Forever

Blume, J. (1975). Forever. New York, New York: Simon Spotlight Entertainment.

Brief Annotation: Katherine and Michael are both seniors and think they have found love. They go through emotions and experiences that most first couples go through who think their relationship is the one; who think that they will be together forever. However, when Katherine leaves the summer before college to be an assistant tennis coach and Michael goes to North Caroline for his summer job, their relationship changes. Katherine becomes attracted to another tennis coach, Theo, and her feelings for Michael are compromised. Before they both leave for college, their relationship ends and Judy Blume doesn’t say if Katherine and Theo get together, but certainly leads to suggest it.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction/ Frequently Banned Book

Grade Level: Young Adult

Readers who will like this: Young adults who may going through the same experiences as Katherine, or older adults who enjoy reading about a young girl’s high school experiences.

Response/Rating (1-4): **** I thought this book was highly relatable because Judy Blume describes experiences that all girls either think about or actually do experience. The subject of sex can be complicated for girls and boys, especially when deciding to actually experience it. Judy Blume portrays a magnificent picture of a high school couple who think they have their lives figured out, until life jumps in and changes everything.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: I would like you to write in your journal what you would do if you were in a relationship that became serious and started asking too much of you. What would you do in that situation?