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    Forever . . .
    Forever . . .
    Forever . . .
    Ebook183 pages2 hours

    Forever . . .

    By Judy Blume

    3.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    You’ll never forget your first time … reading Forever as an eBook.

    When you build up something in your mind—really imagine it, wish for it—sometimes, when it actually happens, it doesn’t live up to your expectations.

    True love is nothing like that. Especially not for Katherine and Michael, who can’t get enough of each other. Their relationship is unique: sincere, intense, and fun all at the same time. Although they haven’t been together all that long, they know it’s serious. A whole world opens up as young passion and sexuality bloom.

    But it’s senior year of high school, and there are big changes ahead. Michael and Katherine are destined for another big “first”: a decision. Is this the love of a lifetime, or the very beginning of a lifetime of love?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAtheneum Books for Young Readers
    Release dateJul 10, 2012
    ISBN9781442467804
    Author

    Judy Blume

    Judy Blume has been winning legions of fans around the world with her stories. More than eighty-two million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-two languages. She receives thousands of letters every month from readers of all ages who share their feelings and concerns with her. In addition to her hilarious Fudge books, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, Superfudge, Fudge-a-Mania and Double Fudge, some of her incredibly popular books include The Pain and the Great One series and Freckle Juice. Judy lives in Key West, Florida, and New York City with her husband.

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    Related categories

    Reviews for Forever . . .

    3.5/5

    1,127 ratings83 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be an easy and enjoyable read, especially for younger audiences. The story is well-written and engaging, with a great message about love and growing up. Some readers wished the book was longer and included more details about the characters' lives. Overall, this book is highly recommended for its relatable themes and positive impact on young readers.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      This book was really good! But I really wanna know what happened with Theo and Kathrine at the end!
    • 4/5
      I can see why this book can help young girls see how forever is a really long time.. Great message
    • 3/5
      The book was good and it included a lot about sexual health. As well as becoming a woman. The ending was just very sad. Judy should make a follow up book about it. Just to let you know how Michael and Katherine’s lives turned out.
    • 5/5
      Good, Maybe This Can Help You
      Download Full Ebook Very Detail Here :
      https://amzn.to/3XOf46C
      - You Can See Full Book/ebook Offline Any Time
      - You Can Read All Important Knowledge Here
    • 2/5
      This is not the type of book I would choose to read, but I have heard so much about it, I finally decided to see what it was like. To me, it seemed like a guide to sex at a reading level for ages 11-14. It does imply that a person should consider birth control and venereal disease before having sex. It also suggests you shouldn’t let someone pressure you into sex. A minor character who became pregnant chose to give her baby up for adoption, keeping her pregnancy secret for as long as she could in order to avoid being pressured into abortion.
    • 2/5
      My mom wouldn't let me read this when I was a kid, but it was on Rolling Stone's recent list of the 40 Best YA books (a much hipper list than what usually gets published) so I read it. It's a quick read, and I understand why my mom didn't let me read it when I was in high school. That said, I kind of wish she would've let me. Not because of the graphic sex (and it IS pretty graphic), but because of the emotional element of relationships at a young age. The main character is so wrapped up in this one boy (as was I) and is fairly short-sighted with what "forever" should mean. Of course I'm speaking now from a much different vantage point, but I like to think that it may have impacted my approach to relationships.

      As for the writing, it's okay. I wasn't wild about all the ellipses, but maybe that was the writing style in the 1970s?
    • 4/5

      Not just a love story, but a falling-in-love story. Loved it! If you have some great stories like this one, you can publish it on Novel Star, just submit your story to hardy@novelstar.top or joye@novelstar.top
    • 5/5
      Great story of teenage love, but book was a little short, I wished the author would have continued the story.
    • 3/5
      Katherine and Michael are in their senior year of high school and totally in love. This now classic novel depicts their relationship and exploration of sex in a mature and responsible way.

      Forever serves its stated purpose well: to educate young people about sex and responsible sexual practices through a fictional story with characters who are easy to identify with. Aside from a few minor details, the story has aged surprisingly well, which may be attributed to the overall lack of character development, plot, and description.

