Forever . . .
$8.84$11.99 (-26%)
A Time Best YA Book of All Time (2021)
Judy Blume’s groundbreaking novel about first relationships, first love, and…the first time.
The bed is brass, covered with a patchwork quilt, and “nice and firm,” Michael says, “in case you’re interested.”
Katherine is interested.
Katherine and Michael are in love, and Katherine knows it’s forever—especially after she loses her virginity to him. But when they’re separated for the summer, she begins to have feelings for another boy. What does this say about her love for Michael? And what does “forever” mean, anyway? Is this the love of a lifetime, or the very beginning of a lifetime of love?
From the Publisher
Publisher : Atheneum Books for Young Readers; Reissue edition (April 29, 2014)
Language : English
Paperback : 240 pages
ISBN-10 : 1481414437
ISBN-13 : 978-1481414432
Reading age : 14 years and up
Lexile measure : HL590L
Grade level : 9 – 12
Item Weight : 7.4 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.25 inches
Customers say
Customers find the book enjoyable and easy to read. They describe the romance as sweet and representative of teenage love. The content is interesting and relatable for young readers. Many consider it an important book for preteens and teens about first love and sexual experiences. The writing style is described as realistic and matter-of-fact. However, opinions differ on the writing quality – some find it eloquently written and easy to read, while others feel it could have been more mature.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
A Time Best YA Book of All Time (2021)
Judy Blume’s groundbreaking novel about first relationships, first love, and…the first time.
The bed is brass, covered with a patchwork quilt, and “nice and firm,” Michael says, “in case you’re interested.”
Katherine is interested.
Katherine and Michael are in love, and Katherine knows it’s forever—especially after she loses her virginity to him. But when they’re separated for the summer, she begins to have feelings for another boy. What does this say about her love for Michael? And what does “forever” mean, anyway? Is this the love of a lifetime, or the very beginning of a lifetime of love?
From the Publisher
Publisher : Atheneum Books for Young Readers; Reissue edition (April 29, 2014)
Language : English
Paperback : 240 pages
ISBN-10 : 1481414437
ISBN-13 : 978-1481414432
Reading age : 14 years and up
Lexile measure : HL590L
Grade level : 9 – 12
Item Weight : 7.4 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.25 inches
by Miss Riki
Classic YA With a Smart Twist
As a teenager I was a big fan of Judy Blume. I devoured Are you there God? Itâs Me Margaret and felt like she was writing just for me. Somehow I never read Forever until now. I actually picked up the book for a college course Iâm taking on Banned Books and Censorship. Our first unit is on Young Adult literature and Forever was on the reading list. Since I enjoyed Blumeâs work as a teen I thought Iâd enjoy Forever as well.Forever is the story of young love between Katherine and Michael. Seniors in high school, they meet and cannot get enough of each other. As young relationships are wont to do, they get very serious about one another very quickly and their relationship becomes more physical in nature. The book follows their young relationship and blooming sexuality in a very real way.I loved that the book had a very realistic teen voice, even when discussing adult matters of sexuality. Reading about sex from the viewpoint of teens is very different than reading about it in an adult novel, and Judy Blume nails the voice. I felt Katherineâs confusion as she grows more attached to Michael and felt her pain when they are separated. I think every girl has had a high school love that she couldnât image being separated from.I wonât spoil the ending for you, but I will say that this is a wonderful book. It is well written and fast paced and brings me right back to high school. All the feelings of young lover come rushing back when I read this book. I love Blumeâs straightforward style and the fact that nothing is sugar coated. even the relationship between Katherine and her parents is realistic and open.From the standpoint of my banned books class, I can see now why Forever might be considered inappropriate to some schools. There are some very vivid sexual scenes in the book that might frighten a parent. I personally donât think that books of any sort should be banned, and Forever isnât presenting any material that high school students arenât talking about or experiencing on their own, but parents and schools might be wary of putting those ideas into the minds of students who arenât already exposed to them.If youâve never read Judy Blume, you simply have to read Are You There God? Itâs Me Margaret, and then move right on to Forever.
