Reviews

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume

herreadinglife's review against another edition

funny lighthearted

jen_16's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

lianne_rooney's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

It was a joy to read this again more than 30 years after I first read it and ahead of the film adaptation. Two things stood out for me on this reread. One: how well Blume captures the voices and concerns of the 11/12 year old girls at the centre of the story and two: it really hasn't dated as much as I thought it would have despite the fact it was originally published in 1970. 

snp0312's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition

5.0

I don't think I read any Judy Blume except for one summer when I read all the books on the shelves at my girlfriend's house - and this was not one of them. I actually heard about this book a couple of years early. And I grew up with very few girls around.

So it was a surprise at how much this book written in 1970 resonated. So Margaret moves from NYC to New Jersey in 6th grade. I was born in NYC and grew up in NJ but moved in 9th grade from Northern NJ to Central NJ. So I'd be a few years younger than Margaret. Margaret has a Jewish grandmother from New York who among other things didn't think their were good doctors or food in NJ and went to Florida in the winter - my grandparents all moved to Florida. Margaret was raised with no religion by a Jewish father and a Christian mother - which is essentially what we did. But at least we didn't elope.

But more than anything else I thought that this book captured the voice of growing up in NJ even to the point of first boy girl parties and square dancing.

It was short and well-written and for me quite nostalgic.

erinhaugh's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

unholytrinaty's review against another edition

3.0

Quick little read for our page-to-screen book club, not much to say on it! It was fine, I'm just not the targeted age group at all. 

kendrareads's review

funny hopeful medium-paced

4.0

Reread following a fun date night with my daughter to see the movie. Movie definitely holds the spirit of the book. After watching the movie and the reread, I really did not remember that there was such a strong emphasis on Margaret's struggle with religion. This is definitely not in the same genre as her Fudge books. I thought it was well written, but there were definitely characters that I did not like. Why did she feel so compelled to do what Nancy said?? Because she’s 11 going on 12 and wants to be liked in her new school. I think she did capture pretty well how 11-12 year old girls think and feel. I want to know who Margaret becomes after leaving sixth grade.

pink1176's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this book so much. It captures the preteen girl experience PERFECTLY

katelyn_reads2007's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

5.0