Judy Blume wrote a coming of age story in “Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret.” The overarching idea or thesis of the book is that it is difficult for children to grow into adolescents. It is a time of curiosity about family identity, dealing with physiological changes, developing interactions with members of the opposite gender, and in this book, questioning religious beliefs. Margaret’s parents choose not to address religion with her even though they have faced family problems due to their Judeo-Christian marriage. Because of the problems, they leave Margaret to choose her own religious identity.

The family moves from New York City to a quiet New Jersey suburb as Margaret enters her sixth grade year. It is a year of questioning. At times, she speaks to God and other times she becomes so angry with him that she refuses to speak to him. She struggles with her identity with her girlfriends, and investigates simple relationships with boys. None of these things are easy for Margaret especially her need to find a religious identity.