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"I think male teachers are the opposite of female teachers."

"They aren't any religion. I'm supposed to choose my own when I grow up. If I want to, that is."

"I had the feeling I wasn't supposed to know."

I wonder why Margaret's mom thinks it is so crazy for Margaret to go to the temple, especially since Margaret is just trying to learn about different religions, not commit to any.

I wonder if we get to meet Nancy's parents, that little girl is nosy! I want to see why.

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Quotes:

1. "My mother says God is a nice idea. He belongs to everybody." (16)

2. ""I don't know," I said. "I never thought about it. Maybe we won't join either one." "but everybody belongs to one or the other," Nancy said." (41)

3. "And I won't make any decisions without asking you first. I think it's time for me to decide what to be. I can't go on being nothing forever, can I?" (60)

Questions:

1. Will we get a perspective of Nancy's or the other characters upbringing? Her personality differs a lot from Margarets' and we don't know much about her family/history. Is there a reason why she's so blunt or acts like she knows everything?

2. It seems like Margaret's mother wants her to discover the world and her own identity, but why did she appear more stern when the topic of religion was brought up?

3. After reading the first half of the book, I don't understand why it was banned. In what ways are these topics "too much" for its audience? How else are authors' expected to bring up inevitable life experiences in their work?

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Quotes:

"And she doesn't do that because we're poor. I know for a fact that we're not. I mean, we aren't rich but we certainly have enough. Especially since I'm an only child."

"My parents don't know I actually talk to God. I mean, if I told them, they'd think I'm some kind of religious fanatic or something. So I keep it private."

Question:

How much of a role is money and financial status going to play in the story by the end of it?

I'm curious if we will see more of Margaret's family members and maybe even see their perspective on the different points in the story?

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret 🙋‍♀️

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret 🙋‍♀️

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Quotes:

1. Chapter 5: “When Gretchen helped herself to six Oreos at once Nancy asked her how much weight she'd gained over the summer.

Gretchen put back four cookies and said, "Not much."

2. Chapter 7: "If you ever want to get out of those baby bras you have to exercise," she told us.”

3. Chapter 10: “But we read from a prayer book that didn't make sense and

the minister gave a sermon I couldn't follow and I counted eight black hats, four red ones, six blue and two fur.”

Questions:

1. Why do you think Gretchen put back the Oreos?

2. How do you think Nancy came to the conclusion of how to increase her bra size?

3. What do you think of Margaret’s observation of her religion?

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1. Did you see Laura Danker come in this morning? Janie asked. Which one is she I asked. They all giggled, Nancy spoke to me as if she were my mother, Margaret dear you can’t possibly miss Laura Danker the big blonde with the big you know what’s, ohh I noticed her right off I said, she’s very pretty. Pretty Nancy snorted, you be smart and stay away from her, she’s got a bad reputation.

2. Are you there god? It’s me Margaret, what do you think of me doing a project on religion? You wouldn’t mind would you god?, I’d tell you all about it and I won’t make any decisions without asking you first. I think it’s time for me to decide what to be, I can’t go on being nothing forever, can I?

Questions:

1. Why do they assume that all girls who have grown up bodies are a bad influence and have a bad reputation?

2. I’m curious to find out what religion Margaret ends up feeling comfortable with, do you even need to be part of a religion, when you honestly have a great relationship with god and you’re comfortable talking to him and sharing your life with in private?

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1."Margaret dear-you can't possibly miss Laura Danker.

The big blonde with the big you know whats!"

"Oh, I noticed her right off," I said. "She's very pretty."

"Pretty!" Nancy

snorted. "You be smart and stay away

from her. She's got a bad reputation."

2."Not me," Nancy said, proudly. "Mine's a thirty-two dou-

ble A."

We were all impressed.

"If you ever want to get out of those baby bras you have to

exercise," she told us.

"What kind of exercise?" Gretchen asked.

"Like this," Nancy said. She made fists, bent her arms at the elbow and moved them back and forth, sticking her chest way out. She said, "I must-I must-I must increase my bust."

3.Every paper was marked and had the proper name on it. I got a ninety-eight. I felt great.

Freddy Barnett didn't feel great at all. He got a fifty-three! Mr.

Benedict didn't say anything about our names not being on the test papers. He just stood there and smiled.

1. How do you think Nancy knows so much about teenage stuff like boys, push ups, playboy bunny,and where she gets it from?

