History Literature / AreYouThereGodItsMeMargaret

* ForcedDancePartner: Margaret avoids dancing with Norman Fishbein during the Thanksgiving square dance as she thinks he's a [[AbhorrentAdmirer drip]], and she also avoids ClassClown Freddy Barnett because she's sure he'll tease her about not looking like [[BuxomIsBetter more developed]] Laura Danker in her sweater.

* BrandX: Period products are given the brand names ''Private Lady'' and ''Teenage Softies''. Tampax is mentioned once by Nancy during the Private Lady presentation; the representative coughs and suggest that "internal protection" wait until they're older.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aytg_imm.jpg]]

''Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret.'' is a YoungAdult novel written by Creator/JudyBlume in 1970.

* WantonCrueltyToTheCommonComma: God is being addressed. Therefore, it should be ''Are You There''''',''''' God?'' [[GrammarNazi This has bugged readers for decades]]. Some newer editions have altered the title to account for this.

''Are You There God? It's Me Margaret.'' is a YoungAdult novel written by Creator/JudyBlume in 1970.

It's [[TheSeventies 1970]] and [[NaiveEverygirl Margaret Simon]] is a sixth-grade girl who has just moved from New York City to [[{{Suburbia}} Farbrook, New Jersey]]. Her mother Barbara is Christian, her father Herb is Jewish (though both are non-practicing), and she's always considered herself non-religious despite her regular conversations with {{God}} -- until she realizes that in Farbrook, all her new friends are either Christian or Jewish. Margaret feels she must make a choice to "belong", and decides to spend her year-long study by her new teacher researching faith. She also deals with the issues of growing up and puberty -- including worry over periods, feelings about boys, getting her first bra, and jealousy about others.

With frank discussions of puberty including bras and periods, [[HormoneAddledTeenager pre-teens exploring early sexual and crush feelings]], an [[MalignedMixedMarriage interfaith marriage]] in an era where it was more rare and controversal, and the questioning of religious faith by a child raised without any as a large part of the plot, the book has been subsequently [[BannedInChina/UnitedStates banned or challenged]] many times. See some of the reasons [[https://www.booksontrial.com/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-the-passages-that-got-this-book-banned/ here.]]

* TheSeventies: The novel takes place in 1970. The book was published right at the start of 1970, and Judy Blume has stated it's set right at the same year.

* AbhorrentAdmirer: Norman Fishbein for Margaret. She considers him a "drip" and when she calls his number during Ten Minutes in the Closet, he says he really likes her and she reacts by telling him to kiss her quickly on the cheek to get it over with.
* AgainstMyReligion: During the preparations for Margaret's class's holiday choir concert -- with five Christian songs and three Hanukkah ones -- Jewish classmate Alan Gordon refuses to sing Christmas songs and Christian classmate Lisa Murphy refuses to sing Hanukkah songs, both claiming it's against their religion. Mr. Benedict's appeal to reason fails. Alan comes in with a note and doesn't sing the Christian songs. Laura sings when they march, but doesn't even mouth the words during the Hanukkah songs.

* TheSeventies: The novel takes place in 1970. The book was published right at the start of 1970, and Judy Blume has stated the it's set right at the same year.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Philip Leroy, the most handsome boy in the class. He appears handsome -- enough all four girls list him as the boy they Like in their boy books -- but is a brat and a jerk as well as a ClassClown. He tries to step on the girl's feet during the sixth grade square dance, blows mustard on the ceiling of the dining room during Norman's dinner party, and calls Spin the Bottle "corny". During "[[TenMinutesInTheCloset two minutes in the closet]]", he goes in with Laura Denker and comes out smiling, but Laura isn't. On Margaret's twelfth birthday he pinches her and says it's a pinch to grow an inch -- and then says he knows ''[[ACupAngst where]]'' the inch is needed. She decides that Nancy can have him from then on. He also barely contributes to the group project on Belgium, choosing to fool around by doodling and reading comics in class.

* CallingTheOldManOut: Grandparents in this case. Margaret gets furious when Barbara's parents insist that Margaret must be a Christian because Barbara was one and faith passes through the mother -- and they can overlook the "sins" of Herb being Jewish. Margaret was already angry at them for coming to visit at all and making her cancel her vacation to Florida, but them insisting on her being Christian is Margaret's RageBreakingPoint.
* CatholicSchoolGirlsRule: Realistically [[AvertedTrope averted]] with Laura Denker. She's the tallest and most developed girl in the sixth grade, and all the boys stare at her. But she attends public school, she is not as fast or slutty as the other girls assume, and her Catholicism is only briefly seen when she goes to confession after school -- and just before it, calls Margaret out on how she ''knows'' how everyone talks about her and that she's tired of it.

* CoolOldLady: Margaret's Jewish grandmother, Sylvia Simon. She dyes her hair multiple colors, travels to Florida, and goes on a cruise yearly. After the disaster that is Barbara's parents visiting and ruining Margaret's spring break vacation [[spoiler:and only staying overnight at that]], Sylvia comes over with her new unstated boyfriend she just met, saying that if Mohammad won't come to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammad.

* ACupAngst: Margaret and her friends are frustrated over the fact that they haven't started developing breasts yet, and insult more buxom Laura Denker about being more developed. The girls do an exercise to "increase" their bust by flexing their chests forward fifty times.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Philip Leroy, the most handsome boy in the class. He appears handsome -- enough all four girls list him as a Boy they Like in their boy books -- but is a brat and a jerk as well as a ClassClown. He tries to step on the girl's feet during the sixth grade square dance, blows mustard on the ceiling of the dining room during Norman's dinner party, and calls Spin the Bottle "corny". During "[[TenMinutesInTheCloset two minutes in the closet]]", he goes in with Laura Denker and comes out smiling, but Laura isn't. On Margaret's twelfth birthday he pinches her and says it's a pinch to grow an inch -- and then says he knows ''[[ACupAngst where]]'' the inch is needed. She decides that Nancy can have him from then on. He also barely contributes to the group project on Belgium, choosing to fool around by doodling and reading comics in class.

