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

@Needmorelego i do that as well! I recently re read a couple of older Jacqueline Wilson books and the characters would be in their fifties now!

I might start re reading some Judy Blume. I think I read the Fudge series which was age appropriate but I got into her other books and while I could read them the subliminal message was a bit lost to me. I like the way she weaves more than one theme into the books - like about religion and growing up and fitting in.

@Snowdropscrocus I think that's why Jacqueline Wilson wrote the books with Tracy Beaker being all grown up - many fans had pointed out how old Tracy would be now.

I read the first one I wasn’t hugely impressed but I am not really the target audience!

She wrote some brilliant ones in the 1980s for an older age group - I used to read them a lot.

I noticed Are you there God, its me Margaret had been re released with a new cover when I was in Waterstones recently, if there's a film coming out soon that makes sense. I have a 12 year old DD who would be the perfect age for it so I'm definitely going to get it for her next time I see it, the only reason I didn't when I saw it before was because I had bought a bundle of Judy Blume books from ebay and couldn't remember if that was among them or not. DD has read some of the younger Blume books like Superfudge and enjoyed them so I think Margaret would be a good one for her. I got her reading the Babysitters Club too off the back of the recent Netflix series.

@PlaitBilledDuckyPuss I think you must be a big a Judy Blume fan as I was/am! Every time someone above was getting the plots confused I was saying to myself 'no that was x' and then a few posts later you had said it

I think it's fine for a 10 year old boy to read. If he doesn't like it or finds it boring, he can stop reading it. There might be other books that help him learn about periods etc sure but why not this one. It might help him have some empathy about how girls feel rather than just learning straight facts from a non fiction book

Oh, yes @Cocoandcleo - I still have all my childhood copies and re-read them about once a year, I could almost recite some of the books, I know them so well

I am really pleased that the new Margaret film is set in the 70s. It wouldn't be the same if it was contemporary.
The one problem with Judy Blume books is they are rather dated and if you weren't unaware when they were published some parts might seem very odd to a modern reader.
Iggie's House only really works if you are aware it's 'set' in the early 70s and it's about the start of White Flight of the American suburbs. In 'Then Again Maybe I Won't' there's reference to Tony's older brother being "killed in Vietnam" (ie the war). Can you imagine the bullying in Blubber if there were phones and internet?
I expect the medical side of Deenie is way out of date.
I would love to see the books reprinted in a style that shows when they are 'set' (ie published).

I expect the medical side of Deenie is way out of date.

As a British reader in the mid-1980s, the main thing that struck me about Deenie's medical experience was how quick it all was - her appointment with the specialist within a couple of weeks, being fitted for the brace straight away, and a short wait for it to be fitted. I was used to the NHS, where you'd be on a waiting list for months before you could see anyone.

Get him Adrian Mole instead!

Maybe in a few years though..

@PlaitBilledDuckyPuss yes....my 14 year old is currently in the referral list for possible scoliosis. It's been a few months now.
(But I will always praise the NHS for what they do for my family 🌈❤️)

"I must, I must, I must increase my bust!" Pretty sure I read this when I was about 10 in the early 90s and it seemed quite dated then. It won't do him any harm to read it but I am not sure he's the target audience.

I hope she gets to see someone before too long

Thanks @PlaitBilledDuckyPuss 🙂

😂Forgotten those too!

Same! They're the best aren't they!

I wouldn’t say it was a good book to teach boys how girls feel. I read it when I was maybe 12 and was quite bemused by the girls’ obsession with periods. I couldn’t relate to it at all and it’s the only thing I can now remember about the book apart from the weird ‘bust-improving’ exercise bit!

Sorry I'm not sure on that book but can I recommend the Cirque du Freak saga by Darren Shan?

Thanks for everyone's comments!