Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (Movie Tie-In Edition) characters

Appears from the start

An eleven-year-old only child who moves with her parents from New York City to suburban New Jersey. Curious, candid, and anxious to fit in, she privately talks to God even though her parents have raised her without a formal religion. She is preoccupied with friendship, growing up, and whether puberty will arrive on schedule.

Appears from the start

Margaret's mother, an artist and homemaker who left a Christian family to marry Herb. She supports raising Margaret without a declared faith so that her daughter can decide for herself when she is older.

Appears from the start

Margaret's Jewish father, who moves the family to New Jersey in search of more space and a different pace of life. Affectionate and easygoing, he agrees with Barbara that religion should be Margaret's eventual choice.

Appears from the start

Margaret's lively paternal grandmother, who lives in New York and has been closely involved in her granddaughter's life. She is loving, generous, and sometimes possessive, and she hopes Margaret will identify with Judaism.

First appears in chapter 2

Margaret's confident new neighbor and first close friend in Farbrook. Nancy quickly brings Margaret into her social circle and sets firm ideas about which classmates, boys, clothes, and stages of puberty matter.

First appears in chapter 3

One of Nancy's friends and a member of the girls' private club. Thoughtful and generally straightforward, she joins their discussions about boys, bras, and menstruation.

First appears in chapter 3

One of Margaret's new friends and a member of the girls' private club. She takes part in the group's rituals and shared attempts to understand the changes they expect during sixth grade.

First appears in chapter 5

A tall, physically mature sixth-grade girl who is isolated by rumors and the attention her appearance attracts. Margaret initially accepts the club's unkind assumptions about her without knowing her well.

First appears in chapter 5

Margaret's young sixth-grade teacher, new to the school and earnest about getting to know his class. He assigns each pupil a long personal project, prompting Margaret to investigate religion.

First appears in chapter 5

A popular boy in Margaret's class whom the girls discuss and rank. Margaret is attracted to him, though his teasing manner and attention from other girls complicate her feelings.

First appears in chapter 6

Nancy's older brother and a friend of Moose Freed. His greater age makes him part of the distant teenage world that interests Margaret and her friends.

First appears in chapter 6

An older boy who cuts the Simon family's lawn and spends time with Evan Wheeler. Margaret develops a private crush on him even though he pays little attention to her.

First appears in chapter 19

Barbara's mother, a Christian from Ohio who has been estranged from the Simon family since Barbara married Herb. Her wish to see Margaret brings the unresolved religious divide in the family into the open.

First appears in chapter 19

Barbara's father and Margaret's maternal grandfather. Like his wife, he has had no relationship with Margaret while disapproving of Barbara's interfaith marriage.