Bibliographic
Information
Forever… by
Judy Blume. Pan Childrens. (2005).
Price: $8.99 for paperback
Pages: 178 for paperback
Note: This book was originally published in 1975.
Plot Summary
Seventeen-year-old Katherine enjoys dating Michael who is
funny, romantic, and thoughtful. While Michael has told her that he is
interested in having sex with her Katherine is not so sure that she is ready.
She knows that once you have sex it is difficult to go back to things the way
they once were. She also wants to make sure that she is absolutely certain she
wants to have it before she does. Forever
follows Katherine’s journey as she decides whether or not to have sex and,
if she does, what the future will look like for them as they both are going off
to college in less than a year. The book also explores the themes of family,
romantic love, and sexual education.
Critical
Evaluation
*SPOILERS*
It is easy to see why Forever
is one of the most challenged books in the United States as it contains
detailed descriptions of foreplay as well as frank discussions on birth control
and general sexual. Some will also take offense at the blasé attitude some of the
characters have about sex and abortion as well as Blume’s inclusion of Planned
Parenthood. However, this book is in some ways greatly needed as it contains
good role models and much needed facts. Clearly, Katherine’s parents are supportive
of their daughters as they are willing to discuss sexuality in a frank, helpful
manner while making difficult parenting decisions such as telling Katherine
that she must become a tennis instructor for the summer. In my experience, a
two family home where both parents are responsible and involved in their
children’s lives is rare in young adult literature and should therefore be
commended. Additionally, Blume’s inclusion of what Katherine goes through to
obtain birth control is well-written and realistic. Never before have I come
across a description of a pap smear in teen literature something that is
puzzling since many teens have them. Inclusion of such details is great as they
can help teens understand such procedures when their parents are unwilling to
discuss them.
However, while Blume’s candor is appreciated many of the
characters within Forever may disturb
some readers. For example, while Michael tells Katherine that he loves her for
more than her body it is hard to believe his statement when most of what they
do is…well…have sex. Additionally, he seems to subtly pressure her into going
farther than she is comfortable. For example, on page 48 the following
conversation ensues between them:
Michael: I want you so much
Katherine: I want you too…but I can’t…I’m not ready,
Michael…
M: Yes , you are…you are…I can feel how ready you are.
K: No…I’m talking about mentally ready.
M: Mentally ready.
K: Yes.
M: How does a person get mentally ready?
K: A person has to think…a person has to be sure…
M: But your body says you want to…
Come on, really? Later in the book Michael convinces her
to go to his sister’s empty apartment to “just talk”…right. He pulls this stunt
again later on as well. This just doesn’t seem very caring of him. Michael,
sadly, is not the only character that may disturb readers; Theo the tennis
instructor is as well. When Katherine goes off to a summer camp to help Theo
teach tennis to the campers she writes almost every day to Michael. It is a well-known
fact to all the staff that Katherine has a steady boyfriend and yet this does not
stop Theo from expressing interest in her. What sort of a person flirts with a
girl who is dating someone else?
Even Katherine and her best friend Erica have some fairly
troubling ideas. In a discussion about a mutual friend who is pregnant
Katherine asks Erica if the friend is planning on keeping the baby. Erica
responds that she is going to have the baby but put it up for adoption. “Then
why have it in the first place?” Katherine asks (p. 140). “For the experience,”
Erica replies (p. 140). Nowhere throughout the novel does it mention that a
reason to have a baby is because one might value the baby’s life. This thought
doesn’t even cross Katherine’s mind. It’s one thing to be pro-choice and quite
another to not even consider that someone might not want to abort their child
because it is a human. Overall, Forever contains
some positive elements including good role models and frank discussions about
sexual health but I would be hard pressed to recommend the book as it does not
fully explore sexuality by omitting discussions on pro-choice versus pro-life
and includes two sketchy male characters readers are supposed to like.
Reader’s
Annotation
Seventeen-year-old Katherine is very happy dating Michael
but is not sure she wants to have sex with him as she believes it will change
their relationship.
About the
Author
Judy Blume is perhaps one of the most recognized
children’s authors in the United States. While prolific, she is perhaps best
known for her five Fudge books, Pain and the Great One books, Forever, Blubber and Are You There
God? It’s Me, Margaret. Blume is no stranger to book challenges as Forever is one of the most challenged books
in the U.S.. As a result, she is now an active anti-censorship activist. Her
favorite books growing up were the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace (good
choice!) while her favorite color is purple.
To learn more about Judy Blume visit her website here.
Genre
Coming of age, Realistic fiction, Romance
Readalikes
Anatomy of a
Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky
·
About a girl who must decide whether or not to
have sex with her crush
Fifteen by
Beverly Cleary
·
Another coming of age story by Cleary
My Darling, My
Hamburger by Paul Zindel
·
Also about a couple’s first romance
Tags
12th grade, 17 yr. old, 18 yr. old, attempted
suicide, boyfriends, girlfriends, tennis, skiing, summer camp, younger sister
Awards
Won/Lists On
1996—Blume won
Judy Blume the Margaret A. Edwards Award
2008—ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
2012—NPR Your Favorites: 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels
ALA’s 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000
ALA’s 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-1999
Professional
Reviews
New York Times Book Review
People Magazine
Booktalk Ideas
Sex is a Big Deal
·
Being mentally ready (48)
·
Discussion with Mom (79-80)
·
Be ready says Grandma
Snippets of Advice
·
Not all teens have sex (35)
·
Can you love someone you’ve only seen 19 times?
(61)
·
Reading books about sex is nothing like actually
having it (106)
·
Can love be for forever?
Bibliotherapeutic
Usefulness
This book would be excellent to use when learning about
sexuality and would no doubt foster great conversations between parents and
teens.
Reading
Level/Interest Level
Reading Level: 4th grade
Interest Level: 9th-12th grade
These levels are according to AR Bookfinder
Challenge
Issues
This book includes the following potentially
controversial elements:
·
Attempted suicide
·
Casual sex
·
Fake palm reading
·
Foreplay
·
Frank discussion of birth control
·
Getting drunk
·
Hand job
· Marijuana use
·
Pap smear scene
·
Planned Parenthood
·
Profanity
·
Promiscuous sex
·
Sex scenes
·
Taking the Lord’s name in vain
Librarians can point out that while there are many
controversial elements in this book they can be excellent for provoking
discussion between parents and teens.
Why Was This
Included?
I decided to include this book because it is a frequently
challenged book and has been for some years. I’ve also read the Fudge books by
Judy Blume and enjoyed them so I hoped that I would enjoy Forever. (The jury’s still out on that one).
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