I read this book back in middle school and then reread after watching the movie a few weeks ago. It is a charming coming of age book, perfect for a woman any age, and the movie is a great adaptation. The book is a short read, only about 3 hours, and yet it is a complete story. We get to know about our main character, her friends and family, and follow Margaret on her journey to becoming a young woman. She wants to wear a bra and get her period, she wants to fit in with her friends, and she wants to figure out her identity—should I be Christian, should I be Jewish?

I am slightly in awe that Judy Blume can write a complete story with such little page count since I am an extreme over-writer. But there is no questioning her talent. She fully embodies how being 12 years old feels. You feel like you don’t know yourself anymore and everything is a huge deal, but you just want to be normal. I like that we get a resolution with Margaret getting her period but still not knowing her stance on religion.

The characters are funny and engaging. I love the scene where we meet Nancy. “You could see straight up her nose,” was such a funny line to me. I like how the story progresses with the first day of school and meeting the new teacher, to hanging out with her friends and grandma, to the big boy-girl party and going to New York City with the Wheelers. Honestly, in a weird way this book feels like a modern day Anne of Green Gables. Anne is more of a dreamer, and Margaret is more of a realist. They both grow up and experience similar things, but we get to hear about Margaret’s body changing in frank detail and we only hear poetic pose in regards to Anne growing up.

This book is very enjoyable, with humor sprinkled in amongst the stark reality of being in sixth grade. It is the perfect book to give your daughter for her fifth-grade graduation and still enjoyable to read as an adult.

Now for the movie: it was a great adaptation, and I like how it added to the overall story. The movie is a multi-generational female story, as we get to see Mrs. Simon and Margaret’s grandmother, Slyvia, in their day to day lives adjusting to the move to New Jersey. The book is from first person perspective, and the movie pans out to examine the struggles of women in different stages of life.

The setting feels rooted in the time period of the 1970s. I loved seeing the outfits, hair styles, furniture, and cars. The dresses the girls wear to the boy-girl party are so cute! One thing I noticed upon reflection is how the fashion shows the differences between the women. Nancy’s mother is dressed in a more 1960s style as she is the put together housewife and PTA mom, while Mrs. Simon has swoopy hair and flared jeans as a ‘modern’ woman who wants more than to manage the household.

The casting was great. Mr. and Mrs. Simon have a sweet dynamic and I really like the expansion we get on their relationship in the movie. Nancy is so spot on, and the silly scene from the book is perfect in the movie. Nancy is so wonderfully annoying and confident. Mr. Benedict’s introduction was the right amount of awkward. He is so sweet and funny, I love him. The classmates have their own personalities like in the book. Laura Denker, the poor girl, is a great example of hitting puberty early, and stupid Philip Leroy annoys me. Like I said, perfectly cast.

All of the performances were great, and they kept most of the scenes from the book, which I appreciated. I like the scenes at school and the scenes where Margaret is traveling on the bus and in New York City with her grandmother. I like the church scenes too, and how they are sprinkled into the story. The pacing is good, and there is a balance of scenes between Margaret, her mother, and her grandmother. The cinematography is lovely, but the characters are what ground the story.

My complaints with the movie are small. I thought it odd that Mrs. Haskins, Margaret’s maternal grandmother, wasn’t wearing a cross necklace. It is a small touch that would have added a lot, and it is in the book. The confession scene is inaccurate in both the movie and the book. As a Catholic I have to point it out. In the movie, Margaret walks into the confessional and the priest says, ‘What would you like to confess?’ And in the book, he says, ‘yes, my child,’ several times, which is sweet, but inaccurate. They would started the Sacrament of Reconciliation the way most Catholic things start, with the Sign of the Cross.

Now onto some things I like better in the movie. I really like the ending with Margaret dancing with Laura and Janie and how it implies she may not be as close with Nancy. The ending feels more polished. I do like most of the added scenes with Mrs. Simon and Slyvia. I also like the subtle changes they made to Mr. Benedict, and how Mr. Simon gets a personality.

Overall, both the movie and the book are excellent and should be watched/read. If you’re a woman, I think you’ll be able to relate. The characters and plot points are excellent, and you go through a complete story arc, which is satisfying. The movie expands on the characters and the world of the story, adding depth and charm. I definitely recommend.