Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret: Now a major film starring Rachel McAdams and Abby Ryder Fortson Paperback – 16 Mar. 2023

I loved this book. Strange it was in my library for so long until I finally determined to read it all. I had read a couple of chapters and found it a bit childish. Then I realised of course it is it’s about a child and was really glad I read it all. And yes I recognised all the stages Margaret went through and took me right back to my school days. When Judy Blune said in the authors notes after ‘I set out to tell the truth as I saw it’ I agreed she really did.

I'm not an expert on coming of age stories, but this was pretty good. I found Margaret a relatable and likeable character, and the ups and downs of life are well captured. The writing style is quite simplistic, but you have to remember it's aimed at girls in their early teens. With this in mind, it is well written and a good starting point for girls on the edge of adolescence.

I really enjoyed reading this again after all these years.

A lovely, gentle, coming-of-age film that you can watch without any worries that it will give you nightmares or leave you feeling sad!I guess it's really a young-teenager's film but it brought back memories for me about the stuff that adults impose upon children which is supposedly 'in their best interest' and how people you thought were your enemies turn out to be nicer than those you thought were your friends, once you got to know them.Margaret talks to God a lot, despite not believing. Her father is Jewish and her mother a Christian but this doesn't seem to bother either of them and they prefer not to impose any particular religion on her until she's old enough to decide for herself. It's not until Margaret questions why she's only got one grandmother and not two that it becomes a talking point. Her paternal grandmother is prominent in her life and she wonders why her mother's parents are absent until her mother breaks down and tells her they fell out years before she was born because they were deeply religious Christians and objected to her marrying a Jewish man.A school project sets Margaret on the road to discovering that all religion seems to do is make people fight, and her kindly teacher helps her discover that you don't need any particular 'organisation' to tell you how to communicate with God. She tries out various different types of worship and finds them all lacking in what she expects to feel, until a long-awaited event at the end of the film make her realise that all along, God was listening to her and has made her wish come true!

Proved to be a little young for a 12-13 yr old.

I ordered this as an adult, knowing it was for younger readers but I'd seen it had been made into a film. It was a cracking story and well written in the first person, almost like a journal. I think teens would love it as it deals humorously with issues that teenagers worry about. I gave it to a friends daughter who apparently doesn't read much and she really liked it.

I first read this book many years ago when I was about 12, it's an okay book for young girls. This edition has been edited but I prefer the original!

I read this first when I was about 11 which was more than 20 years ago. I loved it back then and it helped me understand issues a n 11 year old might need further understanding in. Not 'just' menstruation, boobs, bras and boys, but also the difficulties and choices in fitting in with a group of friends, to follow the crowd or not, personal spiritual and religious decisions, life changing for worse and for better, losing loved ones and finding your own real self. And its done through the hard to put down, fun writing of Judy Blume through the eyes of Margaret who is easy to empathise with and enjoy.I bought it recently for my now 7 year old as an old friend reminded me of it. I am rereading it at first to check the age appropriateness for my daughter but to be honest I am now just enjoying it again! There are lots of things in it I want her to read and ask us about and as a mature and curious 7 year old with friends blooming into adolescence I think I will give it to her and let her decide. Despite being over 40 years old its surprising how little of it is old fashioned - obviously the call each other on landline phones, there's no texting! But in terms of family life, school life, friends etc its all exactly the same for me twenty year after being written and hopefully my daughter will enjoy it 40 years after being published!