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

Out now
Published by Pan Macmillan
Purchase from Amazon

The Blurb:

Life isn't easy for Margaret. She's moved away from her childhood home, she's starting a new school, finding new friends - and she's convinced she's not normal. For a start she hasn't got a clue whether she wants to be Jewish like her father or Christian like her mother. Everyone else seems really sure of who they are. And, worst of all, she's a 'late developer'. She just knows that all her friends are going to need a bra before she does. It's too embarrassing to talk to her parents about these things. So she talks to God instead - and waits for an answer . . .Judy Blume has written some of the best books of our time about real-life issues - family stress and pressures, what happens when your parents divorce, the problems of growing up and sexual awakening, bereavement - with insight, sensitivity and honesty. The response of readers all around the world continues to make her one of the best-loved writers ever published.The classic teen novel from bestselling author Judy Blume. Now available in ebook for the first time to correspond with Judy's visit to the UK.

My Review:

Hooray for Judy Blume, the author of my teen years. I just loved her books when I was growing up and was so excited when I saw that Are You There God, it's me Margaret was released as an ebook. I couldn't resist the chance to read it again and see what it's like to read it again many years on. I still love it!!

The book is about Margaret, a pre-teen whose family move to a new home and she has to start a new school where she knows noone. The book tells the story of her making new friends, becoming part of a secret gang, beginning to notice boys, and all the angst that goes with approaching puberty and comparing yourself to all your friends to see if you are 'normal'.

This book was just as funny and heartwarming as I remember it being, although now I think I am probably laughing just as much over reminiscing my experiences and my angst  as much as the humour of the book.

I love the character of Margaret. In some ways she seems quite mature for her age. Her parents haven't bought her up to follow any religion and there's is quite a bit of the book that follows her exploration of religion and trying to see what she identifies with. But on the flip side she wants to be as grown up as her friends and those in her class, wanting to wear a bra and wishing for her period to start.

I read the whole book in one evening and laughed often. I think it would be a fantastic book for parents to buy for their daughters. I am sure they would get so much enjoyment out of it as well as being able to identify with the characters, and providing reassurance that what they are experiencing is normal.

I have just realised that my daughter who is 20 has never read her books. I will definitely be getting them for her now.  Ok, so she is a bit older than the target audience, but I would hate her to miss out on the magic of Judy Blume and her amazing books.

A great book and trip down memory lane.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan who provided a copy of this book in return for an honest review.