Judy Blume

A reread. I know I read this as a kid (and from the state of my childhood copy, probably more than once), and I remember having sort of lukewarm feelings about it. Others of Judy Bloom's (particularly [Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself]) were absolute favorites, but this one I don't think I liked as much. I mostly remembered the stuff the book is known for (frank discussion of periods and of the adolescent girl characters' desire for their breasts to grow), though there are other things show more here the book gives equal weight (the difficulties of being "no religion" for an eleven-year-old girl in 1970s New Jersey; family dynamics). I think as a pre-pubescent kid I didn't warm to the book because I looked on the looming changes of puberty with a kind of resigned dread. I might have wanted to grow up in order to have more autonomy and control over my life, but I had no interest in the physical changes that would come with it (and I *certainly* wasn't doing any dubious exercises to get my breasts to grow. Pain in the ass, breasts.) I was a kid who would have been thrilled if puberty had just held it's horses for a couple of years until I would have been more ready for it. Alas. So it was probably hard for me to relate to these girls who seemed solely focused on "getting it," and while as a kid I loved reading books about experiences that were not my own, this one just fed my suspicion (common, I'm sure) that I wasn't doing growing up and being a girl "right." Upon this reread, while I love the fact that the book talks about periods and developing bodies openly (and provides, through the experiences of the several girls in the book, a few different illustrations of what getting a period for the first time might be like), it struck me starkly how none of the girls in the book cares about anything else aside from puberty and boys. They have no interests. They don't talk about anything else. Then there's the other thing the book is about: Margaret's struggle growing up with parents who want her to choose her own religion (or continue having no religion) when she's older. This scenario came about because her mother was Christian and her father Jewish and there was a schism in her mother's family when she married a Jewish man. Margaret talks to God about this struggle and takes it upon herself to go to different churches and temple with her friends and paternal grandmother. But the examination of religion is completely surface-level. There's nothing about what anyone believes or what it means to anyone to have a religion. The closest we get is Margaret's maternal grandmother, in an ill-fated reunion with her daughter's family, declaring that you don't choose religion, you're born into it. But the hollow religious experimentation just sort of comes to nothing. It's a big question to deal with, especially in a short middle grade book, and I think it's appropriate for the age range the book is aimed at for there to be some ambiguity and sense that there may not be a right answer, but that isn't the feeling I was left with. It feels more like a null conclusion than an ambiguous one. I know this book has achieved classic status, and I think in some ways that is deserved. It's important for girls (and boys) to know about female puberty, and the implicit lesson here that periods are thing that you can talk about is vital. But ultimately, for me, it still felt slightly alienating and hollow. show less

Oh, Margaret, how you've brought back all those awkward, cringe-worthy, yet somehow endearing moments of my preteen years! Reading this in my mid 20's felt like opening a time capsule buried in the back of my childhood closet, right next to a stack of diaries with tiny locks and a collection of Britney Spears CDs.

Judy Blume, you've nailed it again with your uncanny ability to tap into the mind of an eleven-year-old, desperately trying to navigate the complex world of friendships, family show more dynamics, and that awkward first encounter with a menstrual pad (yikes!).

As Margaret converses with God, seeking guidance on everything from religious identity to the pressing question of when she’ll finally need a proper bra, I found myself laughing out loud, not just at her earnestness but at the memories of my own similar dilemmas. Who knew that the existential crisis of choosing between pads and tampons could be so hilarious?

Whether you're revisiting this book as a nostalgic adult or discovering it as a curious tween, Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret serves up a delightful mix of humor and heartfelt moments. It’s a reminder that while growing up is fraught with confusion, it’s also filled with moments of pure comedy.

So, here’s to you, Margaret. Thanks for reminding me that the journey to adulthood is a bit like a group project in gym class—awkward, occasionally embarrassing, but better with friends. And God? If you’re listening, a little heads up on the next embarrassing moment would be much appreciated! show less

I was interested in Forever by Judy Blume because of the controversy that surrounds it; I knew it was banned because of the sexual content and wondered just what sort of content elicited such a heated reaction from people. While sex is definitely talked about and not shied away from in this book, it is done tastefully and responsibly; although truly, I expected nothing less from Judy Blume.

This book centers on the idea of having a first love and what it’s like to be young and exploring a show more new relationship. I enjoyed that it doesn’t happen all at once; Blume takes her time in showing how the romance and love develops between Katherine and Michael. It’s also done in a healthy way, which was probably my favorite part about this novel, sadly. I feel like too often TV and books idealize unhealthy relationships, but this book very much shows a healthy relationship between two teenagers, and it’s still just as exciting and entertaining (more so, because I’m not grossed out by awful behavior).

Overall, I think this book is great for teens to introduce them to the world of relationships and give them idea of what it looks like and how to have difficult conversations with their parents or significant others. It’s a tad bit dated, but not so much that it’s unrecognizable. Besides that, it’s a super cute romance and it brought up all the feelings I had when I was with my “first love,” so it’s really just great overall. I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a cute teen romance.

Also posted on Purple People Readers. show less

I loved Judy Blume as a kid. Summer Sisters is one of my all-time favorite books I read immediately upon publication in the late '90s. I'm sure I probably read Blubber at some point in my youth. Despite that, I was not prepared for how brutal this book is.

These kids are straight up Lord-of-the-Flies-survival in the restroom, at lunch in the classroom, at the bus stop. They are VICIOUS. I was so uncomfortable listening to their bullying tactics. I just wanted to hug Linda and bitch-slap Jill show more for going along with Wendy.

The ending makes up for the brutality, but it's still a difficult read/listen. show less