Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Some questions don’t come with easy answers.

Especially the ones about growing up.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. follows eleven-year-old Margaret Simon as she navigates friendship, family, faith, and the confusing, awkward realities of puberty. Through private conversations with God, Margaret explores what she believes, who she is, and where she belongs—without certainty, without perfection, and without shame.

Judy Blume writes with warmth, humor, and honesty, capturing the in-between space of adolescence with deep respect for young readers. This isn’t a book that tells kids what to think. It gives them permission to wonder.

Decades later, it still feels like someone finally telling the truth.

Why it’s been banned

This book has been challenged for generations for:

• Open discussions of puberty and menstruation
• Honest conversations about religion and belief
• Being considered “too mature” for young readers

In reality, it’s often banned for acknowledging that growing up involves real questions and that kids deserve honest answers.

Why we love it

• Because it treats young people with dignity.
• Because it normalizes bodies, questions, and uncertainty.
• Because it tells kids they’re not strange for wondering—or changing.

This book has helped generations feel less alone. That’s powerful.

Perfect for

Middle grade readers • tweens • parents and caregivers • banned books supporters • anyone who believes honesty belongs in children’s literature