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Forever (novel)
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Forever... is a 1975 novel by Judy Blume dealing with teenage sexuality. Because of the novel's content it has been the frequent target of censors and appears on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000 at number eight. The book is often cited as controversial because of Blume's use of suggestive language and because her character Katherine goes on "the pill".
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Forever... is a 1975 novel by Judy Blume dealing with teenage sexuality. Because of the novel's content it has been the frequent target of censors and appears on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000 at number eight. The book is often cited as controversial because of Blume's use of suggestive language and because her character Katherine goes on "the pill". Criticism of the novel often comes from sexual abstinence pressure groups, as well as religious groups who consider the use of 'the pill' unsuitable for Blume's teenage audience.When Michael and Katherine finally do have sex they think it will seal their love forever...
Katherine and Michael discuss their feelings carefully before deciding to have sex; when they finally have sex, they talk about it thoroughly and obtain contraception from a family planning clinic.
Judy Blume considers this book to have had one "odd and lasting side-effect of its popularity"; the decline in the popularity of the name Ralph. Throughout the book, Michael consistently refers to his penis as "Ralph" , and the subsequent generation who grew up reading Forever seemed unwilling to consider it as a suitable name for their children. Blume responded to several concerned Ralphs with; "I apologize to all of them. It's nothing personal."
Plot summary
Katherine, in the middle of her senior year in high school, finds herself strongly attracted to Michael, a friend's friend, after a party. As their relationship unfolds, the issue of sex comes up early on, more as an emotional and health issue than as a moral one. Both of them are aware that physical intimacy is both common and complicated. Michael has been sexually active, Katherine hasn't. Their relationship progresses slowly; they are accompanied on various meetings by her friend, Erica, a realist, who has known Katherine since 9th grade and believes that sex is a physical act and not a romantic act. They are also joined by Michael's friend, Artie, who, with Erica's help, explores and acknowledges some uncertainty about his own sexuality.
When they do, by mutual consent, have sex on Michael's sister's bedroom floor, they are sure it seals a love that will be "forever." However, separated for the summer by work that takes them to two different states, Katherine finds herself aware of the limitations of the relationship and ultimately attracted to a tennis instructor, Theo, who is older and more experienced in life. She takes responsibility for breaking the news to Michael when he comes on a surprise visit, the summer she knew was over , and Kath recognizes the loss as a stage in movement towards more complex, probably more satisfying relationships in the future. The novel ends with Katherine's mother telling her that "Theo called."
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