2. Do you think Nancy, Gretchen, Janie and Margret represent character from mean girls? Nancy being Regina would meets and befriends the new kid Margret like Regina does to Cady?

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1. "When Gretchen helped herself to six Oreos at once Nancy asked her how much weight she'd gained over the summer." (5)

2. "You know God, my new friends all belong to the Y or the Jewish Community Center. Which way am I supposed to go? I don't know what you want me to do about that." (5)

3. "I've been to church. I didn't feel anything special in there God. Even though I wanted to. I'm sure it has nothing to do with you. Next time I'll try harder." (10)

Questions:

1. Why do you think Nancy is so fascinated with growing up so fast? Would you want to hear her perspective or anything more about her upbringing?

2. If Margaret was raised with no set religion, why do you think she has such an open and personal relationship with God solely? What are your thoughts on her relationship with God and journey towards finding herself through religion?

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Quotes:

1) "Nancy really seemed to know a lot. Since I didn't know any boys of fourteen, I took her word for it." (pg. 12)

2) " ' But if you aren't any religion, how are you going to know if you should join the Y or the Jewish Community Center?' Janie asked. 'I don't know,' I said. 'I never thought about it. Maybe we won't join either one' " (pg. 23)

3) " 'I think it's time for me to decide what to be. I can't go on being nothing forever, can I?' " (pg. 32)

Questions:

1) If the parents want to allow Margaret to learn about the world differently than they did, then why is it such a big deal if she wants to try going to church?

2) Why is Nancy wanting Margaret to be so 'in the know', will it be explained later on in the book about how and why Nancy is the way she is? Is it possible the author is showing two sides of one coin, one without religion but still sheltered, and one with religion but not as sheltered?

3) Though there is no set religion that Margaret is specifically a part of, will we ever get an explanation that further her reasons for talking to her 'God'? Why, or how did her conclusion in her belief system come about and what could happen that would possibly change that?

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Quotes:

1. "On a train. Oh Grandma-you didn't! Yes, I did. But you always said trains are so dirty!"(p.22). I found this sweet because in the earlier chapters Margaret mentions that Grandma wouldn't be able to travel because she didn't like the trains, taxi, and there was no way of her walking far so, Maragaret wouldn't expect her to show up. It shows that her grandma would go visit her no matter what.

2. "I hate pimples, baked potatoes, when my mother's mad and religious holidays"(p.32). I found this interesting because I somewhat feel the same but, Respectfully why she hates baked potatoes??? Like those are the best food. w(ﾟДﾟ)w That's what shocked me the most while reading this paragraph.

Questions:

1.Why did Mr. Benedict ask Margaret about her religion?

2.Does Margaret tell her parents later on that she talks to God?

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"I want to be like everyone else." - (5)

"Are you there God? It's me, Margaret. I just did an exercise to help me grow. Have you

thought about it God? About my growing, I mean." - (7)

"Are you there God? It's me, Margaret. I've been to church. I didn't feel anything special in there God. Even though I wanted to. I'm sure it has nothing to do with you. Next time I'll try harder."-(10)

QUESTIONS:

Is Margaret expecting an answer from God, or is she using that as a way to express her thought and convictions with herself?

What topics in this story so far were enough to get this book banned? because everything feels really tame and appropriate this far for a young teenager to read.

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Margret talks about how her mother says God belongs to everyone and I found that very interesting.

They also seem like they don’t like the grandmother and that’s why they moved away from New York.

Why was Nacy kind of pushy and rude?

Did the grandmother really talk bad about public transportation because it was inconvenient for her just to use it to visit Margret?

Did Margret tell her parents about the shadows in her room?

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Quotes:

"'None of those holidays are special to me. I don't belong to any religion,' I said. Mr. Benedict seemed pleased. Like he had uncovered some deep, dark mystery. 'I see. And your parents?' 'They aren't any religion. I'm supposed to choose my own when I grow up. If I want to, that is.'"

"I think we left the city because of my grandmother, Sylvia Simon. I can't figure out any other reason for the move. Especially since my mother says Grandma is too much of an influence on me. It's no big secret in our family that Grandma sends me to summer camp in New Hampshire. And that she enjoys paying my private school tuition (which she won't be able to do any more because now I'll be going to public school)."

Questions:

1. Is religion going to play a huge role within Margaret throughout the story?

2. Does the grandma involve herself in the family matters because she wants to stay relevant or is it more of a, she wants to take control, type of situation? It seems like she wants to dictate what Margaret choose so far in the book, but that just might be an observation I've made.