History Literature / AreYouThereGodItsMeMargaret

* 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.

* CrisisOfFaith: Margaret struggles with being faithless in a community where everyone is either Jewish or Christian and her grandmother Sylvia is convinced she's a Jewish girl at heart. She decides her personal project for the year will be on exploring and possibly deciding her faith, but she doesn't get far; she finds services boring, regardless of which kind they are. She has a large break when her visiting grandparents insist she ''must'' be Christian because Barbara was. She yells that she doesn't need religion or even God, and decides she's never going to speak to him again. She keeps it up for the rest of the book, and for her project only turns in a single letter rather than the large decorated booklets the rest of her classmates have, saying she's come to no conclusion at all. [[spoiler:When she gets her first period, she starts talking to God again.]]

* FascinatingEyebrow: Margaret can raise one eyebrow. She does it occasionally to get adults to stop asking her questions and while she doesn't know why it has that effect, it does.

* BetaBitch: Margaret becomes one herself when she confronts Laura Danker at the library, upset she's doing a group project with her. It's this that has her realize she's been blindly following Nancy's lead in ostracizing/tormenting Laura and [[HeelRealization immediately feels bad for it]].
* 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 ''where'' the inch is needed.
* 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) and spends the time counting hats.
* BrandX: Feminine supplies are given the brand names ''Private Lady'' and ''Teenage Softies'', although Tampax is mentioned once; the representative for Private Lady coughs and suggest that "internal protection" wait until they're older.
* 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 and making her cancel her vacation, but them insisting on her being Christian is Margaret's RageBreakingPoint.

* 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, saying that if Mohammad won't come to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammad.
* 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 crisis of faith and is feeling defiant against God.
* CrisisOfFaith: Margaret struggles with being faithless in a community where everyone is either Jewish or Christian and her grandmother Sylvia is convinced she's a Jewish girl at heart. She decides her personal project for the year will be on exploring and possibly deciding her faith, but she doesn't get far; she finds services boring, regardless of which kind they are. She has a large break when her visiting grandparents insist she ''must'' be Christian because Barbara was. She yells that she doesn't need religion or even God, and decides she's never going to speak to him again. She keeps it up for the rest of the book, and for her project only turns in a single letter rather than the large decorated booklets the rest of her classmates have, saying she's come to no conclusion at all. [[Spoiler:When she gets her first period, she starts talking to God again.]]

* 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.

* SweaterGirl: Laura Danker wears one of these; she's the only one in her sixth grade class with breasts big enough to pull this trope off.

* TearsOfRemorse: After [[DidYouThinkICantFeel Laura calls out Margaret]] for being part of the bullying against her, Margaret follows her to her Catholic Church and and enters the confessional booth after Laura leaves. When the priest asks Margaret what she wants to confess, all Margaret can say is, "I'm sorry" before rushing away and breaking down crying.

* TrendCovers: The covers have been updated numerous times over the years; one has what looks like a modern text message in the style of ''ttyl''. A 2023 reprint cover is themed after the movie, with the actress on the front.
* UnnamedParent: ZigZaggedTrope with Margaret's maternal grandparents. They're named on the envelope with the holiday card as Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hutchins; her grandmother later signs her name as Mary Hutchens. However, during their visit Herb calls her Mrs. Hutchens, and the two call each other "Father" and "Mother" instead of by their first names.

* WhatTheHellHero: Laura calls Margaret out for believing the rumors about her and assuming she's a slut because she's more developed than other girls their age. Margaret instantly realizes Laura's right and is genuinely sorry.

* Fingore: Margaret's father Herb cuts his finger trying to mow the lawn, enough that the blood seeps through the towel and he has to go the hospital. He ends up with eight stitches in his finger and has to hire Moose to cut the lawn.

* InformedJudaism: With Gretchen Potter; she goes to the Jewish community center and Hebrew School, but doesn't really stand out as Jewish beyond that.

* IHaveNoDaughter: And "I Have No Son-in-Law". A central plot involves Margaret's maternal grandparents who disowned Barbara because, as very strict 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.

* 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.