      For such a long time, this was THE book about sex for youth. Sex certainly isn't as taboo as it once was, although still causes concern for some. I wonder how this fits into the genre now. A fun dissertation might be to examine sex in YA books. (I'm sure someone has done it already.) What are the proportions of depictions: romantic, erotic, abusive, cautionary, others?
    • 5/5
      it's a really good book, I loved it, read it in a few hours
    • 3/5
      Easy read. Definitely for younger audiences - comes across a little childish. Finished it in one sitting.
    • 4/5
      I can see how this book was challenged many times after it was first published. It covers a very controversial topic for teenagers. Although some parts were pretty intense and descriptive I think it is still a great book for young girls to read. It accurately describes how relationships can be at that age and the pressures that go with it. I love how accepting and supportive her grandmother is and the part with her choosing to go to Planned Parenthood. Most of all I think the ending is very realistic.
    • 5/5
      For such a great story, a lot of audience must read your book. You can publish your work on NovelStar Mobile App.
    • 3/5
      A book I first read in late middle school, it shows the first time romance between a girl and her boyfriend. It takes you through their journey as a couple. While some may find this not exciting or worth reading, I feel that for those who can handle the sensitive material, it is a great book to read before getting into a relationship. If the age level wasn't so subjective, I'd have given this more stars as it is well-written and a wonderful book.
    • 4/5
      Follows the story of Kath, a teenager who is negotiating her first serious relationship, sex, and the issues all of that creates. It feels a bit dated and Kath as the narrator annoyed me, but for all that it felt pretty authentic, certainly for its time and probably still, at least in part. And Bloom does a great job setting out the options for safe sex and how to go about them, and both showing that there are consequences for having unsafe sex (unwanted pregnancy in the case of one of Kath's friends) but also that having safe sex as a teenager isn't actually the end of the world and that abstinence isn't the only viable option. So overall, it's a bit clunky and outdated in parts, but it's clearly a giant among early YA novels on the subject and it definitely paved the way for the genre.
    • 5/5
      Best book I've ever read!!! <3

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Like most viewers are saying, it depicts a more realistic view on sex.
      I appreciate the main point of the plot and concept.
      May add something later.
    • 4/5
      Wow. Judy Blume is awesome. I was pleased to find that she's awesome on Twitter now too @JudyBlume I'm glad I finally read this book.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 1/5
      uhm...didn't like this book very much (at all to be honest). I found the main character not really captivating or likable and the developing of the love story between Katherine and Michael seemed a little unrealistic.
      ...giving a name (Ralph to be accurate) to "it" (I let you imagine what I'm talking about..) could be funny at first but after a while is just creepy...
    • 5/5
      I first read Forever in my pre-teens or teen years, my memory is a little rusty on that. I do remember it was the 80's and at the time I read it I was very surprised by the content. I couldn't believe a teen book would so openly discuss the topic of sex. And I always remember that is was a favorite book of mine. So when I came across it again over a year ago on Goodreads, I decided to get a copy for my Kindle and now I've finally re-read it and realize that I had forgotten basically everything about it. It was like reading it for the first time again. The only thing I recognized was a line that I never forgot to this day that for the life of me I couldn't remember where I heard it or read it. I did wonder at one point if it was from a Judy Blume book but I couldn't be sure.

      ....."once your there you can't go back to holding hands"

      I was right about it being from a Judy Blume book, however I never forgot that it was referring to taking the difficult and irreversible step to having sex for the first time. And I've always agreed with that statement. The consequences that can come from such a monumental step can be devastating if not entered into prepared. It also doesn't matter the age although the younger the more mistakes are likely.

      Blume wrote a very brave and honest depiction of a young person's coming of age story that will always be current no matter the decade. One thing that struck me was the openness and courage of the young people in this story compared to the contemporary books I read today. Katherine, Erica, Michael and Artie were very forthcoming with their feelings and opinions. No beating around the bush. The parents were actually present and involved too. Of course I do love my modern contemporary but it was refreshing to step back in time and just be real for a moment. Speaking of stepping back in time it was the seventies so the Sex, Drugs, that includes alcohol, and maybe a little Rock and Roll, were present and accounted for, but not in an out of control way. It was just enough to show what the time was like then and it also show that the more things change the more they stay the same.

      I thought this story was a very real look at the life of the teenager, about making choices, whether they be good or bad. Realizing that your life doesn't end after high school, your just entering another chapter and experiencing their first true love, and the growing pains that come with all that.