* EnthusiasticNewbieTeacher: Mr. Benedict is a first year sixth-grade teacher. He's a well-meaning but inexperienced teacher who struggles to get his students' approval and respect. At the end of the year, he states he'll be much more experienced now.

* GreenEyedMonster:
** Prominent throughout the book. Margaret is continuously jealous of various factors involved with puberty: Laura Denker having large breasts, her crush paying attention to other girls, and not getting her period before her friends.
** Nancy gets shades of it after Margaret goes into the bathroom with Philip Leroy--especially after Margaret brags and says they kissed five times or more when she goes to church with her.

* TrendCovers: The covers have been updated numerous times over the years, to continue to appeal to new generations of readers; one has what looks like a modern text message in the style of ''ttyl''. A 2023 reprint cover is themed after the movie, with Margaret's actress on the front.

* OutdatedName: One of the most obvious signs that set the book in the 1960s. While names like "Margaret", "Gretchen", "Nancy", or "Norman" are still found today, they are uncommon to the extent that it would be very surprising to find them all in one classroom.

* OutdatedName: One of the most obvious signs that set the book in the 1960s. While kids named "Margaret", "Gretchen", "Nancy", or "Norman" isn't odd, it's unusual when they're all in one classroom since these names are not as common anymore in the 21st century.

* ACupAngst: Margaret and her friends are frustrated over the fact that they haven't started developing breasts yet, and insult more buxom Laura Denker about being more developed.

* SixtiesHair: Compared to Barbara's free flowing long hair, Nancy's mother Jan Wheeler has a late 1960s bouffant.
* TheSeventies: The novel takes place in 1970. The book was published right at the start of 1970, and Judy Blume has stated the it's set right at the same year.
* SeventiesHair:
** Barbara has long, loose hair down her back.
** Mr. Benedict, [[RaceLift being Black]], has a full Afro.
** Janie (as a black girl) has natural hair that she only straightens once, having it pressed for Norman's party.

* CoolOldLady: Margaret's Jewish grandmother, Sylvia Simon. She dyes her hair multiple colors, travels to Florida, and goes on a cruise yearly. After the disaster that is Barbara's parents visiting and ruining Margaret's spring break vacation [[spoiler:and only staying one day at that]], Sylvia comes over with her new unstated boyfriend she just met, saying that if Mohammad won't come to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammad.

* PuppyLove: Frequently and often; Margaret has one on Moose.

More than fifty years after publication, Judy Blume finally agreed to allow a [[TheFilmOfTheBook film adaptation]] to be produced. The film was produced by Creator/JamesLBrooks and written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig (''Film/TheEdgeOfSeventeen'') and stars Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret, Creator/RachelMcAdams as Barbara, [[Creator/TheSafdieBrothers Benny Safdie]] as Herb Simon, and Creator/KathyBates as Sylvia. It was released on April 28, 2023, but [[BoxOfficeBomb only made back $21.5 million of its $30 million budget in theatres]].

* TheSeventies: The novel and movie both take place in 1970. The book was published right at the start of 1970, and Judy Blume has stated the it's set right at the same year.

