Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Macmillan Children's Books (2015), Edition: New Edition, 208 pages
Description
Two high school seniors believe their love to be so strong that it will last forever.
Media reviews
Booklist
Katherine and Michael's romance progresses rapidly from kissing to sexual intercourse after Katherine gets the Pill-- but will their love last forever?
User reviews
LibraryThing member mjmbecky
I realize that I'm an adult reading this short novel, and with that comes a more adult perspective on sexuality that is based on a more mature perspective (and a developed brain helps in this case). Here's the thing. I think that we, meaning adults, tend to shy away from sex in such a way that it
Having been raised very much with the "sex is bad" motto ringing in my head as a teen, I have to say that this novel would have shocked me. I really don't think I could have read it and got anything out of it, but I do think that many more teens are rushing forward to understand more about sex, and stumbling along the way. I can't say that I would put this novel in the hands of every teen I see, but I will say that it's message about young love feels honest and real. In fact, if two teens were having sex, you would hope their experience was anywhere near as respectful as the one between Katherine and Michael. Should this book be banned? I don't really believe in banning books, but I do believe that certain books (such as Madonna's sex book), shouldn't be in a public school setting. Should this one? Yes. I don't think that Forever is necessarily glamorizing sex, trying to be titillating, or even gratuitous. Come on, I know young teen girls reaching for romance novels for that! In the case of Judy Blume's novel, leave it on the shelves, and those teens seeking out a story that reflects their own curiosity about the "what if" about their own sex lives will find it. Will it offend some teens and cause them to be even more curious? Of course. Maybe those are the teens that need someone to allow them to feel safe enough to bring up what they're curious about in the first place? In the end, sex is still an extremely taboo subject in most homes and schools. Other than glamorizing it in the media, it has little to no place in our educational process for teens (and I don't mean at school...I mean in the home). In the end, most teens won't come ask, because it's just too "weird." If that's the case, although blatantly forward in the mechanics of a young relationship, I think Blume was courageous in her novel of young love...taken to the next level.
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makes teens 1) curious, and 2) ashamed. How do we expect them to come to understand sex if all we tell them is to wait, not do it, or that it's bad to do before marriage? Now, I'm not saying we should encourage "erotic play" as put forth in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World (you can see my review of that novel at the link), but will say that there has to be a better way of helping teens to understand that what they are feeling is natural and normal, and that with some understanding of its influence, can be used when appropriate to the person. Since the novel is told from Katherine's perspective, and I have to say she was a pretty together teen, we get only a slight sense of the adults present in the story. Their presence seemed much more light handed, because I think that Katherine's teen voice filtered them out in her focused drive to find any way possible to be with Michael. This sounds pretty true to life to me. The "I'll die if I can't be with him" phrase feels all too familiar in teen fiction, and rings true in Forever.Having been raised very much with the "sex is bad" motto ringing in my head as a teen, I have to say that this novel would have shocked me. I really don't think I could have read it and got anything out of it, but I do think that many more teens are rushing forward to understand more about sex, and stumbling along the way. I can't say that I would put this novel in the hands of every teen I see, but I will say that it's message about young love feels honest and real. In fact, if two teens were having sex, you would hope their experience was anywhere near as respectful as the one between Katherine and Michael. Should this book be banned? I don't really believe in banning books, but I do believe that certain books (such as Madonna's sex book), shouldn't be in a public school setting. Should this one? Yes. I don't think that Forever is necessarily glamorizing sex, trying to be titillating, or even gratuitous. Come on, I know young teen girls reaching for romance novels for that! In the case of Judy Blume's novel, leave it on the shelves, and those teens seeking out a story that reflects their own curiosity about the "what if" about their own sex lives will find it. Will it offend some teens and cause them to be even more curious? Of course. Maybe those are the teens that need someone to allow them to feel safe enough to bring up what they're curious about in the first place? In the end, sex is still an extremely taboo subject in most homes and schools. Other than glamorizing it in the media, it has little to no place in our educational process for teens (and I don't mean at school...I mean in the home). In the end, most teens won't come ask, because it's just too "weird." If that's the case, although blatantly forward in the mechanics of a young relationship, I think Blume was courageous in her novel of young love...taken to the next level.
