Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Parent Guide

Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson) is an eleven-year-old with a lot on her plate. Her family has just moved from their New York City apartment to a split-level in New Jersey, separating Margaret from her doting grandmother (Kathy Bates). She has left her friends behind and is now becoming acquainted with neighbor Nancy Wheeler (Elle Graham), a brittle blonde who’s obsessed with boys and puberty.

In addition to making friends, Margaret is trying to establish her religious identity. Her father (Herb Simon) was raised Jewish; her mother (Rachel McAdams) Christian, but neither has any religious affiliation – and despite pressure from the grandparents, insist that Margaret can make up her own mind when she’s an adult. (Religious parents might be unhappy with the depiction of religion in this film: it is often seen as a negative influence that causes conflict.) Margaret sincerely wants to know “what” she should be so she has regular conversations with God where she shares her problems and pleads for help. Margaret is starkly honest and her dialogue with God provides real insight into her priorities, fears, self-assessment, and gradual maturation.

Honesty is probably the movie’s greatest quality, thanks in no small part to its source material. Author Judy Blume is legendary for her ability to understand the emotions of young readers and her book sales testify to the power of that empathy. I read Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret when I was twelve and it was eye-opening. Instead of duplicating the improbable world of the Nancy Drew mysteries I was used to, Blume’s book honestly addressed the issues that preoccupy preteen girls – puberty, moral development, and the complexities of friendship. The screenwriters deserve credit for accurately translating the novel to the big screen; for retaining its touching insight into the world of kids struggling with changing bodies and unpredictable feelings.

The story’s fidelity to lived experience is a selling point for many audiences, but some parents will be unhappy with the film’s puberty-related content. There is frequent discussion of menstruation and breast development (including scenes where girls exercise to increase their bust size). Margaret and her friends even get hold of an anatomy textbook and a Playboy magazine to satisfy their curiosity about sexual development. There is also a scene at a party where boys and girls play Spin the Bottle and similar games. In a post-#MeToo world, seeing young girls socially pressured into kissing boys is very uncomfortable, as is the cruel slut-shaming of a classmate simply because she experienced early breast development. Parents looking for a springboard for discussing society’s expectations and control over women’s bodies will certainly find one with this film.

Through all the cringeworthy moments in the movie, it retains a tender sweetness. Margaret is sincere, earnest, and kind-hearted and genuinely wants to be a good person, however confused she might be in the moment. The writers also give her mother some character development and she and Margaret both learn lessons about being true to themselves and resisting social pressure. If you’re not afraid of this film triggering embarrassing memories from your own tween years, it can provide a touching, nostalgic reminder of the growing pains at the beginning of our road to adulthood.