* KnowNothingKnowItAll: Nancy Wheeler. She insists she knows everything about puberty and sex, and about how boys are perverted because of her older brother. However she assumes that Laura Denker ''must'' be letting boys feel her up behind the A&P because she's already developed (and so warns Margaret away from her), thinks that a specific exercise will make their busts grow faster, and brags about getting her period second. [[spoiler:She did, but not when she initially told Margaret.]]

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.

With frank discussions of puberty including bras and periods, [[HormoneAddledTeenagers 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.]]

* BetaBitch: Margaret becomes one herself when she confronts Laura Danker at the library. It's this that has her realize she's been blindly following Nancy's lead in ostracizing/tormenting Laura and [[HeelRealization immediately feels bad for it]].
* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* TrendCovers: The covers have been updated numerous times over the years; one has what looks like a modern text message in the style of ''ttyl''.

With frank discussions of puberty, [[MalignedMixedMarriage interfaith marriage]] in an era where it was more rare, and the questioning of religious faith as a large part of the plot, the book has been subsequently [[BannedInChina/UnitedStates banned or challenged]] many times.

* 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!) the day it happens for real.]]

* BrandX: Feminine supplies are given the brand names ''Private Lady'' and ''Teenage Softies'', although Tampax is mentioned once; the representative for Private Lady .

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 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.

* AgainstMyReligion: Preparations for Margaret's class's holiday choir concert turn chaotic when a Jewish classmate refuses to sing Christmas songs and a Christian classmate refuses to sing Hanukkah songs, both claiming it's against their religion. Mr. Benedict's appeal to reason fails and he finally compromises by allowing both kids to remain silent during any songs that go against their beliefs.

* BoringReligiousService: Margaret has a Christian mother and Jewish father but was raised without an affiliation to either religion. Her grandparents on both sides try to get her to embrace their personal faiths by taking her to their respective services, but Margaret finds the services boring.
* BrandX: Feminine supplies are given the brand names ''Private Lady'' and ''Teenage Softies'', although Tampax is mentioned once.

* CoolOldLady: Margaret's Jewish grandmother, Sylvia Simon. After the disaster that is Barbara's parents visiting and ruining Margaret's vacation [[spoiler:and only staying one day at that]], Sylvia comes over, saying that if Mohammad won't come to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammad.

* FaintInShock: Nancy faints in panic [[spoiler:when she gets her period for real]]. Margaret isn't amused.

* FakePeriodExcuse: A variant. [[spoiler:Nancy pretends to get her first period to try to impress her friends. This backfires when it actually does start later and Margaret is present for Nancy's panic.]]

* 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 party the kids decide to play Spin the Bottle followed by Two Minutes in Heaven.

* NewYorkIsOnlyManhattan: Margaret's family moves from New York City to Farbrook, New Jersey at the start of the book; New York is described as nothing but Manhattan.
* NoPeriodsPeriod: Averted. Not only is there a major plot around the four girls getting their periods, but all of them [[spoiler:but one]] get theirs before the end of sixth grade.
* OutdatedName: the book is undoubtedly set in the 1960s. One of the most obvious signs are the character names. One or two kids named "Margaret", "Gretchen", "Nancy", or "Norman" isn't odd, but when they're all in one classroom, it's unusual as these names are not as common in the 21st century.
* ParentsAsPeople: The religious issues affecting Margaret affect her parents too. They're good parents most of the time, until Barbara's parents say they're coming to visit--whereupon they cancel Margaret's vacation in order to have her meet them and spend the entire visit using her to placate or annoy her grandparents. They get a JerkassRealization about this when, after their departure, Margaret says that her grandparents ruined her vacation; as an apology they get her paternal grandmother, Sylvia to come visit and cheer her up.

* TheSixties: The novel takes place in this time period; the book itself was published right at the start of TheSeventies.

* TearsOfRemorse: After [[DidYouThinkICantFeel Laura calls out Margaret]] for participating in the bullying against her, Margaret follows her to her Catholic Church and and enters the confessional booth after Laura leaves. When the priest asks Margaret what she wants to confess, all Margaret can say is, "I'm sorry" before rushing away and breaking down crying.

* HormoneAddledTeenager: The Pre-Teen Sensations accuse Laura Danker of being one of these.