* AdaptationDistillation: Several plot events of the book are removed from the movie to streamline events.
** There's no Thanksgiving dance (though the children are shown practicing dancing in their classroom), Christmas concert, or ceremony for Mr. Benedict at the end of the year.
** During Norman's party, the children are less rowdy (Nancy's dress doesn't get damaged) and while Philip briefly spits mustard on the ceiling, Norman's mother does not interrupt the party to fuss at them for ill behavior and leaves at the start not to return.
** Many of the classroom scenes are cut out, including the many times the class causes trouble for Mr. Benedict.
** The book has the menstruation video be more matter of fact, and there's no follow up with a brand promotion.
** Sylvia only comes to visit once, coming up from Florida when Margaret can't come to her. This is combined with the visit from Barbara's parents, leading to a confrontation between them both over Margaret's faith in front of her and them both upsetting her.
* AdaptationDyeJob: In the book, Laura Danker is described as blonde. In the movie, she's played by Isol Young, who has dark hair that was not dyed.
* AdaptationExpansion:
** Margaret's mother Barbara. In the film she's the {{Deuteragonist}}, with her own story occurring simultaneously alongside Margaret's. She decided to stop teaching painting so she could be a stay-at-home mom and spend more time with her daughter, and finds herself participating in the local PTA. Her plotline deals with the troubles she has trying to adapt as a stay at home mother, and her trying to do right by Margaret while also struggling with her own emotional wounds from her parents and Margaret starting to pull away into her own life.
** A shorter one, but when Janie--being [[RaceLift Black]]--invites Margaret to church, the service is a longer scene and more active with a gospel choir and the preacher singing along. Margaret is still unsure about her faith but enjoys the music.
* AdaptationalDiversity: The originally all-white Farbrook is adapted to now include various people of color in the neighborhood and classroom, including [[RaceLift Janie and the teacher, Mr. Benedict]].
* AdaptationalNiceGuy:
** Margaret and her parents are nicer in the film than in the book. Barbara is closer to Margaret and helps her navigate through various issues; after Margaret is upset after a bad day at school, Barbara asks her to sit on the couch and they briefly mention their sour feelings. Herb is less hostile to his wife about her having contacted her parents and more upset about how they treated ''her'' than how they treat him; he ultimately says she ''should'' let them visit, clearly hoping that she's right and they'll be kinder to them all. Margaret, most importantly, has a HeelRealization after Laura Danker calls her out for how she's joined in on the gossip and becomes willing to make friends with Laura rather than nothing happening after Laura tells her off--and Janie is willing to join her in befriending Laura.
** Philip Leroy, while still something of a jerk, is slightly less so. Notably, during Norman's party when they play 2 minutes in heaven he goes into the bathroom with Margaret instead of Laura Danker and only gives her two kisses politely--one on the cheek, and one on the lips. He still does the "pinch to grow an inch" joke and spits mustard on the ceiling during the party, but he's not as nasty as before.
** Freddy is no longer a prominent ClassClown and more of a minor character.
** Mary and Paul Hutchins, Barbara's parents, are more sympathetic and less fundamentalist, appearing to honestly be trying to reconnect with Barbara and know Margaret. While still clearly Christian--including looking visibly unsure during Sylvia cheering "l'chaim" at dinner and arguing with Sylvia over Margaret's faith afterwards--they seem to be be regretful about their actions after Margaret storms off and even say they'll call to talk to Barbara before leaving in the cab, implying they want to try and reconcile with her in some way.
* AdaptationalSympathy: Margaret's mom Barbara is made more sympathetic in the movie, in part by giving her her own plotline outside of Maragaret's perception with both her parents and the frustration of being a housewife.
* AdaptedOut:
** Barbara's brother in California is not mentioned by her parents at all.
** Gretchen's father is only briefly mentioned as a doctor when she takes the anatomy book for them to look at; Herb does not go to the hospital after cutting his hand on the mower, so he's not seen at all and Margaret only learns about Gretchen on the first day of school.
* AgainstMyReligion: During the preparations for Margaret's class's holiday choir concert -- with five Christian songs and three Hanukkah ones -- Jewish classmate Alan Gordon refuses to sing Christmas songs and Christian classmate Lisa Murphy refuses to sing Hanukkah songs, both claiming it's against their religion. Mr. Benedict's appeal to reason fails. In the book, Alan comes in with a note and doesn't sing the Christian songs. Laura sings when they march, but doesn't even mouth the words during the Hanukkah songs. In the movie, Mr. Benedict compromises by allowing both kids to remain silent during any songs that go against their beliefs.
* AllForNothing: In the film, Barbara signs on with the PTA and at the direction of Mrs. Wheeler cuts out ''thousands'' of fabric stars over several months to redecorate the school gym by having the ceiling painted black and the stars glued to the ceiling, to recreate the night sky. Barbara even takes on another volunteer's allotment when asked. However, putting the cloth stars on the ceiling are determined to be a fire hazard and the project is scrapped.

* AndStarring: To be specific, "And Introducing". Abby Ryder Fortson gets this credit because it's her first starring role, though she'd been in several other films (perhaps most notably, she played Cassie Lang in the first two ''Ant-Man'' movies before being replaced by Creator/EmmaFuhrmann in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'').

* BathroomStallOfAngst: in the movie, Margaret cries in the girls' bathroom after only turning in a single sheet of paper for her year-long project.
* BetaBitch: Margaret becomes one herself when she confronts Laura Danker at the library, upset she's doing a group project with her at all (along with Philip and Norman) and taking her many frustrations out on her. Laura's consequent [[WhatTheHellHero calling out]] has Margaret realize she's been blindly following Nancy's lead in helping ostracize and torment Laura and [[HeelRealization immediately feels bad for it]]. In the film she seems to become less close with Nancy afterwards and even tries hanging out with Laura at the end of the year.

* BlatantLies:
** In the movie, when Barbara tells Margaret about being [[IHaveNoSon disowned by her parents]] for marrying a Jewish man (which has Margaret indignant and horrified) she says that it happened a long time ago so she's fine. But she's crying as she explains, and later reaches out to her parents.
** Margaret lies in the movie that her top boy is Philip Leroy instead of Moose. She also lies that she kissed Philip repeatedly during Two Minutes when it was only twice.
* BookEnds: The movie starts and ends with summer camp--at the start Margaret is coming back from it, and at the end is heading off to camp again.
* BoringReligiousService: Margaret has a Christian mother and Jewish father but was raised without an affiliation to either religion. She attends two Christian services with friends and one Jewish service with her grandmother but Margaret finds the services boring and hard to follow (as she doesn't know the songs or the meanings of anything) and spends the time counting hats. Averted once in the movie, as Janie's black Baptist service shows Margaret enjoying it and saying to God she liked the music.

* CreatorCameo: Judy Blume is seen walking a small dog through the neighborhood during the EstablishingShot of Farbrook.

* CoverupPurchase: In the movie--embarrassed about buying menstrual pads for the first time--Margaret and Janie buy a pack of [=TicTacs=] along with them to curb attention away from the pads. In the book Margaret is not as embarrassed, in part because she's had a recent CrisisOfFaith of faith and is feeling defiant against God, but still purchases a comb along with the pads. (In the movie the purchase is made before her crisis.)

* {{Deuteragonist}}: The film puts Margaret's mother Barbara in this role. With Herb making more money, she leaves her job teaching painting to be a stay-at-home mom. She struggles to adjust to homemaking--finding herself bored--and the difficulties of being in the PTA, especially as someone who's just [[ExtremeDoormat too nice to say no]] when extra tasks are heaped on her. She's also clearly still hurting from [[IHaveNoSon being disowned by her parents]], so when they reach out to her she pins her hopes on them having changed. At the end of the film, Barbara has resumed teaching painting and when the head of the PTA, Mrs. Wheeler, tries to corner her to help again in middle school, she says no.

