Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume

Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume-176 pages

I wanted to read this with the movie coming out soon. Also, I wanted to read it for myself since it's been challenged a lot over the years. It's a coming-of-age story about Margaret Simon, a pre-teen who moves from New York to New Jersey. She has a good relationship with her grandmother on her father's side. They hang out a lot together and her grandmother makes her special sweaters. Margaret makes friends and joins a secret club with her new friends, Nancy, Janie, and Gretchen. They all want to increase their bust and get their period. Normal things for growing young women to think about. Margaret talks to God often, even though she doesn't practice any religion. She does, however, experiment with different religions during the school year for a personal school project. She goes to a Methodist church service and Jewish Synagogue/Temple service with her grandmother. Also, she goes to a Catholic confession but doesn't know what to say. I enjoyed reading this book and didn't find anything objectionable in it. 

If You Give a Pig the White House by Faye Kanouse

 If You Give a Pig the White House by Faye Kanouse-32 pages

This a hilarious parody of "If You Give a Pig a Pancake." I enjoyed reading this parody of former President Trump's time in the White House. I realize this is a divisive book depending on one's opinions, but I really liked it. 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins-374 pages

I previously read Catching Fire and Mockingjay after watching the film based on this novel (I have seen all the films). I had yet to read this, though, so I decided to read it for the monthly challenge. The Hunger Games (and the sequels) has been challenged/banned because it is sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and contains violence according to the ALA Top 10 Most Challenged Books List from 2010. It has been challenged for other reasons, additionally. I don't agree with the reasons for it being challenged. The movie follows the book fairly accurately with only minor details tweaked or altered. For instance, in the book Thresh is killed by Cato before the Muttations are released. However, in the movie Thresh is killed after the Muttations are released. This is one example of a few. Per usual, there is greater and more in depth detail in the book, additionally. Personally, I hope we as a society never reach this sort of appalling government and normalized violence/killing. Forcing teenagers (and pre-teens) to kill each other on TV in an arena is horrifying, but yet within the context of the story it is customary/normal/not unusual. The Hunger Games is an annual event that has now happened 74 years running in the book. I hope we never get to the point that killing each other is normalized. I find this series thought-provoking and engrossing. It is a page-turner. I am glad that I finally read the first book after all this time!