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LibraryThing member cfordLIS722
Katherine struggles with sexual feelings. She tries to figure out if sex is purely a physical act or a romantic one. Learning about sex and working with relationships is a mjor theme is this book.
LibraryThing member the_hag
I managed to miss this one when I was reading Blume as a pre-teen...and since it's around that time of the year (banned book week), I decided to find out why it is that this book gets challenged so often...and yep, I can see why! It's a realistic look at young love, about how teens feel about love
This book was written in 1975 and with the exception of missing the newer communication technology and the fact that there are much worse STD's out there today, this book still has a timely and relevant message! When my Girl is a bit older, I'd LOVE for her to read this as I think it give both a positive look at teen sexuality (which is so often frowned upon) and is entertaining at the same time! This book would probably be of most interest and use to younger teens and pre-teens because it was written in the mid 70's and it doesn't have the complexity of problems faced today (racial tension, violence in schools, stalkers on My Space and other online forums, ect), but it does have a message that is still incredibly relevant to today young people! Forever is refreshing; I give it an A+.
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and sex and how emotionally crippling a romance can feel at that age...it doesn't pull any punches and presents a realistic and compelling story of young love that could have happened to any of us. I do see why some parents might not want this in libraries...but I personally would LOVE to see teens reading this...it presents an honest, open, and responsible look at teenage love and sex. I love that this goes one step further than that "forever" feeling and examines what happens when those same teenagers who pin their whole emotional future on one other person go away to college or for summer jobs (or both)...what happens when they are exposed to new people and experiences and how that changes what they thought would be forever! This book was written in 1975 and with the exception of missing the newer communication technology and the fact that there are much worse STD's out there today, this book still has a timely and relevant message! When my Girl is a bit older, I'd LOVE for her to read this as I think it give both a positive look at teen sexuality (which is so often frowned upon) and is entertaining at the same time! This book would probably be of most interest and use to younger teens and pre-teens because it was written in the mid 70's and it doesn't have the complexity of problems faced today (racial tension, violence in schools, stalkers on My Space and other online forums, ect), but it does have a message that is still incredibly relevant to today young people! Forever is refreshing; I give it an A+.
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LibraryThing member kettykat
I really enjoyed this story about teenage sexuality. I remember being at this point in my life and all the confusion that I experienced in making that big decision. This book would really help think through the possiblities of things that could very much happen. Judy Blume does a great job of
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bringing you into the world of teenage love and relationships through the characters of Katherine and Michael. Show Less
LibraryThing member angelhair45
I didn't like it. Maybe if I had read it in my teen years I would have liked it, but as a 28 year old woman it just seems so unrealistic to me. I thought Blume's writing made sex very cold and cavalier.
LibraryThing member nbmars
Like Judy Blume’s other book I recently reviewed, this is a book I wish I had seen at the appropriate age. It tells you all about sex in a way I can’t imagine you could have found elsewhere in 1975, when this book was published. (Nowadays, of course, there is undoubtedly a Sex for Dummies and
There’s a thin plot – Katherine and Michael, 17, fall in “love” in the way teens often do – a hormonally-driven attraction with no idea of who the other person even is. This is, in fact, demonstrated by giving the main characters no discernable personalities. This is not a criticism; I think it’s more realistic this way. I certainly had no idea of who my high school crush really was; nevertheless, I wanted to have his children.
After Michael and Katherine date for about five minutes, he wants to have sex. Katherine isn’t quite ready yet, but, afraid of disappointing him, administers “hand jobs” instead. (This brings back the good old days of President Clinton’s dalliance with Monica Lewinsky, and all the arguments about what did and did not qualify as “having sex.”)