* DisabledInTheAdaptation: Minor, but Gretchen wears glasses in the movie where she never does in the book.
* EnthusiasticNewbieTeacher: Mr. Benedict is a first year sixth-grade teacher. He's a well-meaning but inexperienced teacher who struggles to get his students' approval and respect. At the end of the year, he states he'll be much more experienced now. (In the movie, while still enthusiastic, he struggles less to get their respect.)
* EyeTake: An Asian girl in Margaret's class has one while they're watching the video on menstruation.
* FakeBoobs: The Pre-Teen Sensations stuff their shirts and training bras with cotton balls. In the movie Margaret also does it briefly with socks, and dances around her room until startled by her father injuring himself.

* FancyDinner: Norman Fishbein holds a fancy dinner party over the holiday break, inviting the whole of his sixth grade class.[[note]]It's moved to before the holidays in the movie.[[/note]] The boys come in jackets and the girls in fine dresses, but the jackets are soon discarded. During dinner, the boys act out, blowing mustard on the ceiling with straws, and then Freddy taunts the girls when Mrs. Fishbein says that she's sure the four girls aren't responsible for the mess (and in the process rips Nancy's dress pocket). Mrs. Fishbein lectures them all for their appalling behavior and says any more "hanky-panky" will result in her calling their parents. Once she's gone again, the sixth graders then shift to playing Spin the Bottle and later, Ten Minutes in Heaven (really Two Minutes in the Bathroom, since the basement doesn't have a closet.)

* FirstPeriodPanic: After Gretchen has her first period, she tells her friends (who've yet to get theirs) that it's nothing to worry about. Nancy says she got hers shortly thereafter and didn't panic at all. [[spoiler:Only to panic and cry in the movie the day it happens for real.]]

* GoodParents: In the film especially, Barbara is a really good mom to Margaret. She's supportive without being smothering -- such as when she warns Margaret that wearing shoes without socks will give her blisters, but doesn't insist on them and leaves her to learn this on her own -- and worries about not having spent enough time with her. She does make mistakes, but in the film the situation with her parents has her come across much better, and she checks in on Margaret afterwards in a very compassionate way.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero:
** Barbara, after not speaking to her parents for fourteen years, sends them a holiday card out of sentimentality. This results in them sending a letter back saying they're coming to visit -- and coming right after Margaret was going to leave to Florida to visit Sylvia for spring break, ruining her vacation.
** In the film, Margaret asking her mother about her family seems to be what prompts Barbara to send them a card, resulting in all of the above.

* PeerPressureMakesYouEvil: Or at least, a bully. Margaret's first friend in New Jersey, Nancy Wheeler, immediately tells her awful things about their classmate Laura Danker (who is going through precocious puberty), including claiming she goes behind the A&P and lets boys feel her up. Margaret believes what she's told and treats Laura like an anathema throughout the book, until Laura calls her out about it to her face. In the film, Margaret shows remorse for believing this and tries to be kind to Laura before the end of the school year.

* RaceLift:
** Janie, who is white in the books, is cast in the movie as black Amari Alexis Price.[[note]]While not explicitly stated in the book, multiple covers that included the other characters portray her as white. Given the themes of conforming in suburbia and fitting in -- and the way Judy Blume mentions race in another book, ''Literature/IggiesHouse''--it's clear she's white.[[/note]] This also leads to some AdaptationalDiversity in the story as, when she takes Margaret to church with her, a black gospel choir performs; she also has her hair pressed by her mother before Norman's party. The behind the scenes also explained that her room has ''Jet'' magazine clippings to decorate it.
** The new male teacher, Mr. Benedict, is played by black Echo Kellum.
** Freddy Barnett is played by black Jecobi Swain.
* RunningGag: The movie frequently points out the lack of furnishings in the Simon's living room. It's only mentioned twice in the book, once by Margaret explaining her mother hasn't decided and during the visit from Barbara's parents. (In the movie, Barbara has gotten good furniture before her parents visit.)

* SecretIdentity: The [=PTSs=] decide to give themselves fancier names as part of their secret club: Alexandria, Veronica, Kimberly, and Mavis. They all get tired of trying to remember who's who by December and go back to using their real names. (This is left out of the movie.)

* TokenWhite: from the movie, in the scene of Margaret attending Janie's black church, she is the only white girl in the congregation. She quite enjoys the music.

* WhatTheHellHero: Laura calls Margaret out for believing the rumors about her and assuming she's a slut or fast because she's more developed than other girls their age. Margaret instantly realizes Laura's right and is genuinely sorry, and in the movie she tries to apologize and later makes an effort to be friendly on the last day of school.

* WithFriendsLikeThese: Nancy Wheeler isn't a sweet and reliable friend. Margaret continues to think of Nancy as her "best friend" (even after the Laura Danker incident), even though Gretchen and especially Janie treat Margaret better than Nancy does. In the movie, she wanders away from Nancy after Laura Danker calls her out for her whispering.
* YoungerThanTheyLook: Laura Danker, with her busty frame and long legs, is mistaken for being the teacher by Margaret on the first day of school. In the movie she's expressly taller than all the others in the class as well.

