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jennmeadows13's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Once again, I am personally victimized by Judy Blume. This book made me feel so nostalgic for high school and brought back memories from my first few loves as a teenager. Reading this now as a 30-something, I reflected on being a teenager and how I knew everything at 17 but hardly anything as a 32-year-old. When I found out Kathleen's mother was 39 in the book, that caused me to spiral out a bit, but I had to remind myself that this was published in the mid-70s. Coming from the perspective of a librarian-in-training, I found Forever... to be such an honest book about a person's first sexual experiences. Blume doesn't shy away from how awkward and disappointing sex can be at first. As a teenager, I didn't receive comprehensive sex education in my public school, and the media I was engaging with sold sex as this glamorous thing. Blume made sure to include realistic descriptions. Kathleen doesn't always climax. There's one scene where Michael is struggling with arousal. There's talk of sexually transmitted diseases and how to get adequate birth control. Forever... has been on countless banned book lists and attempts, but Blume has dared to go where many are afraid to be honest about. Teens are possibly going to experiment with sex while they are in high school. If parents and the schools are not going to equip them with the best knowledge out there to make educated sexual decisions, I am grateful that there is a book where teens can learn more about realistic sexual experiences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcohol and Mental illness
lauren717's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness, Alcohol, Death, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
mabiendicho's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Cursing, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit
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