Jersey Bookshelf: ‘Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret’ by Judy Blume

Judy Blume

Author Judy Blume was born in Elizabeth 88 years ago. Long retired, she now operates a small bookstore in Key West, Florida. Her books—aimed at “young adults”—have often been censored or banned outright. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret shows the confusion of being a pre-teen dealing with puberty, menstruation and faith. In other words, it was too real for those self-appointed guardians of what kids should or should not know about. Margaret is in Middle School. Her family has recently relocated to New Jersey. She’s having trouble deciding who she agrees with religiously:  her mother’s Christian faith or her father’s Jewish faith. Plus, she’s being peer-pressured to wear a bra despite being 12.

Deenie (1973) is 13. Her mother wants her to model. She’s not sure. When diagnosed with scoliosis, she has to wear a neck brace for four years and masturbates a lot. Blubber (1974) is the name a bully finds for an obese student. Forever… (1975) has two high school seniors having sex for the first time.

A total of 13 Blume books made the best-seller lists in 1970s. She always wrote frankly about sensitive subjects and millions of pre-teen and teen readers read her, understood her and were helped by her. Ultimately, Blume had it with constant censorship and became an outspoken advocate for intellectual freedom, in other words, a hero. That’s why it seemed fitting that in 2010, she was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame whose motto is “Everyone Needs A Hero.”

Although mostly known as an author for young adults and kids, her four adult novels sold in the millions and dealt with themes of divorce, extra-marital sex and homosexuality. She’s won the Library of Congress Living Legend Award, the National Book Foundation’s Medal of Distinguished Contributions to American Letters and the American Library Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She’s sold 80 million books in her 50-year career that have been translated into 30 languages.

The Judy Blume Rest Stop on the Garden State Parkway. 

Photo Credit:  Janet Greenblatt

If you travel down the Garden State Parkway, the former Monmouth Service Area is now the Judy Blume Service Area in Wall Township with displays of her book covers, photos and facts about her life. On the wall, her statement reads, “Where would I be without you, New Jersey? You inspired my books!”