* ApologyGift: Or rather, apology visit; when Margaret's parents realize that her maternal grandparents were using the visit to see their granddaughter as an excuse to leave dramatically 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.

* CoolOldLady: Margaret's Jewish grandmother, Sylvia Simon. After the disaster that is Barbara's parents visiting and ruining her vacation, Sylvia comes and says that if Mohammad won't come to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammad.

* IHaveNoDaughter: And "I Have No Son-in-Law". A central plot involves Margaret's maternal grandparents who disowned Barbara because, as very strict 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 him when they come to visit, and when they abruptly leave it's implied they still haven't fully reconciled with Barbara.

* ParentsAsPeople: The religious issues affecting Margaret affect her parents too. They're good parents most of the time, until Margaret's maternal grandparents say they're coming--whereupon they cancel Margaret's vacation in order to meet them and spend the entire visit using her to placate or annoy her grandparents. They get a JerkassRealization about this when Margaret says that her grandparents ruined her vacation; as an apology they get her paternal grandmother, Sylvia to come visit and cheer her up.

Fifty years after publication, Judy Blume finally agreed to allow a [[TheFilmOfTheBook film adaptation]] to be produced]]. The film was 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.

* NoPeriodsPeriod: Averted. Not only is there a major plot point around the

* RaceLift: Janie, who is white in the books,

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 is Christian, her father is Jewish (though both are non-practicing), and she's 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.

Fifty years after publication, Judy Blume finally agreed to allow a [[TheFilmOfTheBook film adaptation]] to be produced]]. The film was written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig (''Film/TheEdgeOfSeventeen'') and stars Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret, Creator/RachelMcAdams as her mother Barbara, [[Creator/TheSafdieBrothers Benny Safdie]] as her father Herb, and Creator/KathyBates as her paternal grandmother Sylvia. It was released on April 28, 2023.

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

* BoringReligiousService: Margaret has a Christian mother and Jewish father but was raised without an affiliation to either religion. Her grandparents try to get her to embrace their personal faiths by taking her to their respective services, but Margaret finds them both boring.

* CallingTheOldManOut: Grandparents in this case. Margaret gets furious when her mother's parents insist that Margaret must be a Christian because her mother was one and faith passes through the mother--and they can overlook the "sins" of her father being Jewish. She was already angry at them for coming to visit and making her cancel her vacation, but them insisting on it is Margaret's RageBreakingPoint.

* CoolOldLady: Margaret's Jewish grandmother, Sylvia Simon. After the disaster that is Margaret's maternal grandparents visiting and ruining her vacation, her paternal grandmother Sylvia comes and says that if Mohammad won't come to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammad.

* {{Deuteragonist}}: The film puts Margaret's mother Barbara in this role. With her husband 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, she has resumed teaching painting and when the head of the PTA tries to corner her for help, she says no.

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

* JewishMother: Margaret's paternal grandmother, Sylvia, nags her son but dotes on Margaret.

* MalignedMixedMarriage: Margaret's parents eloped because Margaret's Christian maternal grandparents wouldn't accept their daughter's relationship with a Jewish man. Margaret also mentions that her Jewish paternal grandparents weren't thrilled with the relationship either, but ultimately accepted Margaret's mother because of how much their son loved her.

%%* NoPeriodsPeriod: Averted. Not only is there a major plot point around the

* SheIsAllGrownUp: Margaret's father tells her this after she gets her first bra.

* ApologyGift: Or rather, apology visit; when Margaret's parents realize that her maternal grandparents were using the visit to see their granddaughter as an excuse to leave dramatically and make themselves the center of attention--and Margaret sourly points out they ruined her vacation--they get a mutual JerkassRealization. Her dad calls his mother to come visit Margaret and help cheer her up.

* CoolOldLady: Margaret's Jewish grandmother. After the disaster that is Margaret's maternal grandparents visiting and ruining her vacation, her paternal grandmother comes and says that if Mohammad won't come to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammad.

* JewishMother: Margaret's paternal grandmother nags her son but dotes on Margaret.

* ParentsAsPeople: The religious issues affecting Margaret affect her parents too. They're good parents most of the time, until Margaret's maternal grandparents say they're coming--whereupon they cancel Margaret's vacation in order to meet them and spend the entire visit using her to placate or annoy her grandparents. They get a JerkassRealization about this when Margaret says that her grandparents ruined her vacation; as an apology they get her paternal grandmother to come visit and cheer her up.

