After decades, the book that was previously banned, “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret,” can now be seen in theatres from April 2023.
“Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret” is a beloved novel by Judy Blume. The book explores the excitement and confusion of adolescence through the eyes of its young protagonist. It was banned in certain parts of the United States as it had information about menstruation.
The story follows Margaret, a 12-year-old girl, struggling to find her place in the world. She moves to a new town, starts a new school, and grapples with all the challenges of growing up. She begins to explore questions about faith, identity, and belonging, which are universal themes many viewers can relate to.
Blume’s book gives information about adolescents that tends to unsettle adults, which led to the ban. Blume wants parents not to worry about what their teens are reading. But, in certain parts of the country, Blume’s novels have sparked debates in Congress, state legislatures, and school boards.
The U.S. House recently passed the “Parents Bill of Rights,” which allows parents every right to inspect books in their children’s school libraries. Also, the Florida House of Representatives passed a bill to bar schools from discussing menstruation until middle school.
But, in today’s digital era, hiding such content from teens or preteens is not easy. It’s easy to access any piece of information within seconds. Portals like YouTube and TikTok are bursting with adolescent content that provides curious teens with information on any subject imaginable. Moreover, parental controls on such mediums are not always adequate. So, this could be one of the reasons why those seeking to censor information are focusing much on school libraries and physical books.
But there is a big difference between reading and watching a book on big screens. According to the makers, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” is a gentle and delightful portrayal of a bygone era, and blood is not depicted on screen.
Now, it will be interesting to see how other filmmakers approach the material and what kind of impact the movie will have on audiences.
Navkiran Dhaliwal is a seasoned content writer with 10+ years of experience. When she's not writing, she can be found cooking up a storm or spending time with her dog, Rain.