The Enduring Relevance of 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret'

The long-awaited film adaptation of Judy Blume's "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" is a pitch-perfect rendering of the beloved novel about puberty, family, and nascent spirituality. Director-writer Kelly Fremon Craig assembled a talented cast that delivers the joys and blunders of childhood, with Abby Ryder Fortson carrying the day as the protagonist Margaret. The film broadens the novel's reach, becoming a coming-of-age saga for three generations of Simon women, and captures the depths of Margaret's spiritual quest.