Friday, May 26, 7 p.m. at Harbor Theater

The Harbor Theater and Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library have joined forces to bring your family together over a classic book adapted to the big screen after 50 controversial years on the
library shelves. On Friday, May 26, at 7 p.m., a family group of up to five can see “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” for one admission price of $20, or individuals at $8 per person The deal continues with free popcorn to everyone who shows their BHML Library Card. Before the movie begins, there will be a drawing for door prizes. The library has donated a copy of Judy Blume’s 1970 novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and a BHML T-shirt to be raffled off. The Harbor Theater is contributing a Free Pass to the raffle.

For over fifty years, Judy Blume's classic and groundbreaking novel Are You There God? It’s
Me, Margaret. has impacted generations with its timeless coming of age story, insightful
humor, and candid exploration of life’s biggest questions. In Lionsgate’s big-screen
adaptation, 11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) is uprooted from her life in New
York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of
puberty with new friends in a new school. She relies on her mother, Barbara (Rachel
McAdams), who is also struggling to adjust to life outside the big city, and her adoring
grandmother, Sylvia (Kathy Bates), who isn't happy they moved away and likes to remind
them every chance she gets.

Blume was approached numerous times during the past fifty years to have her book adapted to film, but she had been reluctant until, now at age 85, she found what has turned out to be the ideal movie-making team for her book. Although in New York Times critic Melena Ryzik’s review ‘Beloved, Banned, Finally Adapted’ she points out that “Judy Blume’s 1970 novel hits the big screen at a difficult political moment for a story with themes of bodily autonomy and religious choice,” it hasn’t stopped many from celebrating what has to be considered a movie break-through moment in family films. The movie is also proving to be a hit especially with older women who grew up in the 1970s and 80s and their mothers who struggled through puberty with them. The critics have almost unanimously good things to say about this film.

“This wholesome, perfectly cast film does the source material justice, creating a timeless
coming-of-age-story that brings Judy Blume’s classic book to life.”

Louisa Moore, Screen Zealots

“The Judy Blume book receives the ageless treatment it deserves in a movie that captures the
1970 vibe (starting with the soundtrack) while completely transcending it.”

Brian Lowry, CNN.com

“As a critic, I hesitate to use the word “perfect”but it is the first adjective that comes to mind.”
Leonard Maltin, leonardmaltin.com

“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” opens Friday, May 26 at 7 p.m. and continues nightly on Saturday, May 27, 7 p.m., Monday, May 29, 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 30, 7 p.m., and Thursday, June 1, 7 p.m. There are two matinees: Sunday, May 28, 2 p.m. and Wednesday, May 31, 2 p.m.