’t tell us how it feels, except to say that it is not painful, which we knew anyway. Also, it didn’t really sow a girl getting it. It just said how wonderful nature was and how we would soon become women and all that.
Page 112.
For days after that whenever I looked at Gretchen, Janie or Nancy we’d pretend to be saying menstroo-ation. We laughed a lot.
Page 113.
Nancy was mad. “Look Gretchen, did we or did we not make a deal to tell each other absolutely everything about getting it?”
“I’m telling you, aren’t I?” Gretchen asked.
“Not enough,” Nancy said. “What’s it feel like?”
“Mostly I don’t feel anything. Sometimes it feels like it’s dripping. It doesn’t hurt coming out - but I had some cramps last night.”
Pages 114-115.
My mother said I may not get it every month yet. Sometimes it takes a while to get regular.
Page 115.
Nancy would want to tell me all about her period and about how grown up she was. Well, I didn’t want to hear her good news!
Page 117.
I felt kind of sorry for Nancy then. I want my period too, but not enough to lie about it.
Page 125.
I’ve been looking for you God. I looked in
temple. I looked in church. And today,
I looked for you when I wanted to
confess. But you weren’t there. I didn’t
feel you at all. Not the way I do when I
talk to you at night. Why God? Why do
I only feel you when I’m alone?
Page 139.
I hated it when they had a fight in front of me. Why didn’t they know how much I hated it! Didn’t they know how awful they sounded?
Page 141.
I stuck the pad between my legs, then pulled up my underpants. I wanted to find out how it would feel. Now I knew. I liked it. I thought about sleeping with my pad that night, but decided against it. If there was a fire my secret might be discovered. So I took it out, put it back in its box and hid it in my bottom desk drawer. My mother never checks there because the mess makes her positively sick!
Page 159.
All I could think of was I’d be in seventh grade in September and I was growing up. My mind knew it - even if my body didn’t.
Page 168.
Are you still there God? It’s me,
Margaret. I know you’re there God. I
Know you wouldn’t have missed this for anything! Thank you God. Thanks
An awful lot …
Page 172.