You're in sixth grade, you just moved to a new town, and you're starting at a new school… Is there anything more important than your friends? This is the position Margaret finds herself in at the beginning of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, and as far as she's concerned, friends are going to make or break this experience. Luckily for Margaret, she finds herself a group of girls to call her own almost immediately—and while it's not always smooth sailing, they stick with each other to the end.
It isn't all boys and bras with Margaret's friends either, and they challenge her in some pretty major ways too. Would Margaret have been so freaked out about not having a religion if her PTS buddies hadn't convinced her that choosing between the Y and the JCC was a matter of life and death? Would she have been so harsh on Laura Danker without Nancy's influence? But also, would Margaret have learned so much about herself if her friends hadn't been around to invite her to ask herself some tough questions? We think not.
Questions About Friendship
- Is Nancy the best friend any girl could want, or a Mean Girl in disguise?
- What would have happened if Margaret had met Laura Danker before Nancy?
- Why is Nancy so influential over the rest of the PTS girls?
- Do you think the Margaret, Janie, Gretchen, and Nancy stay friends once they go to junior high? What about high school?
Chew on This
Nancy Wheeler would not be part of any group if she weren't the leader.
Margaret's too smart to be told how to think by someone for very long, so her friendship with Nancy is ultimately doomed.