If you’re a woman of a certain age (ahem), then it’s highly likely that Judy Blume – and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, especially – was a formative book in your adolescence.
See, we’re from a generation that didn’t get much of a s^x talk from our parents. Despite being hippies in their youth, are moms regressed into some kind of Puritan thinking by the time their daughters hit p*berty – s^x and reproduction was something that happened behind closed doors, that no one talked about, and that good girls certainly didn’t ask about.
We still had questions, though. We were still getting hair in weird places, we were starting out periods, we were kissing boys and wondering why it felt so good…and Margaret was right there with us, asking those same questions.
It made us feel normal, and trust me, that was a feeling we clung to tightly.
Now, we’re mothers ourselves and I know that I plan to do my best to be open and honest about all of those topics with my kids, but hey – if we can also watch the movie version of Are You There God…together? So much the better!
Back in February, Judy Blume announced that she’s been in meetings about bringing her books to the screen, and that Kelly Fremon Craig, who directed Edge of Seventeen, had signed on to write and direct Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
This is excellent news, as I feel strongly that the story can only be done justice by another woman’s hands.
The film found a home at Lionsgate, where president of production Erin Westerman seems to share our excitement for the project.
“This title was an anthem when we first read it as teens, and it remains timeless and relevant because nothing has captured the coming-of-age experience with the same authenticity, truth, and respect.
For that reason, Judy Blume is a beacon for women and girls.”
Craig agrees; in fact, she reached out to Blume more than two years ago because she felt she was the right person to helm the project. She’s described reading the story as “a rite of passage for women and girls. Women remember were they were when they read it. I can’t think of another book you can say that about.”
Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret has been both praised and banned in the sixty years since its publication, with many feeling that its frank discussion of all things p*berty and religion isn’t appropriate for its intended audience.
For some of those reasons, Blume has said she never wanted to see a film version happen.
“For years, I never wanted to see Margaret adapted.
Even when I went out to LA, I thought, ‘Nobody can do Margaret.’
And by the end of the week, I was like, ‘Wait a minute. I would love to see Margaret done well. Why not? What I am waiting for? I’m 80 years old. If I want to see it, I better hurry up.”
Lionsgate and Craig seem like excellent choices, and in an era of honest teen movies, the atmosphere seems perfect for an entrance by the OG angsty teenage girl.
Mused Craig,
“There’s something so timely and full of truth and I remember for me at that age, it felt like a life raft at a time when you’re lost and searching and unsure.
This book comes along and tells you you’re not alone.”
Yes. Exactly that.
And even though nothing will ever replace the feeling of reading Blume’s words for the first time, it would be awesome and surreal to hear them in Margaret’s voice, too.
Luckily, we’re all about to have the opportunity to do just that.