Finally, and especially, after Michael says the three magic words, “I love you” and actually seems to mean them even though “love” could be better expressed as “lust” and “you” as “whoever,” Katherine is “ready” and they go all the way. First, however, she does make a secret visit to a Planned Parenthood Clinic to get a prescription for birth control pills. (Although Venereal Disease is mentioned, sexually transmitted diseases were not treated with appropriate seriousness in the 1970’s. The author tries to remedy this omission with a cautionary preface about the need for condoms appearing in the 2007 edition.)
The first several times don’t go so well, and they fumble along and try to stay upbeat. Finally, they get into the rhythm of it, so to speak. The two swear to love each other “forever” and Michael gives Katherine a necklace commemorating that sentiment.
Meanwhile, each of their parents think they need some space and gets jobs for them far away from each other. Katherine, a counselor at her sister’s camp, finds herself falling for Theo. Oops. Michael, alarmed at the sudden lack of mail, makes a surprise visit and finds them holding hands. Oops. Nevertheless, he takes her to his hotel room and tries to have sex with her. He discovers that alas, nothing is forever.
Later, after having broken up that day at the hotel, they run into each other one more time before each leaves for college. Katherine says:
"I wanted to tell him that I will never be sorry for loving him. That in a way I still do – that maybe I always will. I’ll never regret one single thing we did together because what we had was very special. Maybe if we were ten years older it would have worked out differently. Maybe. I think it’s just that I’m not ready for forever.”
Evaluation: While it’s not much on plot, I think this is a really important book. I would want my high school girl to read it.
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Sex for Idiots and Sex on Audiodisk For People Who Can’t Even Read.)There’s a thin plot – Katherine and Michael, 17, fall in “love” in the way teens often do – a hormonally-driven attraction with no idea of who the other person even is. This is, in fact, demonstrated by giving the main characters no discernable personalities. This is not a criticism; I think it’s more realistic this way. I certainly had no idea of who my high school crush really was; nevertheless, I wanted to have his children.
After Michael and Katherine date for about five minutes, he wants to have sex. Katherine isn’t quite ready yet, but, afraid of disappointing him, administers “hand jobs” instead. (This brings back the good old days of President Clinton’s dalliance with Monica Lewinsky, and all the arguments about what did and did not qualify as “having sex.”)
Finally, and especially, after Michael says the three magic words, “I love you” and actually seems to mean them even though “love” could be better expressed as “lust” and “you” as “whoever,” Katherine is “ready” and they go all the way. First, however, she does make a secret visit to a Planned Parenthood Clinic to get a prescription for birth control pills. (Although Venereal Disease is mentioned, sexually transmitted diseases were not treated with appropriate seriousness in the 1970’s. The author tries to remedy this omission with a cautionary preface about the need for condoms appearing in the 2007 edition.)
The first several times don’t go so well, and they fumble along and try to stay upbeat. Finally, they get into the rhythm of it, so to speak. The two swear to love each other “forever” and Michael gives Katherine a necklace commemorating that sentiment.
Meanwhile, each of their parents think they need some space and gets jobs for them far away from each other. Katherine, a counselor at her sister’s camp, finds herself falling for Theo. Oops. Michael, alarmed at the sudden lack of mail, makes a surprise visit and finds them holding hands. Oops. Nevertheless, he takes her to his hotel room and tries to have sex with her. He discovers that alas, nothing is forever.
Later, after having broken up that day at the hotel, they run into each other one more time before each leaves for college. Katherine says:
"I wanted to tell him that I will never be sorry for loving him. That in a way I still do – that maybe I always will. I’ll never regret one single thing we did together because what we had was very special. Maybe if we were ten years older it would have worked out differently. Maybe. I think it’s just that I’m not ready for forever.”
Evaluation: While it’s not much on plot, I think this is a really important book. I would want my high school girl to read it.
