Margaret Simon, almost twelve, has just moved from New York City to the suburbs, and she’s anxious to fit in with her new friends. When she’s asked to join a secret club she jumps at the chance. But when the girls start talking about boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret starts to wonder if she’s normal. There are some things about growing up that are hard for her to talk about, even with her friends. Lucky for Margaret, she’s got someone else to confide in . . . someone who always listens.
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"I really liked the book. Although now I'm a bit too old for it, I still remember that uncertainty and confused feelings about growing up. With this book you suddenly find out that everything what you feel is just normal and almost everyone feels the same way and you're not alone."
— Zoey42 (4 out of 5 stars)
" One of the best teen books of my generation! "
— Terri, 1/27/2014" I loved it, then my daughters (who don't like to read) read it and loved it. It's a right of passage about a young girl coming of age. "
— Diana, 1/11/2014" Read this as a tween where I then became hooked on Judy Blume books "
— chey, 1/2/2014" Read it in 6th grade because all the girls were and there were rumors that it had something to do with girl's bodies. Don't really remember what it was, maybe some chick got her period. "
— Rusty, 1/2/2014" Brings back memories of my childhood, waiting to his puberty. "
— Eliza, 1/1/2014" This book is about a gierl Margret who moves to New Jersey at the age of 12. Margret used to live in New York until her papernt decided to move. When moving to her new house, she meets her naber Nancy, who is the "leader" of the four PTS's. As soon as she meets Nancy, Margret relizes that she is "not normal". She thinks that she isn't normal because she doesn't have the same body type ad Nancy or the oter girls in the group.. espeachally not Laura Danker. Margret's whole entire life people have been convincing her that she is Cristian because her mothe ris Cristian. She wants to be apart of the Jewish Center or the Y, but she just can't figure out which on she wants to be. Margret tryed to go to the temple, and church and she even tryed going to confession befor running out of the church and yelling out "Im sorry!" She even tryes to make a project for one of her classes to help her make her decision, but at the end of the book, she still can not decide. At the end of the book, Margret finds out that she is normal and she should judge people. She laerns how it feels to be the odd one out. This is a great book, and I reccomend it to girls.This book talks about some problems that most girls face. Each girl goes through things that makes them doubt their self. that is why having true friends is very important. People should judge themselves, and others because every body is unique in their own way. "
— Liv, 12/27/2013" This is a great book "
— Lizzie, 12/27/2013" Sweet. About pre-teen struggles. And about the quest for a religion. "
— Mehtap, 12/22/2013" A staple for you girls everywhere. It has "the talk" with your child so you don't have to! Yes, I know, that's a cop-out, but believe me, your kid doesn't want to have the talk any more than you do. At least this covers a lot of the groundwork and you can fill in the blanks afterwards. "
— Molly, 12/21/2013" Thank you Judy Blume. Answered many questions we had in the 70s that the adults were afraid to talk about. "
— Michele, 11/30/2013" Terrifying romp through the frightening life of teenagers wearing polyester and having breasts. "
— Christabel, 11/16/2013" As wonderful as I remember it from 30 years ago "
— Sonia, 11/11/2013" I really liked this book. It was a very good, fast read. I would recommend it to girls age 11 and up. "
— Justine, 11/11/2013" This book answered many questions that I was too afraid to ask myself. I remember reading this in my room and hiding it when I was done because I was scared my mom would find it! I LOVE this book, it helped me a lot in my childhood. "
— Cooper, 8/27/2013" Read it in 1970. and loved it. My friend and I took turns reading outloud to each other in like 4th grade. I couldn't wait for the next school day so we could read more. Good book for little girls of 10. "
— Susan, 7/19/2013" Any book with a character named Gretchen should get five stars! "
— Gretchen, 6/28/2013" God, I hated this book so much as a kid. It never made sense to me then and sure as heck hasn't made any more now. Such an irritating book. "
— Kit, 5/7/2013" So fun to read as an adult "
— CaveCreekGirl, 3/27/2013" When I read this in the fourth grade, I loved it. When I reread it in the sixth grade, I didn't like it. Though relatable, it had no plot. "
— Ann, 11/25/2012" This is just brilliant. I read this the other evening in one sitting, and I was immediately transported back into my pre-pubescent self. Judy Blume is pitch perfect, writing a very tricky transitional age with authenticity and grace. "
— Penni, 11/5/2012" in high school read this "
— Fiddlin', 1/10/2012" I have read this to vet it before my daughter read it, but really enjoyed it. "
— Lianne, 1/2/2012" A classic must read for all young girls "
— Brenda, 12/13/2011" Sweet and innocent story of a young girl growing up and all that implies. "
— Candi, 12/4/2011" This was the perfect book when I was 10. "
— Lisa, 10/1/2011" My mom gave this book to me when I was in 4th grade--just as her mom did. I remember this book being everything I needed at the time--informational, silly, sad, and triumphant at times. Loved it! Judy Blume is awesome! "
— Marisa, 7/6/2011" At the time, I really enjoyed this book. I was the exact age that Margaret was and therefore could easily identify with her. I would recommend it to any pre-teen. "
— Olivia, 5/24/2011" This was my favorite book in the whole world when I was 13. "
— Cheryl, 5/23/2011" the book that got me through puberty. "
— Leah, 5/22/2011" Remember this one from when I was about 10...loved it! "
— Tamara, 5/21/2011" This book was ok but it I would not recommend it "
— Elizabeth, 5/19/2011" This book answered many questions that I was too afraid to ask myself. I remember reading this in my room and hiding it when I was done because I was scared my mom would find it! I LOVE this book, it helped me a lot in my childhood. "
— Cooper, 5/18/2011" I re-read this after my daughter took it off the shelf to check out at the library. Although I don't think my (barely) 9 year old needs to read it yet, it was fun for me to read a again. A trip down memory lane - I can even remember where this was shelved in my elementary school library! "
— Christine, 5/16/2011" Its pretty good so far. I forgot what it was like to be this young. I'm only 22 now. But it feels like a life time ago that I was boob-free and in middle school. "
— Tatiana, 5/15/2011" This book helped me out a lot during that awkward stage of puberty that everyone goes through. Oh and for those who get this: I MUST, I MUST, I MUST INCREASE MY BUST! "
— Mercedes, 5/15/2011" If you are under 15 and have not read this, you should. If you have a daughter, you need to. So great! "
— Char, 5/15/2011" I read this book over and over again when I was younger. Such a classic. "
— Danielle, 5/14/2011" This is my favorite book of all time :) "
— Sandra, 5/13/2011" I read all of Judy Blume's book when I was young, they are all so very good! "
— Jennifer, 5/12/2011" Glad I finally read it. In 3 hours. "
— Marikka, 5/12/2011" If you need a sweet coming-of-age story, read Sharon Creech instead... in my opinion, her writing is a MUCH better alternative. I read this when I was in middle school, and I remember feeling almost insulted that someone thought twelve-year-old girls were THAT silly. "
— Sara, 5/12/2011" One of my favorite books. Ever. "
— Jessie, 5/9/2011Judy Blume is the enduringly popular author of many books for young readers. Over eighty million copies of her books have been sold, and the Fudge books (which feature a character based on her son Larry) are timeless classics. Among Blume’s many awards is the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. She lives in Key West with her husband.
Laura Hamilton is an award-winning narrator of many outstanding books for children. She was named one of AudioFile’s Best Voices of 2010 in Children’s and Family Listening. When not recording the books she loves, she also records radio and televion spots. She lives with her family in Chicago.