** Janie, who is implied to be white in the books, is cast in the movie as black Amari Alexis Price.[[note]]While not explicitly stated in the book, given the themes of conforming in suburbia and fitting in -- and the way Judy Blume mentions race in another book, ''Literature/IggiesHouse'', it's likely she's white.[[/note]] This also leads to some AdaptationalDiversity in the story as, when she takes Margaret to church with her, a black gospel choir performs; she also has her hair pressed by her mother before Norman's party. The behind the scenes also explained that her room has ''Jet'' magazine clippings to decorate it.
** The teacher, Mr. Benedict, is played by black Echo Kellum.

* AdaptedOut: Barbara's brother in California is not mentioned by her parents at all.

* AllForNothing: In the film, Barbara signs on with the PTA and at the direction of Mrs. Wheeler cuts out ''thousands'' of fabric stars over several months to redecorate the school gym by having the ceiling painted black and the stars glued to the ceiling, to recreate the night sky. Barbara even takes on another volunteer's allotment when asked. However the stars on the ceiling are determined to be a fire hazard.

** Janie, who is implied to be white in the books, is cast in the movie as black Amari Alexis Price.[[note]]While not explicitly stated in the book, given the themes of conforming in suburbia and fitting in -- and the way Judy Blume mentions race in another book, ''Literature/IggiesHouse'', it's likely she's white.[[/note]] This also leads to some AdaptaionDiversity in the story as when she takes Margaret to church with her a black gospel choir performs, and before Norman's party she has her hair pressed by her mother. The behind the scenes also explained that her room has ''Jet'' magazine clippings to decorate it.

* SecretIdentity: The [=PTSs=] decide to give themselves fancier names as part of their secret club: Alexandria, Veronica, Kimberly, and Mavis. They all get tired of trying to remember who's who by December and go back to using their real names.

** A shorter one, but when Janie--being [[RaceLift Black]]--invites Margaret to church, the service is a longer scene and more active with a gospel choir and the preacher singing along. Margaret is still unsure about faith but enjoys the music.

** Margaret and her parents are nicer in the film than in the book. Barbara is closer to Margaret and helps her navigate through various issues; after Margaret is upset after a bad day at school, Barbara asks her to sit on the couch and they breifly mention their feelings. Herb is less hostile to his wife about her having contacted her parents and more upset about how they treated ''her'' than how they treat him - he ultimately says she ''should'' let them visit, clearly hoping that she's right and they'll be kinder to her. Margaret, most importantly, has a HeelRealization after Laura Danker calls her out for how she's joined in on the gossip and becomes willing to make friends with Laura rather than nothing happening after Laura tells her off--and Janie is willing to join her in befriending Laura.

** Freddy is no longer a ClassClown and more of a minor character.
** Mary and Paul Hutchins, Barbara's parents, are more sympathetic and less fundamentalist, appearing to honestly try to reconnect with Barbara and try to get to know Margaret. While still clearly Christian--including looking visibly unsure during Sylvia cheering "l'chaim" at dinner and arguing with Sylvia over Margaret's faith afterwards--they seem to be be regretful about their actions after Margaret storms off and even say they'll call to talk to Barbara before leaving in the cab, implying they want to try and reconcile with her in some way.

* AdaptationalSympathy: Margaret's mom Barbara is made more sympathetic in the movie, in part by giving her her own plotline outside of Maragaret's perception with both her parents and the frustration of being a housewife.

* AdaptationalDiversity: The originally all-white Farbrook is adapted to now include various people of color in the neighborhood and classroom, including [[RaceLift Janie and the teacher, Mr. Benedict]].

* AllForNothing: In the film, Barbara signs on with the PTA and at the direction of Mrs. Wheeler cuts out ''thousands'' of fabric stars over several months, even taking on another volunteer's allotment when asked. Mrs. Wheeler wants them glued to the ceiling of the gym to recreate the night sky. However, as it turns out, that's a fire hazard, so all that work comes to nothing.

It's [[TheSixties the 1960s]] and [[NaiveEverygirl Margaret Simon]] is a sixth-grade girl who has just moved from New York City to [[{{Suburbia}} Farbrook, New Jersey]]. Her mother Barbara is Christian, her father Herb is Jewish (though both are non-practicing), and she's always considered herself non-religious despite her regular conversations with {{God}} -- until she realizes that in Farbrook, all her new friends are either Christian or Jewish. Margaret feels she must make a choice to "belong", and decides to spend her year-long study by her new teacher researching faith. She also deals with the issues of growing up and puberty -- including worry over periods, feelings about boys, getting her first bra, and jealousy about others.

With frank discussions of puberty including bras and periods, [[HormoneAddledTeenager pre-teens exploring early sexual and crush feelings]], an [[MalignedMixedMarriage interfaith marriage]] in an era where it was more rare, and the questioning of religious faith by a child raised without any as a large part of the plot, the book has been subsequently [[BannedInChina/UnitedStates banned or challenged]] many times. See some of the reasons [[https://www.booksontrial.com/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-the-passages-that-got-this-book-banned/ here.]]

!!The book and movie provide examples of:
* TheSixties: The novel takes place in this time period; the book itself was published right at the start of TheSeventies.
* ACupAngst: Margaret and her friends are frustrated over the fact that they haven't started developing breasts yet, and insult Laura Denker about being more developed.

