1. Bibliography Blume, Judy. 1975. Forever. Simon Pulse: New York. ISBN 978-1-4169-3400-4.
2. Summary
Katherine has very little experience with guys. She is awkward and shy around boys until she meets Michael at her friend Erica's cousin's New Years Eve party. They start to date and their relationship blossoms into young love. Katherine is not sure exactly how far she wants to go with Michael, but she is sure that she loves him. Her parents, while supportative of her first romance, don't want her to get too involved with the relationship. They understand how first love goes and how it usually doesn't last forever. Katherine is sure their love will last and wants to change her college plans so that they can be together. Her parents will not let her. Katherine finally makes a trip to Planned Parenthood and she and Michael begin their love affair. However, as their senior year draws to a close they begin making plans for the summer. Katherine's father wants her to take a job as a tennis instructor at her sister's summer camp. In fact he insists on it. Katherine is furious, but does as her parents say. While away at summer camp, life becomes complicated when she realizes that maybe her first love won't last forever.
3. Impressions
This book is one of the books that is banned from many schools. I can definitely see why. The story is sweet. The ups and downs of teenage love are so evident in this novel. However, the story seems to center more on the sexual relationship between Katherine and Michael and less on the feelings and emotions that come with first love. I know that as a parent I would not want my young daughter reading this book. While I don't have a problem with open and honest discussion about sex with young people, this book is not like that. There are many scenes in which sex is described in detail and seem a bit inappropriate for young adults. I am not naive enough to think that teens don't know about sex or even watch it on television or even do it. However, I think for a young adult novel, this could have been handle in a more appropriate way.
I did like the book. It was well written and easy to read. I read it in one sitting. I can see that older teens would be drawn to this book. They would enjoy the fast pace of the novel and the story is interesting. I could feel Katherine's pain of being separated from her boyfriend for a summer and her fear of what might happen if they are apart for a prolonged period. I think older teens could relate to how Katherine is feeling and her confusion when she goes to camp and starts to have feelings for someone else. I don't think it is for younger teens, but older young adults can definitely relate to this novel.
4. Reviews
Reviews taken from http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Richard-Jackson-Books-Blume/dp/0689849737/ref=pd_bbs_sr_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228256984&sr=8-7
Amazon.com Review "Going all the way" is still a taboo subject in young adult literature. Judy Blume was the first author to write candidly about a sexually active teen, and she's been defending teenagers' rights to read about such subjects ever since. Here, Blume tells a convincing tale of first love--a love that seems strong and true enough to last forever. Katherine loves Michael so much, in fact, that she's willing to lose her virginity to him, and, as the months go by, it gets harder and harder for her to imagine living without him. However, something happens when they are separated for the summer: Katherine begins to have feelings for another guy. What does this mean about her love for Michael? What does this mean about love in general? What does "forever" mean, anyway? As always, Blume writes as if she's never forgotten a moment of what it's like to be a teenager.
