Forever by Judy Blume
Bradbury Press, New York: 1975
ISBN: 0-02-711030-3

Plot Summary:
Forever begins at a New Year's Eve party where Katherine Danziger meets Michael Wagner. Even though she's rude to him, he comes by the next day, and soon they are in a serious relationship. They are both seniors in high school. Katherine is a virgin, Michael is not. She wants to take it slow at first, but ends up having sex with him after a couple months. Katherine enjoys being close to Michael, and even goes to Planned Parenthood to get birth control because she plans on having sex with him regularly. She's not sure if she loves him, but eventually decides that she must.

Everything is going well until the summer comes after graduation. Katherine's father has gotten her a job as a tennis assistant in a camp in order to separate her and Michael. While she is there, another tennis instructor named Theo catches her eye and she is surprised to find herself fantasizing about him. Michael shows up at camp after he hears of Katherine's grandfather passing away. She admits that there is someone else she is interested in, and they break up. Soon after Katherine gets home from camp, she receives a phone call from Theo.

Critical Evaluation:
Even though this book reads like a script for a Lifetime Original Movie, I couldn't help but be charmed by it. I'm sorely disappointed that I never read it in high school. The way Katherine deals with her first time having sex (and the subsequent times there after) is so honest and refreshing. She is nervous and excited. She doesn't feel terrible afterwards and nothing bad happens to her as punishment. In the end, she realizes that she was just too young to be in a committed relationship, and that is that. She's not going to die because she had sex with someone she's not going to marry. I think the frank and semi-graphic discussion of sex is just what most teens need to read before getting into a sexual relationship.

Reader’s Annotation:
Michael is Katherine's first love, and she thinks it will last forever. Just how long is forever?

Information about the Author:
Judy Blume is the author of several beloved books for young adults, such as Are You There God?, it's me, Margaret, and Blubber. She is a long time advocate of intellectual freedom. In 2004, she won the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

Genre: realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties: sex ed

Booktalking Ideas:
I would introduce Katherine and Michael and talk about their whirlwind courtship, and her parents disapproval of her being exclusive with Michael. Then I would explain Katherine's thinking about when the right time to have sex is, and what happens after they finally do it, and the repercussions.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
The reading level is fairly low, but this book would probably not be suitable for teens younger than 15.

Challenge Issues:
This book would most likely be challenged for its somewhat graphic depiction of sex (though it is not as explicit as more current books), and some brief profanity. I would explain the library's selection policy and give the challenger a complaint form.

Why I chose this book:
I chose this book because I love Judy Blume, but never managed to get around to reading this as a teen. Reading about it during our discussion on controversial literature made me want to pick it up.