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LibraryThing member RosanaSantana
Forever... tells the story of Katherine and her first love who she met her senior year of college. The two date for about six months and the young girl looses her virginity to the boy. Her parents are uncomfortable with the relationship and try to separate the couple. This book would be appropriate
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for teens ages 15-18. The book was written in 1975 so it is a little dated, but I think it would still be a valid choice for teens in this day and age. The book is told in first person from the perspective of Katherine. Show Less
LibraryThing member stephmo
It can be easy to dismiss Forever... right away simply because it's 35 years old. Katherine's moved onto an age where she's asking her own children when they're going to have children already. And she certainly didn't have access to the modern technology that would have changed everything between
At the same time, the feelings stay the same. When you're young, you love love. If you want to know why something like a Twilight is so popular today, this is exactly it. Judy Blume captures it far more effectively in Forever... with the electricity of the anticipation, the hotly made promises, the electricity and the sense of excitement that exists when you're young and mutually attracted. Who doesn't remember this feeling? Who doesn't love love in this way? This is something Blume understood was the exciting part and that other authors exploit to no end.
Unlike our highly romanticized no-downside vampire lover of today, Blume doesn't shy away from the downside. In this thin novel, she throws in a plethora of teen issues that are fit for the finest of After-School-Specials and even some Lifetime-Movie issues. Depression, Teen Pregnancy, Unknown Paternity, Teen Drinking, Casual Drug Use, Abortion Discussion and even Impotence makes an appearance. Of course, this is all sort of circling Katherine in that it could happen to you...but not really! way, but at least it's still there.
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her and Michael in the story - so how relatable is it today?At the same time, the feelings stay the same. When you're young, you love love. If you want to know why something like a Twilight is so popular today, this is exactly it. Judy Blume captures it far more effectively in Forever... with the electricity of the anticipation, the hotly made promises, the electricity and the sense of excitement that exists when you're young and mutually attracted. Who doesn't remember this feeling? Who doesn't love love in this way? This is something Blume understood was the exciting part and that other authors exploit to no end.
Unlike our highly romanticized no-downside vampire lover of today, Blume doesn't shy away from the downside. In this thin novel, she throws in a plethora of teen issues that are fit for the finest of After-School-Specials and even some Lifetime-Movie issues. Depression, Teen Pregnancy, Unknown Paternity, Teen Drinking, Casual Drug Use, Abortion Discussion and even Impotence makes an appearance. Of course, this is all sort of circling Katherine in that it could happen to you...but not really! way, but at least it's still there.
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LibraryThing member msmalnick
You can't be a 30-ish woman and not have read this some 20 years ago. It's a classic story of a girl's first time. As JB put it once, her daughter asked her to write about a teenager's first sexual experience and have "nothing bad happen." That's exactly what it is. You'll never see the name
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"Ralph" quite the same. Show Less
LibraryThing member miksmom
Judy Blume tells an honest story about the feelings surrounding first love. As Katherine and Michael are busy discovering each other, they are as oblivious to the changes occuring within themselves as they are to the outside world. And, the more inseparable they become, the more inevitable their
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separation. This book was groundbreaking and controversial when published in the 1970s. Blume realistically portrays the mature attitudes and adult behaviors of many teenagers today, and graphically describes Katherine and Michael's sexual exploration. While the book is instructive - almost a romanticized, movie-length advertisement for Planned Parenthood - it is not for everyone. Katherine's parents encourage her to date other people, seemingly without a clue that she is already sexually active, and her best friend Erica has made it her goal to "get laid" before graduation. Call me old-fashioned or naive, but I, too, was a teenager in the seventies and perceived this type of behavior to be the exception - not the norm. Show Less
LibraryThing member nikirtehsuxlol
Im 26. So just to put my review in perspective. But, I really thought this story was plot based. There was really no symbolism, no deeper meaning, nothing. A led to B which led to C which led to D. I thought the characters were really flat. There could have been so much more insight to a "first