!! The book and movie provide examples of:

* FaintInShock: Nancy faints in panic [[spoiler: when she gets her period for real]]. Margaret isn't amused.

* 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.

* NoPeriodsPeriod: Averted. Not only is there a major plot point around the
* OutdatedName: the book is undoubtedly set in the 1960s. One of the most obvious signs are the character names. One or two kids named "Margaret", "Gretchen", "Nancy", or "Norman" isn't odd but when they're all in one classroom it's unusual, as these names are not as common in the 21st century.

* TrendCovers: The covers have been updated numberous times over the years; one has what looks like a modern text message in the style of ''ttyl''.
* 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.
* WhatTheHellHero: Laura dcalls Margaret out for believing the rumors about her and assuming she's a slut because she's more developed than other girls their age. Margaret instantly realizes Laura's right and is genuinely sorry.

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

''Are You There God? It's Me Margaret.'' is generally considered to be a YoungAdult novel and was written by Creator/JudyBlume in 1970.

It's [[TheSixties the 1960s]] and [[NaiveEverygirl Margaret Simon, the protagonist of this book]], is a sixth-grade girl who is struggling over the issue of faith. Her mother is a Christian and her father is Jewish (though both are non-practicing), but up until that point she considered herself non-religious. It doesn't help that each of her new friends is either Christian or Jewish, and Margaret feels she must make a choice so she can "belong" with one group of kids or the other. She also deals with the issues of growing up and puberty, such as periods, liking boys, getting her first bra and being jealous of girls who grew breasts sooner.

Because it has puberty and the questioning of religious faith as a large part of its subject matter, it was subsequently [[BannedInChina/UnitedStates banned from many school libraries and reading lists]].

Nearly fifty years after the book was published, Blume finally agreed to allow a [[TheFilmOfTheBook film adaptation]] to [[https://news.sky.com/story/judy-blumes-are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-to-be-adapted-for-film-11528673 be produced]]. The film, written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig (''Film/TheEdgeOfSeventeen'') and starring Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret, Creator/RachelMcAdams as her mother Barbara, [[Creator/TheSafdieBrothers Benny Safdie]] as her father Herb, and Creator/KathyBates as her paternal grandmother Sylvia, was released on April 28, 2023.

!! This book provides examples of:

* ACupAngst: A major plot point is Margaret and her friends being frustrated over the fact that they haven't started developing breasts yet.
* 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 being behind the A&P with Laura Danker.

* CallingTheOldManOut: Grandparents in this case. Margaret gets furious when her mother's parents insist that Margaret must be a Christian because her mother was one, and they can overlook the "sins" of her father being Jewish. She was already angry at them for coming to visit and making her cancel her vacation, but them insisting on it is Margaret's RageBreakingPoint.

* DCupDistress: Laura Danker will happily tell you that a big bust is not all it's cracked up to be.

* OutdatedName: Several elements of the book have been modernized over the years, and some covers make the book appaear more contemporary, but the book is undoubtedly set in the 1960s. One of the most obvious signs are the character names. One or two kids named "Margaret", "Gretchen", "Nancy", or "Norman" isn't odd but when they're all in one classroom it's unusual, as these names are not as common in the 21st century.

* SlutShaming: Happens to the busty Laura Danker. The boys ogle her for her big chest while the girls treat her as a pariah. Nancy leads the way, making up rumors about Laura making out with Nancy's brother and his friend behind the local A&P.

* AnAesop: As Moose put it, you should get the facts about people rather than make or rely on assumptions about them.

