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Collection (3 Books) Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret / Blubber / Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself

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The first story features Margaret Simon, almost 12, who chats to God a lot about growing up. The second story is an autobiographical novel while in the third novel, Jill realizes that it isn't nice to bully other children.

384 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1993

5 people are currently reading
118 people want to read

About the author

Judy Blume

148 books11.9k followers
Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge. She has also written three novels for adults, Summer Sisters; Smart Women; and Wifey, all of them New York Times bestsellers. More than 80 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-one languages. She receives thousands of letters a year from readers of all ages who share their feelings and concerns with her.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
She is the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation. She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; the Key West Literary Seminar; and the National Coalition Against Censorship.
Judy is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980's she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of Places I Never Meant To Be, Original Stories by Censored Writers.
Judy has completed a series of four chapter books -- The Pain & the Great One -- illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson. She has co-written and produced a film adaptation of her book Tiger Eyes, and is currently writing a new novel.
Judy and her husband George Cooper live on islands up and down the east coast. They have three grown children and one grandchild.

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5 stars
150 (47%)
4 stars
90 (28%)
3 stars
57 (17%)
2 stars
17 (5%)
1 star
5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Kerry.
6 reviews
October 5, 2014
Still love this book after all of these years (about 31)!
13 reviews
January 2, 2024
kinda painful to read, but it's all i had (extra star out of obligation because...... it's a classic)
66 reviews
January 6, 2009
This book is about a girl named Sally Freedman, and her hard times during the Holocaust. Sally lives with her mom, dad, brother, and grandmother in a nice house in New Jersey but gets forced to move to Miami beach for the winter. About a few days after moving to Miami beach, Sally fits in and even falls in love with her annoying classmate Peter. Everything seems to go fine untill she comes across a strange man who offers her candy. Sally notices that the man looks like Adolf Hitler and tries to "reveal" him. When Sally thought she finally solved the mysterious case of "Hitler" in Miami, something drasic happens that changes everything.
I can relate to how Sally feels around the strange man because when I sometimes watch scary movies, I feel uncomfortable and a little scared when I step outside of New York City. This is similar to how Sally feels around the strange guy who offers her candy.
I rate this book four stars because this book is alot different than the other books I have read. This book carries both American history and real life difficulties that kept me from putting the book down. Over all I loved this book and it taught me alot about the holocaust times. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading realistic fiction books.
Profile Image for Sherrie.
747 reviews7 followers
September 7, 2009
"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" by Judy Blume
(from the inside flap)
Margaret Simon, almost twelve, likes long hair, tuna fish, the smell of rain, and things that are pink. She's just moved from new York City to Farbrook, New Jersey, and is anxious to fit in with her new friends--Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie. When they form a secret club to talk about private subjects like boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret is happy to belong.
But none of them can believe Margaret doesn't have a religion, and that she isn't joining the Y or the Jewish Community Center. What they don't know is that Margaret has her own special relationship with God. She can talk to God about everything--family, friends, even Philip Leroy, the best-looking boy in sixth grade.

This is a very heart warming story of growing up. I loved it! I could also feel for Margaret on her religion. As I don't really have a religion but I do talk to God. Does that make us weird, not normal? I don't think so. One of the things Margaret does is check out the other religions. She is checking them out to see what one she is going to be when she grows up.
311 reviews6 followers
May 9, 2023
I probably would have liked reading this book when I was the age of the characters--11 or 12. I would recommend it to readers of that age now because I think the worries and concerns of Margaret are timeless. Girls of all ages worry about fitting in, conforming, and being just like everyone else. They want friends, they want to share secrets, and are curious about boys. Margaret is new to the town and will be starting sixth grade. She makes some friends, but these girls are a bit competitive. Who will start their period first? Who will get kissed by a boy first? Who will get good grades? Margaret is also worried about her religion (or lack of it). She wants to have a relationship with God, in fact she talks to him nightly, but doesn't belong to a church. For an assigned year-long school project, she explores different religions by going to church or temple with others. At the end of the school year, though, she still hasn't figured it out, but decides she probably will someday. I think middle school girls will find Margaret and her friends to be relatable, funny, and normal.
Profile Image for Mary.
922 reviews39 followers
January 12, 2023
This is a great book for pre-trrns to read. I let my daughter read it to read when she was 10 years old and when she got her period she knew what it was all about. I wanted one of her friends to read it, but her Mother got very mad at me and said that Suzanne could not be friends anymore.

When I tried to explain to her what the box was about she was still angry with me but did let her daughter read it.

I will always recommend the book to mothers with pre-teens.

I just learned this morning that the book is going to be a movies and that Judy Blume herself says that the movie is better than the book.

Profile Image for Mandy.
99 reviews
August 18, 2023
Are You There God? It’s me, Margaret.

Not the cultural phenomenon I was expecting. Cute, I guess but nothing is really resolved. Her maternal grandmother abandons Margaret to Florida when she promised to take her to Lincoln Center every weekend. What does Mr. Benedict think about the letter? And does Margaret end up with Moose or what? And what about Laura Danker?? All the adults in this book are ridiculous.

Blubber

Blume’s books end so abruptly. I turn the page and wonder where the rest of the story is.

Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself

This story was the gem in the rough. It was a solid kid story for the young and old.
Profile Image for Lindsey.
5 reviews
August 14, 2012
Are You There God? It's Me Margaret is about a girl who just moved from New York City to New Jersey, and is trying to fit in. She makes a group of friends, and they form a club about boys and growing up. I thought it was really fun and interesting to learn about what kind of character Margaret and her friends were. I loved how Margaret and her grandmother had a really good relationship. I think that her other grandparents should've stayed longer because I wanted to know how they would act when the other grandma came. I definitely recommend this book!
Profile Image for Julie.
255 reviews
March 9, 2009
This is the story of Margaret Simon, an 11 year old girl who just moved from New York City to New Jersey. She is going through a lot of changes and is trying to fit in with her new friends. Nancy, Gretchen, Janie and Margaret form a secret club called the PTS club (Pre-Teen Sensations) to talk about boys and other girl stuff. Margaret is confused though by her religious beliefs with a Jewish parent and a Christian parent. Margaret
Profile Image for Una Rose.
115 reviews12 followers
May 19, 2015
These are my three favorite Judy Blume novels. She is such a good writer of young peoples fiction because she introduces big topics, such as puberty, bullying, the holocost, and makes them easily understandable and relatable. Her writing voice also is believable, highly likable and authetic. Her books were a big deal to my generation and me and I enjoy re reading them as well.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
130 reviews
June 20, 2015
Talk about Throw Back Thursday! #TBT
Unfortunately, I didn't grow up reading Judy Blume's books. My loss.
This cute story is well worth the couple of hours (if that long) it takes to be read.
Boy angst, Monthlies angst, being told what to do and having your own plans destroyed! Ah those were the days. I loved the journey down memory lane.
448 reviews
May 3, 2025
3.8 I love the voice of Judy Blume. I haven’t read this book in a very long time. Sadly, it seems six graders are more mature nowadays and wouldn’t engage in things these kids did, but at least they still might keep boy journals. 😆
Profile Image for Gea.
26 reviews
September 13, 2008
This is great bok if you read it at the right age and are just experiencing what she is goin through.I enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Franca.
3 reviews1 follower
Read
December 13, 2009
a must read..........judy blume......all her books are fantastic
1,372 reviews
January 4, 2015
Je l'ai lu autrefois, en même temps que mes filles, en français et je m'en régale toujours autant, surtout en VO
Profile Image for Tia.
78 reviews
May 8, 2020
A classic. I re-read it with a bunch of my friends recently and it was as good as I remember.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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