* AdaptationalSympathy: Margaret's mom Barbara is made more sympathetic in the movie, in part by giving her her own plotline outside of Maragaret's perception.
* AdaptationExpansion: Margaret's mother Barbara. In the film she's the {{Deuteragonist}}, with her own story occuring simultaneously alongside Margaret's. She decided to stop teaching painting so she could be a stay-at-home mom, spend more time with her daughter, and participate in the local PTA. Her plotline deals with the troubles she has trying to adapt, and her trying to do right by Margaret while also struggling with her own emotional wounds.
* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Margaret and her parents are nicer in the film than in the book. Barbara is closer to Margaret and checks in on her in a very sweet way after the disastrous visit from her parents (Margaret's maternal grandparents). Herb is less hostile to his wife about her having contacted her parents and more upset about how they treated ''her'' than how they treat him - he ultimately says she ''should'' let them visit, clearly hoping that she's right and they'll be kinder to her. Margaret, most importantly, becomes willing to make friends with Laura Danker rather than nothing happening after Laura tells her off, and Janie is willing to join her in befriending Laura.
* AnAesop: Moose tells Margaret she should get the facts about people rather than make or rely on assumptions about them after she accuses him of going behind the A&P with Laura Danker.

* AlphaBitch: Nancy Wheeler, Margaret's friend, manipulates her friends into following her lead along with rubbing salt into their personal insecurities (Gretchen's weight and Margaret's flat chest) and spreading rumors about Laura Danker.
* AndStarring: To be specific, "And Introducing". Abby Ryder Fortson gets this credit because it's her first starring role, though she'd been in several other films (perhaps most notably, she played Cassie Lang in the first two ''Ant-Man'' movies before being replaced by Creator/EmmaFuhrmann in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', who was herself replaced by Creator/KathrynNewton for ''Film/AntManAndTheWaspQuantumania'').

* BetaBitch: Margaret becomes one herself when she confronts Laura Danker at the library, upset she's doing a group project with her at all (along with Philip and Norman) and taking her frustrations out on her. Laura's consequent [[WhatTheHellHero calling out]] has Margaret realize she's been blindly following Nancy's lead in helping ostracize and torment Laura and [[HeelRealization immediately feels bad for it]]. In the film she seems to become less close with Nancy afterwards and even tries hanging out with Laura at the end of the term.

* BlatantLies: In the movie, when Barbara tells Margaret about being [[IHaveNoSon disowned by her parents]], something that has Margaret indignant and horrified, she says that it happened a long time ago, so she's fine. But she's crying as she explains.
* BoringReligiousService: Margaret has a Christian mother and Jewish father but was raised without an affiliation to either religion. She attends two Christian services with friends and one Jewish service with her grandmother but Margaret finds the services boring and hard to follow (as she doesn't know the songs or the meanings of anything) and spends the time counting hats.

* CoverupPurchase: Embarrassed about buying menstrual pads for the first time, Margaret and her friends buy other products along with them to curb attention away from the pads. In the book Margaret is not as embarrassed, in part because she's had a recent crisis of faith and is feeling defiant against God; in the movie the purchase is made before her CrisisOfFaith.

* {{Deuteragonist}}: The film puts Margaret's mother Barbara in this role. With Herb making more money, she leaves her job teaching painting to be a stay-at-home mom. She struggles to adjust to homemaking and the difficulties of being in the PTA, especially as someone who's just too nice to say no when extra tasks are heaped on her. She's also clearly still hurting from [[IHaveNoSon being disowned by her parents]], so when they reach out to her she pins her hopes on them having changed. At the end of the film, Barbara has resumed teaching painting and when the head of the PTA tries to corner her for help, she says no.

* DidYouThinkICantFeel: Laura Danker tells off Margaret for accusing her of sneaking around with older boys and tells her about how hard it is to develop breasts before your peers do and have boys and teachers stare at her while the girls all talk about her behind her back.

* EnthusiasticNewbieTeacher: Mr. Benedict is a first year sixth-grade teacher. He's a well-meaning but inexperienced teacher who struggles to get his students' approval and respect. At the end of the year, he states he'll be much more experienced now.
* FaintInShock: Nancy faints in panic [[spoiler:when she gets her period for real, while on a trip to New York]]. Margaret isn't amused. In the book, she merely cries and sounds ill.
* FakeBoobs: The Pre-Teen Sensations stuff their shirts and training bras with cotton balls.
* FakePeriodExcuse: A variant. [[spoiler:Nancy pretends to get her first period to try to impress her friends; in the book she just sends a postcard to Margaret with the words "I GOT IT!". This backfires when she actually has her first period later and Margaret is present for Nancy's panic.]]
* FancyDinner: Norman Fishbein holds a fancy dinner party over the holiday break, inviting the whole of his sixth grade class. The boys come in jackets and the girls in fine dresses, but the jackets are soon discarded. During dinner, the boys act out, blowing mustard on the ceiling with straws, and then Freddy taunts the girls when Mrs. Fishbein says that she's sure the four girls aren't responsible for the mess (and in the process rips Nancy's dress pocket). Mrs. Fishbein lectures them all for their appalling behavior and says any more "hanky-panky" will result in her calling their parents. Once she's gone again, the sixth graders then shift to playing Spin the Bottle and later, Ten Minutes in Heaven (really Two Minutes in the Bathroom, since the basement doesn't have a closet.)

* FirstPeriodPanic: After Gretchen has her first period, she tells her friends (who've yet to get theirs) that it's nothing to worry about. Nancy says she got hers shortly thereafter and didn't panic at all. [[spoiler:Only to panic (with fainting in the movie) the day it happens for real.]]

* GreenEyedMonster: Prominent throughout the book. Margaret is continuously jealous of various factors involved with puberty: Laura Denker having large breasts, her crush paying attention to other girls, and not getting her period before her friends.

* HugeSchoolgirl: Laura Danker is both the bustiest girl in the grade and tall enough to be mistaken for a teacher. During a dance lesson, she had to dance with the teacher as none of the boys were tall enough.

