Forever...

 

an assortment of Forever... book covers

Forever… by Judy Blume (1975)

Winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award (1996) and Runner Up for Best Book of the Year Award (1975)

Often recognized for its frequent presence on “Challenged Books” lists, Judy Blume’s Forever… focuses on a teenage girl’s developing sexuality and the knowledge she acquires through the relationships she has with her boyfriend, her friends, her family and her own body. Katherine is a senior in high school, naturally preparing for what lies ahead. She develops an intimate relationship with Michael (a student from a different school). As this sexual relationship swiftly progresses, Katherine’s world is influenced by the education received from Planned Parenthood, the conversations she has with prominent female figures (her mother, sister, grandmother, girlfriends) and the “love” she feels for Michael (forever!) Naturally, there’s excitement, jealousy, confusion and even fear.

Although this novel may seem to be a reflection of its time, I still found elements of Katherine’s story that could resonate with teenage girls today. The language is accurate — Katherine sounds and thinks like a smart, “modern” seventeen year old girl who uses slang (of 1975) and has an active, romantic imagination. The sexual situations are mature, but not pornographic. Blume does not belittle the teenage experience by using euphemisms or silly metaphors (although the nick-naming of one body part is particularly…interesting.) The constructive conversations Katherine has with her mother, grandmother and Planned Parenthood counselors serve as good examples of communication for young women and offer information about sexual education/contraception. It’s dated, of course, but the intention is pure. One major element of Blume’s novel that is handled too casually is the body-shaming/fatphobia around one of the secondary characters. It’s not a crucial component of the story, but in the context of today’s social climate, it stands out.

Would this classic YA novel appeal to all teenagers? Of course not. Does it reflect the experiences of all teenage girls? No. But what Forever… does offer is an amusing, sincere glimpse into the mind of a young woman as she navigates through the murky waters of young love.

LOOKING FOR MORE? (OR SOMETHING ELSE?)
Why don't you...

- Check out Netflix's original series Sex Education (2019) for more modern and diverse stories about teenage sexuality
- Listen to the Forever... episodes of The Blume Saloon podcast (episodes 25-32!)