* AlphaBitch: Nancy Wheeler, Margaret's friend, she manipulates her friends into following her lead along with rubbing salt into their insecurities (Gretchen's weight and Margaret's flat chest) and spreading rumors about Laura Danker.
* ApologyGift: Or rather, apology visit; when Margaret's parents realize that her maternal grandparents were using the visit to see their granddaughter as an excuse to leave dramatically and make themselves the center of attention, and Margaret sourly points out they ruined her birthday, they get a mutual JerkassRealization. Her dad calls his mother to come visit Margaret and cheer her up.
* BetaBitch: Margaret becomes one herself when she confronts Laura Danker at the library. The twist: she suddenly realizes she's been blindly following Nancy's lead in ostracizing/tormenting Laura and [[HeelRealization immediately feels bad for it]].
* BoringReligiousService: Margaret has a Christian mother and Jewish father but was raised without an affiliation to either religion. Her grandparents try to get her to embrace one of these faiths by taking her to their respective services, but Margaret finds them both boring.
* BrandX: Feminine supplies are given the brand names Private Lady and Teenage Softies, although Tampax is mentioned once.
* CallingTheOldManOut: Calling out the grandparents in this case. Margaret gets furious when her mother's parents insist that Margaret must be a Christian and to overlook the "sins" of her father being Jewish. She was already angry at them for coming to visit and making her cancel her "vacation," but this was the RageBreakingPoint.
* ComingOfAgeStory: Margaret starts thinking about larger, more abstract, adult things, and this culminates with her first period.
* CoolOldLady: Margaret's Jewish grandmother. After the disaster that is Margaret's maternal parents visiting and ruining her vacation as she puts it, her paternal grandmother comes and says that if Margaret isn't coming to her on a cruise, she's coming to visit her grandchild.

* {{Deuteragonist}}: The film puts Margaret's mother Barbara in this role. With her husband making more money, she leaves her job teaching painting to be a stay-at-home mom and 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]] and when they reach out to her she pins her hopes on them having changed. At the end of the film, she 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 14 year old boys and tells her about how hard it is to develop breasts before your peers do.
* 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.

* FakeBoobs: Cotton balls.
* FakePeriodExcuse: A variant. [[spoiler:Nancy pretends to get her first period to try to impress her friends. This backfires when it actually does happen later and Margaret witnesses Nancy panic.]]
* FascinatingEyebrow: Margaret can raise one eyebrow and does it occasionally to get adults to stop asking her questions. She doesn't know why it has that effect, but it does.
* 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, though, is so jealous that she claims to get hers shortly thereafter, only to panic (with fainting!) the day it happens for real.
* FourGirlEnsemble: More like the "Four Pre-Teen Sensations" — Gretchen is the somewhat mannish one, Janie is shy and sweet, Nancy is a bit of a slut wannabe, and Margaret is the narrator who sees everything.
* 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.
* GoodParents: In the film especially, Barbara is just a really good mom to Margaret. She's supportive without being smothering - an early note is that she warns Margaret that wearing shoes without socks will give her blisters, but doesn't insist on them - and worries about not having spent enough time with her. She does make mistakes but in this version of the grandparents situation she comes across much better.
* HeelRealization: After Laura calls her out, Margaret immediately realizes that Laura is right and immediately feels awful about the way she's been treating Laura.
* HormoneAddledTeenager: The book was written in 1970 when it was taboo to talk about puberty outside of health class, so at the time Margaret and her friends may have come off as one of these.
* HugeSchoolgirl: Laura Danker is not only the bustiest girl, she's also tall enough to be almost mistaken for a teacher, during a dance lesson she had to dance with the teacher.
* {{Hypocrite}} Nancy and her friends are fascinated by and eager about entering puberty and trying to be more grown-up, and are competitive over who develops or has her period first. They also shun and slut-shame Laura for being farther along in the process than they are.
* IHaveNoSon: Or I have no daughter, or I have no son in law. Part of the plot involves Margaret's grandparents on her mother's side disowning her mother because they are religious bigots and did not want her to marry Margaret's Jewish father. This is why Margaret is raised with no religion. They later express a desire to reconcile, though only with her, and not her father, whom they don't even mention in their letter and act as if he doesn't exist when they come to visit. When they leave it's implied they still haven't fully reconciled with her yet.
* JewishMother: Margaret's paternal grandmother, true to form, nags her son but dotes on Margaret.
* TheJoyOfX: '''Are You There, God? It's Me, X.''' The originator of this variant.