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love" relationship than just "Hey! Should we do it yet? Or whole relationship is based on whether we do it or not." Which, yeah a lot of relationships are ... but there was no writing about the letdown of guards we all put up, or the awkward moments afterwards, etc. It was just "Let's do sex. It kinda hurt." - very plot oriented. Morality wise, this book "supports" premarital sex. Just thought I'd put that out there for women trying to buy this for their 17 year old daughters. Judy Blume has done better. Fast read, though. Show Less
LibraryThing member viviandoughty
"'Forever. . ." is a book that takes on issues that were highly controversial in the 1970's and sets them in a very accurately portrayed 1970's setting. I was a teen-ager in 1975 at this book's first publication. Grabbing this book off the shelf for a recent class assignment was my very first
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introduction to it. After reading it, it's pretty obvious why it remained in the dark while I was a teen. No librarian or teacher in their right minds would have presented it to anyone back then (not where I came from, anyway). Although there is an innocence in the characters, and the characters are likeable and seem real, their interest in sex winds up seemingly too empty for their personalities. Kath's parents, also, represent a dichotomy in personality. They are wonderful, open, responsive parents (probably the opposite of what Judy Blume's parents were). On one hand, they are idiotic enough to leave Kath, their infatuated daughter alone with her boyfriend (Michael) in the lockable family room of the house while they traipse off to bed early. Yet on the other hand, they are concerned and upset that their daughter is too interested in Michael and make a decisive move to separate her from Michael over a 7-week period of the summer. These two actions don't represent the same set of parents and make the story fall apart for me. Ultimately, I find myself reading the book very quickly. Whether the pair will finally have sex is the driving force. I find myself annoyed that so many of Blume's obvious stands on controversial issues accompany this story line. True love vs. teen love, drugs amidst the higher echelon, Planned Parenthood, multiple sex partners, hinting at homosexuality. Is she trying to fix everything her way? Sure seems like it. What she doesn't realize is that Kath and Michael could be scarred for life. How so? Even though there is an emptiness in Kath and Michael's road to sex, they don't know it. To them, it is as real and "forever" as can be. Then Blume makes it okay for them to completely slip away from each other with an immediacy that borders cavalier. So is intimacy cavalier or not? Can we teach youth that we can be cavalier about intimacy for a ten year period, say between ages 18 and 28, and then one day, turn a switch and become a forever faithful spouse? With nearly 80% of today's high-schoolers being sexually active and the wider scope of STD's, I don't think this is a healthy approach to teach. If anything, it would be interesting to know whether teens even take intimacy seriously anymore (as Kath and Michael thought they did). Show Less
LibraryThing member athenamilis
I just finished reading this book. I have to say I am not that impressed, but that is because I am not the intended audience. The language is simple. The dialog lacks real substance, but isn't that how kids speak to each other these days. I can see how a teenage girl struggling with the decision to
I choose to read this book because it made the American Library Associations top 100 banned books list. After reading the book, I can see why some parents may not want their child to read it, but I still maintain a firm stand against censorship. Parents do and should have the right to raise their children how they see fit. When one parent wants to tell all other parents how to raise their children, I have a problem. Personally, after reading the book myself, I would allow my 13 year-old to read it, but not before.
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have sex may benefit from the the experiences of the main character Katherine. The relationship described in this YA romance novel is quite common among young teens. The author's choice to include one character who did get pregnant as a result of having sex and another who decides to use birth control illustrates the choices young girls have when it comes to sex. Both girls are faced with real consequences as a result of their choice to have sex. I choose to read this book because it made the American Library Associations top 100 banned books list. After reading the book, I can see why some parents may not want their child to read it, but I still maintain a firm stand against censorship. Parents do and should have the right to raise their children how they see fit. When one parent wants to tell all other parents how to raise their children, I have a problem. Personally, after reading the book myself, I would allow my 13 year-old to read it, but not before.
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LibraryThing member runnergirl2
the instrumental first book that shaped my teen years....learning about sex and love was not on my parent's agenda of things to teach me. judy blume helped immensely. challenged book or not....
LibraryThing member buppanasu
This bk is occasionally challenged because of a sex scene which is hardly all that graphic. Perhaps not appropriate for middle schools but for high school, it's just fine.
