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Summary: A valuable tool for parents.
Review: I read this book (and Judy Blume's "Deenie" and "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret") for a research paper on literary censorship. It seems that the negative reviews written here are actually a form of control of what can and cannot be read by individuals. We are sexual beings by nature. For a great deal of parents it is awkward to talk openly and frankly with their pre-teen or teenage children about sex, protection, and other related topics. This book, as well as "Deenie" and "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" should be used as tools by parents to help introduce these topics. It is also very important that they realize that these books are merely tools and they have to back it up with clear communication. Saying, "Here, Nancy, read this." is not enough. Parents have to provide their children with information about sex when they are old enough to understand it and in a timely manner. For example, "Deenie" and "Margaret" are targeted to girls that are entering puberty, while "Forever" is targeted to older teenagers that may be considering sexual activity. Also, while these books are targeted primarly to girls, there's no harm in guys reading them, either. At least it's one avenue of information for them. Well, I'll wrap this up... if you've got a pre-teen or a teenager, and you're willing to sit with them and explain to them what puberty is and what it represents, then these books are great tools to help you explain it.
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Summary: Forever... is relevant.
Review: With the advent of AIDS, Judy Blume's Forever... is now prefaced with a brief mention of the time and setting in which the book was written. The author stresses that America in the mid-seventies was a very different place than America today. Blume also stresses that Forever... is a book not merely about sex and teenagers, but one about love--albeit first love--and *feelings*. I truly admire Blume's candor and style, and Forever... contains many of the greatest elements of her writing: it's straightforward, tactful, and shows the repercussions of a deep relationship in young adulthood, as well as the ramifications of careless sexual behavior (one of protagonist Kathryn's friends ends up pregnant).I think that mature teens can handle the more graphic subject matter of Forever...--Kathryn and Michael's intimate moments are described with detail in the book. Kathryn's initial reluctancy to give into her sexual feelings is also explored, as well as her decision to take charge of her own body by making an appointment at Planned Parenthood. Not everyone will find this book appropriate or relevant; some may even find it downright offensive in its honesty and liberal attitudes. I find Forever... to be important, well-written, and true to so many *healthy* teen experiences. Judy Blume knows what teenagers think, feel, and desire, and Forever... is a good sampling of a responsible and passionate teenage relationship.
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Summary: FOREVER IS GREAT!!!
Review: Forever is a excellent bok by Judy Blume. It's the story of a senior girl in highschool named Katherine who meets a wonderful guy named Michael at a new years eve party. After that, Micheal and Katherine are alwyas together. See how their relashonship grows in this book, to the point where they are able to experience new things with each other. This book is a great book if you love romance and struggle between realshoships. This book really shows the pros and cons in a relashoship. And how you can be in love with two people.
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Summary: A love Bible to young readers
Review: From the books I usually read, "Forever" was the best. For instance, many books are teeny-bopperish, and highly unrealistic,or teens meanandering around over their lost over one "love"one. Kathy in this book is very mature and makes decisions the reasonable way she could.She used protection and chose colleges for them to be together. OF course it did'nt end the way she wanted to, but as teenage feelings goes nobody can avenge them. I cried when someone close to her died and was in suspense of the graphic sex details in the book. I could relate to the strong feelings she had for Michael and her difficult decision she had to make about her virginity, but also disagree for the ways of protection she used. I could say this book is recommended to 13 and over, but any girl who wants to feel the effects and passion of young love or needs an example on how young love is. "Forever" is for you!
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Summary: A provocative, thoughtful teen novel
Review: In a recent phone conversation, my sister mentioned that her 13-year-old daughter had just read Judy Blume's "Forever ...", which had provoked, in her words, "a pretty decent conversation on sex and relationships." I managed to find my dog-eared copy in a box of books destined for Goodwill, and despite the fact it was written over a quarter century ago, I was amazed at how true much of it still rang. Yeah, when I was in the sixth grade we giggled at the "dirty" parts (which, upon re-reading, Blume handled fairly tastefully), but overall it's a very realistic picture of a "first love" relationship. Modern readers may decry the lack of condom usage after Katherine goes on the Pill, but in 1975, the year the book was published, AIDS wasn't an issue. There's also two nice little subplots about teenage pregnancy and wanting to lose one's virginity that are also handled very well without "Hollywood" endings. The 1970s had a lot of excellent young adult authors, but Judy Blume reigned supreme, and "Forever ..." is one of the many reasons why she did. If your kid wants to read this, let them. Chances are a good conversation will come out of it.
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Summary: I read it in 2 days, you can't put it down
Review: I read this book a few years ago and just re-read it. It really wish my first time had been with someone so important to me as Michael is to Katherine. Judy Blume tells it like it's real, there's no happy ending. I wish she had more young adult/adult books! They are so well written.
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Summary: have to read this, you wont be able to put it down!
Review: When Katherine and Michael, meet and fall in love, they think that it's going to last forever. Katherine spends all her time with Michael, and they plan on spending their summer together before they both go away to college. But, Katherine's parents tell her she has to go away for the summer, and Michael has to go away too. Will their love still last forever?
This is a very good book because it would be very realistic to a teenage falling in love in real life. It goes through all the aspects and situations of teenage dating. I agree with the way the author wrote about Forever, because Katherine and Michael's situation is similar to that of my best friend's. This is the type of book that even if you don't like to read, you won't be able to put it down. Forever is a very good book that I recommend to anyone that likes to read about romances or just simply about growing up.
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Summary: A love Bible to young readers
Review: From the books I usually read, "Forever" was the best. For instance, many books are teeny-bopperish, and highly unrealistic,or teens meanandering around over their lost over one "love"one. Kathy in this book is very mature and makes decisions the reasonable way she could.She used protection and chose colleges for them to be together. OF course it did'nt end the way she wanted to, but as teenage feelings goes nobody can avenge them. I cried when someone close to her died and was in suspense of the graphic sex details in the book. I could relate to the strong feelings she had for Michael and her difficult decision she had to make about her virginity, but also disagree for the ways of protection she used. I could say this book is recommended to 13 and over, but any girl who wants to feel the effects and passion of young love or needs an example on how young love is. "Forever" is for you!
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Summary: End Of Innocence
Review: This book offers a very in depth, explicit, and at times graphic realistic view on teens and the so called "first time." It doesn't fool you with cheap characters or dramatizing story line. This book is more based on the harsh reality that is teen sexuality. I guarantee once you've read the first chapter you will never want to put it down. Katherine (the books main character) falls into the world of love with Michael and share love like typical sexually active teens would. But we are introduced to a new love interest and Katherine finds herself in a twist between two boys. One she loves, and the other she wants. This book has been banned and targets for many censorship laws in local schools and was banned from some of them for sexually explicit material. But that's the good thing about it, it offers reality instead of fantasy, this book is real life from a teenage girl's point of view and I recommend it for all teens interested.
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Summary: Introduction to High School Love and Sex
Review: This book is perfect for a teenager just starting to think about falling in love and "going all the way." It's an important coming-of-age novel because it disproves all the myths of marrying your high school sweetheart, and how sex can really change a relationship, especially when you're young. The book is a little racy, but not too graphic. Rather than an instruction book on first love and losing your virginity, Judy Blume wrote an emotional story that's easy to realte to, and learn from. Mothers, pick this up for your teenage girls.
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