Judy's Blume's "Forever"

                                                          

I am by nature a hopeless romantic. I’ve been dreaming of meeting the man I would spend the rest of my life with…forever. And though I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting that man, I can certainly remember the days in which I was sure that EVERY boyfriend I had in high school would be that guy. I can also recall the amount of disappointment I felt every time I realized that each of those boys in fact was NOT that guy, but I never lost hope. So, when I first picked up this book, “Forever” by Judy Blume, I was expecting to find a fairy-tale like story about falling in love for the first time, and it lasting forever. Needless to say, that is not what I got.  The book gives a realistic depiction of a number of issues that we all face at some point in our lives, most of which we face in our adolescent years, such as first love, first sexual experiences, struggles with personal identity, and more. Pregnancy, birth control, and even sexually transmitted diseases make an appearance within the text, all of which are presented with poise and intelligence that is smart and undeniably real.

This book is about a high school senior, Katherine, and her first love, Michael. The two are convinced that they will spend “forever” together and fight to make their love last through their stressful senior year, decisions about college, a summer away from each other, and all the baggage and ties that come along with incorporating sex into a meaningful relationship. 

By the time I was expected to have read only a third of the novel I had already finished the whole thing.  From the first moment the two main characters, Katherine and Michael, held hands, I knew this book was going to be special. The book immediately took me back to when I was in high school, I thought I was in love and was willing to do anything to make it last. I related with the characters in this novel so much so that as I read, I felt butterflies. I found myself being nervous, anxious, and excited all at the same time, eager to find out how their love would turn out. Everything about “Forever” was so realistic which I think is why so many young adults can relate to the issues being presented. From the awkwardness of Katherine and Michael’s first sexual experience to the passion they have for making it work, determined to let nothing get in their way, this story is the epitome of a young romance…without being cheesy.

I now hold this book very dear to my heart. I wish I had read it when I was younger, when all the same things that Katherine was experiencing were happening to me as well. Young adult readers I think would appreciate the honesty this book portrays. It’s not a fairy tale, it’s real. That is a hard fact to face when reading a love story like this one. It’s also what made “Forever” such a great read.