Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume (Bradbury Press, 1970) is the classic puberty book, which talks frankly about a girl’s concerns with menstruation, a changing body, and wearing bras, among other things. But, it is even more about a young girl’s changing perspective on herself, on learning to accept herself as she is, and the role that spirituality (not necessarily religion) plays in one’s growing awareness of self.
Throughout the book, Margaret prays to God (as the title) suggests, wondering about her own beliefs, since she has been raised without religion. She spends the school year researching different religions so she can decide “what” she is. This self-awareness is really the crux of her self-awareness. For her, the concept of God is what helps her not feel alone. And, when her dream comes true and she finally gets her period, she believes in God again.
First, I’ll say I read it as a kid. Now I feel like it’s weird that is glorifies getting a period so much. Getting my period ended up making life very difficult and it is a pain. Literally. My teenage periods were painful. The novel has been updated to reflect modern sanitary products (I remember being confused when they talked about sanitation belts). I dislike some parts of the book (such as when the kids look at a Playboy to look at what breasts look like for grown-ups). I didn’t like how her belief in God was dependant on getting her period. It was a weird conclusion to the book. It seemed like the kids were way too young to be beginning menstruation based on how they acted (and their apparent lack of development in the very beginning of the book). Was Margaret 12 in the previous iteration of the book or did Blume make her younger since kids get periods younger now?
In general, though, I think it is good that there is this type of book to provide a place for girls to have the beginning of the dialogue.
