Blume, Judy. Forever. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1975. 195 pages. ISBN-10: 0670891223. ISBN-13: 978-0027110302.Plot:
Katherine and Michael first meet at a New Year’s Eve party and begin dating soon after. Their relationship progresses in the traditional manner both emotionally and physically. When the two do decide to have sex for the first time, Katherine visits a Planned Parenthood clinic to get the birth control pill. The two believe they have a love that will last forever, but their parents don’t see it that way. Katherine is sent to help as a tennis instructor at her younger sister’s summer camp and Michael spends the summer working for his uncle. Though they believe it will work, the time apart and Katherine’s friendship with a male counselor have her questioning exactly what forever really means.
While Katherine and Michael’s story unfolds, they are helped along by Katherine’s best friend Erica and Michael’s best friend Artie, who also begin to date. Erica believes that sex is a purely physical act rather than emotional, but reconsiders after hearing about Katherine’s relationship with Michael. She and Artie attempt to have the same kind of relationship, but Artie’s struggle with his own sexuality ends up having tragic results.
Critical Evaluation:
The writing isn’t great, the story isn’t especially compelling, and the characters often seem stilted or stereotypical, but this book is admirable for one important reason: it presents a fairly realistic teenage relationship that is neither overly romanticized nor demonized and which includes a responsible sexual relationship. Katherine thinks through each step of their sexual relationship to gauge whether or not she feels ready. When she decides to have sex with Michael, she does so only after obtaining birth control. This treatment of sex as both something that is a natural part of a relationship and, yet, something that should be carefully considered provides a good message for teenagers. Though some readers might be uncomfortable with the description of the sexual relationship, the descriptions are not lurid, but rather represent what a teenager might be thinking and feeling during those acts. The way the relationship progresses through the end also serves to make the story seem more authentic instead of a sugary romance.
The secondary characters do fill out the story somewhat and present alternate examples of teenage relationships and sexuality. By having a boy struggling with whether or not he is gay, a girl who becomes pregnant and chooses an adoption with very little other consequences, and another girl who changes her views concerning sex and emotions, Blume provides examples of other situations many teens face, but manages to do so in a way that isn’t judgmental or sentimental.
Reader's Annotation:
High school seniors Katherine and Michael explore all the beautiful and exciting experiences of first love, including sex. They believe it will last forever, but will it?
Author Information:
Judy Blume was born February 12, 1938. She spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She loved making up stories as a child, which led to her very prolific career as an author. She attended New York University and graduated with a B.S. in Education. Her first book was published in 1969 and she has since published 28 books for children, young adults and adults. Her writing has won over 90 awards over the last 40 years. She is also the editor of a collection of short stories written by censored authors.
Blume is a vocal supporter of intellectual freedom and the fight against censorship. When many of her books were challenged, some even making the ALA’s Top 100 Challenged Books list, she began to reach out to other authors who had faced the same situation, as well as teachers and librarians. She has worked with the National Coalition Against Censorship since the 1980s. She is also a member of many other organizations fighting censorship in children’s literature and founded The Kids Fund, an educational foundation for children.
Genre:
Romance
Curriculum Ties:
Sex Ed: Healthy Relationships, Responsible Sex
Booktalking Ideas:
- Discuss the idea of first love lasting forever.
- Compare Katherine and Michael to Erica and Artie.
Reading Level/Interest Age:
15 and older
Challenge Issues:
Sexual content
Suggestive language
Promotion of birth control
Teen pregnancy
Attempted suicide
Gay character
Challenge Defense Ideas:
- Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
- If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
- Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
- Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.
Reasons for Selection:
Since its publication, this has been a wildly popular book with teenagers.
