Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

When Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret was first published in 1970, the book was applauded for its honest portrayal of feminine puberty and religious exploration. However, during the past 50 years, the book has often been challenged for its “vulgar” and “inappropriate” themes, and it is often considered one of the most challenged children’s novels of all time. On the 50th anniversary of the book’s initial publication, Blume recalls how excited she was that she signed three copies of the novel and gave them to her children’s elementary school. However, Blume learned that the books never made it to the library shelves because the school’s male principal decided that the content (specifically the conversation around menstruation therein) was inappropriate for elementary-aged children. Ironically, the novel discusses how many girls between fourth and sixth grade (upper elementary grade levels) get their periods, and it is unfair to deny these students a story about a girl like themselves who is trying to navigate the unfamiliar waters of puberty. Nonetheless, the novel earned a place on the American Library Association’s list of Most Challenged Books, and many libraries restricted access to the book by requiring parental permission or removing the book entirely from the shelves.