* NaiveEverygirl: Margaret.
* NewYorkIsOnlyManhattan: Margaret's family moved from NYC at the start of the book. New York is described as nothing but Manhattan.
* OutdatedName: Some elements of the book have been modernized and some covers make it seem contemporary, however the book is undoubtedly set in the 1960s nevertheless. One of the most obvious signs are the names. One or two kids named "Margaret", "Gretchen", "Nancy", or "Norman" isn't odd but when they're all in one classroom it's unusual. Their names are not so common in the 21st century.
* ParentsAsPeople: The religious issues affecting Margaret affect her parents too. They're good parents for most of the book, until Margaret's maternal grandparents show up... whereupon they cancel Margaret's holiday in order to meet them, only to spend the entire visit using her to placate or annoy her grandparents. They get a JerkassRealization about this when Margaret says that her grandparents ruined her vacation; as an apology they get her paternal grandmother to come visit and cheer her up.

* PuppyLove: Filled with it, seeing as it's a book about puberty.
* SheIsAllGrownUp: Not fully played out in the usual way, but Margaret's father tells her this after she starts wearing bras.
* TheSixties: The novel takes place in this time period, although it was written right at the start of TheSeventies.
* SlutShaming: Happens to the busty Laura Danker. The boys ogle her while the girls treat her as a pariah, especially Nancy who makes up rumors about the girl making out with Nancy's brother and his friend. Sadly this can be {{truth in television}} for girls with large breasts.
* SpinTheBottle: The girls play this game with their classmates at a birthday party, but come to the conclusion that it's lame and decide to play [[TenMinutesInTheCloset "two minutes in the closet"]] instead.
* SweaterGirl: Laura Danker wears one of these because she's the only one in her sixth grade class with breasts big enough to pull this trope off.
* TearsOfRemorse: After [[DidYouThinkICantFeel Laura calls out Margaret for participating in the bullying against her]], Margaret follows her to church, and enters the confessional booth after Laura leaves. When the priest asks Margaret what she wants to confess, all Margaret can say is, "I'm sorry" before rushing away and breaking down crying.
* 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.

* WhatTheHellHero: Laura does this to Margaret for believing the rumors about her and assuming she's a slut because she's more developed than other girls their age. It takes -- Margaret instantly realizes Laura's right, and is genuinely sorry.
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: Margaret finds out that Nancy lied about getting her period, and Nancy faints to boot 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.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Nancy Wheeler isn't what one would call a sweet and reliable friend, but 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: In-Universe, Laura Danker. With her busty frame and long legs, she is almost mistaken for being the teacher by Margaret on the first day of school.

Because it has puberty and the questioning of religious faith as a large part of its subject matter, it was subsequently [[UnitedStates/BannedInChina banned from many school libraries and reading lists]].

Because it has puberty and the questioning of religious faith as a large part of its subject matter, it was subsequently banned from many school libraries and reading lists.

* ApologyGift: Rather, apology vacation; when Margaret's parents realize that her maternal grandparents were using the visit to see their granddaughter as an excuse to leave dramatically and make themselves the center of attention, and Margaret sourly points out they ruined her birthday, they get a mutual JerkassRealization. Her dad calls his mother to come visit Margaret and cheer her up.

Nearly fifty years after the book was published, Blume finally agreed to allow a [[TheFilmOfTheBook film adaptation]] to [[https://news.sky.com/story/judy-blumes-are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-to-be-adapted-for-film-11528673 be produced]]. The film, written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig (''Film/TheEdgeOfSeventeen'') and starring Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret, Creator/RachelMcAdams as her mother Barbara, [[Creator/TheSafdieBrothers Benny Safdie]] as her father Herb, and Creator/KathyBates as her paternal grandmother Sylvia, is scheduled for release on April 28, 2023.

Nearly fifty years after the book was published, Blume finally agreed to allow a film adaptation of the book to [[https://news.sky.com/story/judy-blumes-are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-to-be-adapted-for-film-11528673 go ahead]]. It finished shooting in the summer of 2021 and stars Creator/KathyBates as Margaret's paternal grandmother, Sylvia.

* MoralGuardians: None of the potential reasons for banning this book were very good. [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny Nowadays at least]]. Is it bad to have an open, but non-religious relationship with {{God}}? Is it possible that by not letting your daughters read a tasteful first-hand account of puberty, [[SarcasmMode it will end up like smoking and drugs and be one of those things that they never do?]]