* IHaveNoDaughter: And "I Have No Son-in-Law". A central plot involves Margaret's maternal grandparents who disowned Barbara because, as very conservative Christians, they were angry she wanted to marry Margaret's Jewish father Herb. This is why Margaret is raised with no religion. They later express a desire to reconcile, though only with Barbara -- not her father, whom they don't even mention in their letter. They barely acknowledge Herb when they come to visit, and when they abruptly leave it's implied they still haven't fully reconciled with Barbara, though in the movie they've seemingly become more willing to talk to her at least.

* RaceLift: Janie, who is implied to be white in the books, is cast in the movie as black Amari Alexis Price.[[note]]While not explicitly stated in the book, given the themes of conforming in suburbia and fitting in -- and the way Judy Blume mentions race in another book, Literature/IggiesHouse, it's likely she's white.[[/note]]
* RunningGag: The movie frequently points out the lack of furnishings in the Simon's living room. It's only mentioned twice in the book, once by Margaret explaining her mother hasn't decided and during the visit from Barbara's parents.

* SexySweaterGirl: Laura Danker wears one, and she's the only one in her sixth grade class with breasts big enough to pull this trope off. Margaret owns many sweaters, but doesn't fill them out.

* WhatTheHellHero: Laura calls Margaret out for believing the rumors about her and assuming she's a slut or fast because she's more developed than other girls their age. Margaret instantly realizes Laura's right and is genuinely sorry.
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: Margaret finds out that Nancy lied to their group [[spoiler:about getting her period before she does, and Nancy faints (she just [[OhCrap panics and cries]] in the book) when it arrives.]] Nancy also panics when her mother spills the beans to Margaret and begs her not to tell their friend group. Margaret is mad at Nancy for lying and bragging about it, but decides to keep Nancy's secret.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Nancy Wheeler isn't a sweet and reliable friend. Margaret continues to think of Nancy as her "best friend" (even after the Laura Danker incident), even though Gretchen and especially Janie treat Margaret better than Nancy does.
* YoungerThanTheyLook: Laura Danker, with her busty frame and long legs, is almost mistaken for being the teacher by Margaret on the first day of school.

It's [[TheSixties the 1960s]] and [[NaiveEverygirl Margaret Simon]] is a sixth-grade girl who has just moved from New York City to [[{{Suburbia}} Farbrook, New Jersey]]. Her mother Barbara is Christian, her father Herb is Jewish (though both are non-practicing), and she's always considered herself non-religious despite her regular conversations with {{Main/God}}--until she realizes that in Farbrook, all her new friends are either Christian or Jewish. Margaret feels she must make a choice to "belong", and decides to spend her year-long study by her new teacher researching faith. She also deals with the issues of growing up and puberty--including worry over periods, feelings about boys, getting her first bra, and jealousy about others.

* AgainstMyReligion: During the preparations for Margaret's class's holiday choir concert--with five Christian songs and three Hanukkah ones--Jewish classmate Alan Gordon refuses to sing Christmas songs and Christian classmate Lisa Murphy refuses to sing Hanukkah songs, both claiming it's against their religion. Mr. Benedict's appeal to reason fails. In the book Alan comes in with a note and doesn't sing the Christian songs. Laura sings when they march but doesn't even mouth the words during the Hanukkah songs. In the movie Mr. Benedict compromises by allowing both kids to remain silent during any songs that go against their beliefs.

* ApologyGift: Or rather, apology visit; when Herb and Barbara realize that Barbara's parents were using their visit to see their granddaughter as an excuse to arrive and leave dramatically (they only stay one day) and make themselves the center of attention--and Margaret sourly points out they ruined her vacation--they get a mutual JerkassRealization. Herb calls his mother, Sylvia, to come visit Margaret and help cheer her up.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Philip Leroy, the most handsome boy in the class. He appears handsome--enough all four girls list him as a Boy they Like in their boy books--but is a brat and a jerk as well as a ClassClown. He tries to step on the girl's feet during the sixth grade square dance, blows mustard on the ceiling of the dining room during Norman's dinner party, and calls Spin the Bottle "corny". During [[TenMinutesInTheCloset "two minutes in the closet"]] he goes in with Laura Denker and comes out smiling, but Laura isn't. On Margaret's twelfth birthday he pinches her and says it's a pinch to grow an inch--and then says he knows ''[[ACupAngst where]]'' the inch is needed. She decides that Nancy can have him from then on. He also barely contributes to the group project on Belgium, choosing to fool around by doodling and reading comics in class.

* CallingTheOldManOut: Grandparents in this case. Margaret gets furious when Barbara's parents insist that Margaret must be a Christian because Barbara was one and faith passes through the mother--and they can overlook the "sins" of Herb being Jewish. Margaret was already angry at them for coming to visit at all and making her cancel her vacation to Florida, but them insisting on her being Christian is Margaret's RageBreakingPoint.
* CatholicSchoolGirlsRule: Realistically [[AvertedTrope averted]] with Laura Denker. She's the tallest and most developed girl in the sixth grade, and all the boys stare at her. But she attends public school, she is not as fast or slutty as the other girls assume, and her Catholicism is only briefly seen when she goes to confession after school--and just before it, calls Margaret out on how she ''knows'' how everyone talks about her and that she's tired of it.

* DCupDistress: Laura Danker has been wearing a bra since fourth grade--and will quickly tell anyone that a big bust is not all it's cracked up to be, as boys stare at her and girls talk about her and spread rumors all the time.

