Is Are You There God? It's me, Margaret

[sunshinesupermum]

My grandson is 10 years old. Is this a suitable read for him or is it only for girls? TIA

I would say for teenaged girls.

Have you read it? Maybe see for yourself? I would be more dubious based on his age than his sex...

I don't see what harm it can do though it probably wouldn't be terribly appealing for him. It's from the view point of a girl and mostly about her and her friends starting puberty from what I recall. He would probably enjoy 'Tales of a fourth Grade nothing' and then 'Superfudge' more.

I don’t think it would be of interest to a 10 year boy - it’s about a girl and her friends going through puberty and the angst they face from a female perspective.

Are you looking for a book about male puberty for a boy that age? Or something else?

Is it not mainly about puberty and periods?

My 11 year old daughter has just started this book this week! Not sure a boy would enjoy it

Oh God I was given this when I was young. Even then I cringed so bad. It's so awkward.

And no it's not for boys she does an exercise and chant in hope of getting boobs.

The Fudge books by Judy Blume should be perfect at that age and for boys.

There's a new film of it coming out later this year, is that why he's interested?

I wouldn't say 'only for girls' necessarily but it's a 50-year old book aimed at slightly older children about girls, puberty and religion so I'd slightly question how much he'd get out of it. It was massively dated even when I read it in the 90s.

I did love Judy Blume at that age but I'd think some of the slightly younger titles would be better for him.

It's really dated and I'm sure there are better books around teen life and puberty. I read it at his age and I'm 42! I remember the description of sex and it's really quite tame and harmless.

It felt dated to me when I read it in the eighties. I can’t imagine what it would be like to read it now.

I read on here that it's been updated now - modern sanitary towels rather than belts and loops. I don't see why a 10 year old boy shouldn't read it. I think I was about 8 or 9 when I read it.

A JB that deals with male puberty (unwelcome erections and so on) is 'Then Again, Maybe I won't' but some of it hasn't aged well - the boy asks for binoculars as a present so he can spy on the teenaged girl next door.

I was 11/12 in the mid 90’s when I read it (sisters 10 years older than me so access to all the 80’s classics!) and I remember loving it but I really can’t imagine a modern 10 year old boy getting any joy from it at all! I can’t persuade my 13 year old daughter to read it but she is willing to watch the film with me when it comes out.

Very dated. I'd be amazed if a young boy wanted to read it and even more amazed if he enjoyed it.

Iirc the main character imagines seeing Hitler everywhere - she is Jewish and doesn't quite believe he's dead. I think 10 is a bit young to understand it all but might prompt some discussion I suppose. Is he the sort to go and laugh to his mates that girls do chants to increase their bust?

I re-read it a year or so back after it came up in conversation and I really don’t think a boy would enjoy it. There are other Judy Blume books which he would enjoy though. But it’s so focused around periods, and stuff he wouldn’t really care about!

Is it not about a pre teens thoughts about her first bra and starting periods for the first time? It's been the best part of 40 years since I read it but that's why I remember from it. Can't imagine it's got much a 10 year old boy would be looking for

Loads of bits are coming back to me now so I must've read it a lot! Wanting to be called Precious... house looking like a bordello (no I didn't know what that was), the pirate game, the alcoholic chocolate drink, bananas to make your chest grow (?), flower behind her ear, "addition to the family", saliva glistening on chocolate cake, green eyeshadow... making me want to read it!

"Then again, maybe I won't " was a weird one... stomach problems and chalky drink, rich neighbour choosing a new name for the mum, getting scolded for leaving a few cents tip in the bottom of a milkshake glass, The Y, binoculars "for birdwatching".

I don’t remember the hitler bit! Crikey!

What did you think when you read it?

You are confusing this book with 'Starring Sally J Freedman as Herself'. That's a book based on Judy Blume's own experiences of growing up in wartime/post wartime America. Sally, like Judy, is Jewish and had relatives murdered in Hitler's death camps - she has conceived a fear that Hitler might still be alive. The book is mostly set in Florida, which at the time was racially segregated and the novel also deals with her confusion at having moved from a non-segregated to a segregated area. It's one of JB's best YA books in my opinion.

Then Again, Maybe I won't is probably more appropriate. This is a Judy Blume book from a boys perspective.

You don't recall correctly. Hitler doesn't come up at all.

Thanks Tellmeimcrazy

@AmuseBish yes the Hitler thing is from Sally J Freedman.
@sunshinesupermum I don't think a boy would like it that much to be honest.
I cannot wait for the film release in April though.