Forever

Blume, Judy. Forever. Bradbury Press (1975). ISBN 0-87888-079-8.

Plot Summary

                 Katherine (Kath) meets Michael at a New Year’s Eve party but isn’t sure what she thinks of him right away.  Michael, however, knows he wants to know Kath better.  Michael and Kath begin their relationship as most teenagers do, with lots of kissing, which eventually leads to more, and promises of loving each other forever.  But when Kath and Michael get summer jobs working in two different states, their relationship must face some very real challenges.

Critical Evaluation

                Katherine (Kath) is a very modern thinking woman.  When she realizes that she and Michael will be sexually active together, she doesn’t leave anything to chance.  She takes the initiative and visits Planned Parenthood to get birth control.  Some may wonder where Kath’s parents are during this visit, but the fact that there are responsible adults in her family is the reason Kath can be so independent.  Her grandmother gives her the information she needs to make sure she is well protected against diseases and unwanted pregnancies.  Hopefully girls who are in the same situation as Kath, that is, thinking about having sex for the first time, can follow Kath’s example.

                The relationship between Michael and Kath seems underdeveloped for how deeply they seem to care for one another.  They think they will be together forever, which is very naïve at that young age.  However, most high school relationships are like this.  Having been in several myself, there are definitely similarities to how Michael and Kath think and act as how I acted myself.  I find the scene where Michael and Kath first have sex refreshing.  Many novels romanticize that first time, making it seem like it is some magical experience.  And it can be, for some people.  But for most people it doesn’t end up being exactly right and, like Michael and Kath, it’s over before it’s really even started.  That level of realism is what makes Forever stand the test of time.

Reader’s Annotation

Katherine and Michael are in love, but can love at 18 really last forever?

Author Information

Judy Blume is known for writing about teenage issues in a very authentic way.  She has books on many common topics, some of which include racism, menstruation, divorce, and bullying.  Her website: http://www.judyblume.com/

Genre

Classic

Book talking Ideas

There is plenty to talk about when discussing Forever.  Maybe a presenter can talk about how real Michael and Kath’s relationship was.  It is easy to fall in love when we are teenagers, but that doesn’t mean that that love will last forever.  The idea of being responsible for our actions is a good point of this book.  Kath is very responsible in taking her health into her own hands.  Depending on someone else to look out for you is something teenagers need to learn to avoid. 

Reading Level/Interest Age

14 and up / 16-18

Challenge Issues

Several controversial topics are introduced in Forever.  Some of these include suicide, abortion, drug use, drinking, language, and teen sex.  Some ways to combat the challenging of this title would be to talk to parents about the fact that all of these subjects exist in real life.  Most, if not all, teenagers are already aware of all of these issues and allowing their children to read a book like this can open up a dialogue between parent and child about some of the subjects that the child doesn’t quite understand.  Most teenagers don’t read a book and decide to do something just because a character in the book did it.  Teenagers are more capable of handling things than adults give them credit for.

Why Include This Title?

When any compilation of young adult titles is being made Judy Blume’s books must be included in that list.  Forever is especially suited for this age group as most young adults who decide to have sex in their teen years are on the upper end of the 15-18 age group.  Kath herself is 18 in this book, as is Michael.