* FaintInShock: Nancy faints in panic [[spoiler:when she gets her period for real, while on a trip to New York]]. Margaret isn't amused. In the book she merely cries and sounds ill.

* FourGirlEnsemble: The Four Pre-Teen Sensations: Gretchen is the tomyboyish one one, Janie is shy and sweet, Nancy is fast and knows more about sex and puberty [[spoiler:or at least fakes it]], and Margaret is the narrator.

* GoodParents: In the film especially, Barbara is a really good mom to Margaret. She's supportive without being smothering--such as when she warns Margaret that wearing shoes without socks will give her blisters, but doesn't insist on them and leaves her to learn this on her own--and worries about not having spent enough time with her. She does make mistakes, but in the film the situation with her parents has her come across much better, and she checks in on Margaret afterwards in a very compassionate way.

* HormoneAddledTeenager: The Pre-Teen Sensations accuse Laura Danker of being one of these. Meanwhile Nancy frets about kissing boys and says she's practicing. At a dinner party the kids decide to play Spin the Bottle followed by Two Minutes in Heaven.

* IHaveNoDaughter: And "I Have No Son-in-Law". A central plot involves Margaret's maternal grandparents who disowned Barbara because, as very conservative Christians, they were angry she wanted to marry Margaret's Jewish father Herb. This is why Margaret is raised with no religion. They later express a desire to reconcile, though only with Barbara--not her father, whom they don't even mention in their letter. They barely acknowledge Herb when they come to visit, and when they abruptly leave it's implied they still haven't fully reconciled with Barbara, though in the movie they've seemingly become more willing to talk to her at least.
* ImportantHaircut: Minor, but Janie in the book is taken to get a haircut right before the fancy dinner party, and her mother has the stylist clip it short. Margaret says she looks elven and it's a good look for her--and thinks about the same cut for herself, but then remembers how long she's been growing her hair out.

** Sylvia, Margaret's paternal grandmother. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] as, even if she does attend services for Jewish holidays, Margaret only goes with her once for Rosh Hashanah.

* MalignedMixedMarriage: Margaret's parents eloped because Barbara's Christian parents wouldn't accept their daughter's relationship with a Jewish man. Margaret also mentions that Herb's Jewish parents weren't thrilled with the relationship either, but ultimately accepted Barbara because of how much their son loved her. When Barbara's parents suddenly announce a visit, Herb yells that they're probably coming to see if Margaret [[HornedHumanoid has horns]], due to the antisemetic idea of Jews being horned.

** Barbara, after not speaking to her parents for fourteen years, sends them a holiday card out of sentimentality. This results in them sending a letter back saying they're coming to visit--and coming right after Margaret was going to leave to Florida to visit Sylvia for spring break, ruining her vacation.

* OutdatedName: One of the most obvious signs that set the book in the 1960s. While kids named "Margaret", "Gretchen", "Nancy", or "Norman" isn't odd, when they're all in one classroom it's unusual since these names are not as common anymore in the 21st century.

* PrecociousCrush: Margaret has one on Moose, a friend of Nancy's older brother Evan. She has one towards her from Norman Fishbein, but [[AbhorrentAdmirer she thinks he's a drip.]]
* PornStash: Margaret's father has a subscription to ''{{Magazine/Playboy}}''. Nancy, when she hears, tells Margaret to go get an issue so they can look at the nude girls inside (as they just looked at a nude male body using an anatomy book).

* PropagandaPiece: The sixth grade girls attend a presentation called ''What Every Girl Should Know'', sponsored by the [[ProductPlacement Private Lady Company]]. While it is a presentation on menstruation and includes a video (albeit a bland, flowery one), It's more a [[SelfPromotionDisguisedAsNews promotion for Private Lady products]] and the pamphlets suggest to use that brand. Margaret decides she will ''never'' buy them when she needs them.
* RaceLift: Janie, who is white in the books, [[note]]While not explicitly stated, given the themes of conforming in suburbia and fitting in--and the way Judy Blume mentions race in another book, Literature/IggiesHouse, it's likely she's white.[[/note]] is cast in the movie as black Amari Alexis Price.

* SpinTheBottle: The girls play this game with their classmates at a birthday party, but come to the conclusion that it's not very fun and decide to play [[TenMinutesInTheCloset "two minutes in the bathroom"]] instead.

* TenMinutesInTheCloset: Margaret and her classmates play this at a birthday party. Except it's "Two Minutes in the Closet" and they don't have a big enough closet so they use a bathroom instead.

* HighSchoolDance: Really an Upper Elementary School Dance. The sixth grade has a Thanksgiving square dance in the fall, complete with lessons beforehand in gym class and a caller at the actual dance. Most of the boys spend both the gym lessons and the dance trying to step on the girls feet.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Barbara, after not speaking to her parents for fourteen years, sends them a holiday card out of sentimentality. This results in them sending a letter back saying they're coming to visit--and coming right after Margaret was going to leave to Florida to visit Sylvia for spring break, ruining her vacation.

* SpinTheBottle: The girls play this game with their classmates at a birthday party, but come to the conclusion that it's not very fun and decide to play [[TenMinutesInTheCloset "two minutes in the closet"]] instead.

* WhatYouAreInTheDark: Margaret finds out that Nancy lied to their group [[spoiler:about getting her period before she does]], and Nancy faints when it arrives. Nancy goes OhCrap when her mother spills the beans to Margaret, and begs her not to tell the group. Margaret is mad at Nancy for lying and bragging about it, but considers. She keeps the latter's secret.

* AnAesop: Moose tells Margaret she should get the facts about people rather than make or rely on assumptions about them after she accuses him of going behind the A&P with Laura Danker.