by Nicholas Dollak
An important book every parent should read
While this book is aimed at teen girls, a male friend of mine had a copy and let me borrow it; he’d read the Blume books as a teen, hoping to get “the inside track”. (Not sure it helped him much…) He said this was kinda racy, so I figured I’d check it out…It is MUCH more than just a racy book. Judy Blume accurately captured the joy and pain of falling in love and losing it all. But I am viewing it as a 50-something guy with Asperger’s, not a neurotypical teenager. Had I read it as a teen, I wouldn’t have been able to relate much to the characters. When I was their age, only a few psychiatrists had heard of Asperger’s Syndrome; we had no name for people like myself, let alone criteria that spelled out the differences between us and NTs.But had my parents read it, they probably could have explained that my love relationships would very likely fall apart once my girlfriend and I were geographically separated (move, different schools, etc.) – and that it would be nobody’s fault, just what happens to many relationships.Sound advice for teens of every stripe. And if your kid’s an Aspie, let them know that they might be able to tolerate separation for a while; but if their SO is an NT, they won’t be able to take it – not while all their friends around them are dating. Just one of the differences, and nothing to blame anybody over.
by J. E. Hill
Nothing is Forever
MAY CONTAIN SPOILER – IN FACT…DOESI absolutely loved this book and it may just be one of my favorite Judy Blume books, though I’m only 18 and so I didn’t grow up in my early teens with Judy like my mom. I really enjoyed this book and the memorable moments like how Kath and Michael met at a New Year’s party to their many dates and their love scenes. The book seemed to treat the subject of smoking grass quite lightly (Michael’s sister smokes it with her boyfriend in their apartment like it’s no thing, but it was the seventies and all the rage so…). It touched on birth control and VD, which was heavy stuff back in that time. I’m so glad this book had responsible teens when it came to sex; they took all precautions and their first encounters were entertaining and quite enlightening. I love books like this about teenage love and lust and I was so disappointed towards the end and would you like to know why? Kath and Michael had been together for a few months and were pretty serious about each other and apparently the parents didn’t seem to like this because the kids would be going off to college in the fall. Kath and Michael were separated from each other for the summer, but they wrote each other back and forth and it was sweet, but Kath met a guy at her tennis camp and they became friendly and gradually, she found it difficulty writing to Michael anymore and especially saying I LOVE YOU or LOVE in her letters; and that’s when I became angry. This was the point in the story where the title and whole point came into play. You think something will last forever and most of the time, you want it too. Unfortunately Michael, and Kath for that matter, learn this the hard way and both end up getting hurt – Michael the most. You can want your relationship to last forever and if both parties are dead bent on that notion, then maybe things can work out, but realistically (especially when things purposely drive the two apart) obstacles can get in the way and who is really that strong to resist temptation. The book had to be good, to get me riled up and angry at the protagonist. The couple I followed in the book and grew to enjoy together, did not stay together. *sigh* IT was great and followed through. I really recommend it to the rare younger teens much like I was because in this day and age, teens really don’t believe in that mushy gushy love and romance stuff anymore. It’s a definitely a good read.
by R H
A great coming of age story, definitely worth a read as a teenager – wish I’d found it sooner!!ð¬
by BEDDE65
Have always loved this author from childhood my first book I recall reading was “Otherwise Known As Sheila The Great” ! It just kept going on from there. I use to save my $ & purchased many of her preteen books such as “Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret”, “Then Again Maybe I Won’t” & I continued. I always asked for these books which I did not have for gifts for birthdays & Hanukkah !But many don’t know Judy Blume wrote many books that are all not considered preteen !Like this book “FOREVER” I purchased this when I was probably 17 or 18 it is not meant in my opinion for an under 16 audience ! Well without parental discretion !I am far older now, I of all Judy Blume novels I loved this book so much that I had to get another copy of it. I’d had it on my Amazon wishlist for quite while now ! So I received $50.00 for a birthday gift recently to use for a “whatever I wanted” gift !Here it is 40+ years later & I nowre-own a copy of this fantastic book !
by Faisal Ahmad Bhat
Nice
by Amazon Customer
I really enjoyed this book. Blume covers teenage love from a mature angle, and gives Katherine admirable strength and sense.
by kaz
Delivered super fast in perfect condition- thank you!