LibraryThing member tab1014
WOW, I loved this love story. This is just one of those books that while you are reading it you can see it playing out in your head! I am not sure but depending on the age/maturity level of your young adult reader is whether or not I would let them read this book because it does talk about adult
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content but then again it might just help a young lady that feels her life is over because of an ended relationship that it will be okay and that they will make it through the impossible heartbreak they are currently going through! If you are an older reader it will take you back in a good way! If you don’t have time to read this yourself but your young reader wants to read this book you should know it does talk about a girl losing her virginity so that is where your judgment comes into play. Regardless it is a very good book! If you have any questions plase send me a message and I will try to answer your question! Show Less
LibraryThing member DF1A_KelseyG
This book was really strange. The dialogue wasn't good and it was kind of distracting. The story seemed a little boring, them staying together and thinking it would stay that way forever. It made you just want to slap them. :) But it was okay, and it was a short book to read.
LibraryThing member aundria
The book I am reviewing is Forever. This book is written by Judy Blume. I chose to read this book because it was on our list for challenged books which was a project, and all my friends have read it and highly recommended it.
Katherine and Michael are experiencing a lot of first. Michael is
Be careful with what you do. When you do something make sure you have thought about it. And you know how it is going to end. Relationships are very temperamental and be sure you're ready for them before you do anything you might regret. This book met my expectations very well. The details and the way it relates to teenage life is absolutely awesome
Katherine and Michael are experiencing a lot of first. Michael is
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Katherine's first boyfriend. She is a virgin when she meets Michael but after a few weeks, she falls in love with him. When Katherine is forced to leave for the summer to be a counselor at camp their relationship is in trouble. She is falling for someone else who is close to her. Be careful with what you do. When you do something make sure you have thought about it. And you know how it is going to end. Relationships are very temperamental and be sure you're ready for them before you do anything you might regret. This book met my expectations very well. The details and the way it relates to teenage life is absolutely awesome
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LibraryThing member elmyra
I'm reading this in conjunction with "The Catcher in the Rye". I'll explain why once I've finished both. ;-)
LibraryThing member PigOfHappiness
Probably a bit more risque of a read when it first came out, this book nevertheless covers some touchy subjects such as teenage love and sexual relationships. Appropriate for high school and beyond...
LibraryThing member skinglist
I loved re-reading this old favourite but can't help but laugh at what was so scndalous in 1970s is so well, common, now. I mean ohmygod, she had s-e-x with her boyfriend :)
This continues what Smart Women started, a massive JB kick.
This continues what Smart Women started, a massive JB kick.
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
I was not a big fan of Judy Blume when I was a kid, and this book served as a reminder why. I’m trying to put the book in the context of when it was written, remembering that this was an important title at the time because most girls didn’t have parents like the main character Katherine who
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talked to her about safe sex, but I just can’t like this book. I don’t want to sound like a prude who thinks teenagers don’t/shouldn’t read about sex, but seriously, there should at least be a plot! Otherwise, it’s just teenaged porn and with that in mind, I can’t believe this book is an award winner. Also, while it probably resonates to some degree with teenagers today in terms of Katherine’s sexual awakening, the use of colloquial 70s speak comes across as so outdated. Show Less
LibraryThing member venusinfurs
One of the worst teen books I've ever read. AGH!
LibraryThing member ewyatt
Katherine and Michael meet at a New Years' Eve party and start dating. The story traces the course of their relationship. Their suburban friends are also trying to navigate life and love. Erika is wondering whether she should just find someone to have sex with to get the first time over with before
When Katherine and Michael spend part of the summer apart working, they both get a chance to reexamine their feelings, their relationship, and if they are ready for forever.
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college. Artie is trying to figure out his sexual identity. Sybill uses sex as a way to feel loved. When Katherine and Michael spend part of the summer apart working, they both get a chance to reexamine their feelings, their relationship, and if they are ready for forever.
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LibraryThing member christinachiara
Every teen who has ever had their heart broken into a million pieces must read this book.forever is about a boy and girl who meet threw friends and end up falling in love.this book takese you threw the ups and downs of there relation ship,and of course the end of it.
Awards
Margaret A. Edwards Award (1996)
ALA Most Frequently Challenged Books (1990-2004, 2006)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1975
Physical description
208 p.; 5.12 inches
ISBN
1447281047 / 9781447281047
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