      I really enjoyed this book and I probably didn't appreciate what Blume did for society when she wrote this book back in the 70's. I wasn't even aware that it was wrong to write a book like this at the time and can look back and see how far society has come. Even though today there are still heated discussions on how much to inform young people with in parts of our society. This book not only entertained my mind but it made me reflect.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      This book reveals the realities of being a teenager "in love." Perhaps Judy Blume comes on a bit strong for some but I appreciated this read as a teenager, especially when conversations with my parents about the topic were awkward.
    • 5/5
      It's a classic every female should at least read once in her life! Well written and extremely easy reading.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I first read Forever in my pre-teens or teen years, my memory is a little rusty on that. I do remember it was the 80's and at the time I read it I was very surprised by the content. I couldn't believe a teen book would so openly discuss the topic of sex. And I always remember that is was a favorite book of mine. So when I came across it again over a year ago on Goodreads, I decided to get a copy for my Kindle and now I've finally re-read it and realize that I had forgotten basically everything about it. It was like reading it for the first time again. The only thing I recognized was a line that I never forgot to this day that for the life of me I couldn't remember where I heard it or read it. I did wonder at one point if it was from a Judy Blume book but I couldn't be sure.

      ....."once your there you can't go back to holding hands"

      I was right about it being from a Judy Blume book, however I never forgot that it was referring to taking the difficult and irreversible step to having sex for the first time. And I've always agreed with that statement. The consequences that can come from such a monumental step can be devastating if not entered into prepared. It also doesn't matter the age although the younger the more mistakes are likely.

      Blume wrote a very brave and honest depiction of a young person's coming of age story that will always be current no matter the decade. One thing that struck me was the openness and courage of the young people in this story compared to the contemporary books I read today. Katherine, Erica, Michael and Artie were very forthcoming with their feelings and opinions. No beating around the bush. The parents were actually present and involved too. Of course I do love my modern contemporary but it was refreshing to step back in time and just be real for a moment. Speaking of stepping back in time it was the seventies so the Sex, Drugs, that includes alcohol, and maybe a little Rock and Roll, were present and accounted for, but not in an out of control way. It was just enough to show what the time was like then and it also show that the more things change the more they stay the same.

      I thought this story was a very real look at the life of the teenager, about making choices, whether they be good or bad. Realizing that your life doesn't end after high school, your just entering another chapter and experiencing their first true love, and the growing pains that come with all that.

      I really enjoyed this book and I probably didn't appreciate what Blume did for society when she wrote this book back in the 70's. I wasn't even aware that it was wrong to write a book like this at the time and can look back and see how far society has come. Even though today there are still heated discussions on how much to inform young people with in parts of our society. This book not only entertained my mind but it made me reflect.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 3/5
      Like Dr. Sue Johanson (Talk Sex With Sue), I count on Judy Blume to give the straight scoop on love and sex (adolescent and adult), without shame or judgement. As usual, Blume delivers. A frank read, _Forever_ can be read in a couple of hours with all the beautiful nostalgia for us who can see their fist love with 20/20 hindsight, or, for readers closer to 18, with honesty and compassion, and a message of safety, truthfulness to self and happiness.
    • 4/5
      I give this book a quality rating of four but a popularity rating of five on the VOYA scale. This is the first Library Thing book that I have assigned a higher popularity than quality rating to. This is because, while Blume is a wonderful author, certainly deserving of a four in quality, this book's appeal has more to do with its content than its delivery. This has been a popular novel since the seventies when it first stirred up controversy and it's been met by eager teens and reproving parents ever since. Katherine's sexual awakening and first experiences of love and intimacy are important and reassuring to teens. And they should be encouraged to keep reading this novel because it is rife with sexual education. Blume discusses birth control, STDs and sexual pleasure frankly and informatively. She also stresses that trusted adults other than parents can provide support and information during puberty and sexual awakening, as is the case with Kath's grandma in the novel. I wish that I had read it as a teen, and maybe if I had known how widely banned it is I would have!
    • 3/5
      This book really doesn't hold back, does it? I'm pleasantly surprised something with that much sex could get published back then, hell, you can't away with it nowadays, sad as that is. I like that this book shows that yes, teenagers have sex, always have, always will, but also shows that it isn't everything and things change, people change and you can move on, even after all is said and done.
    • 5/5
      I just wish that I had read this when I was in high school.

      This book, simple in its form, tells the story of Kath and Michael during the 1970s. They are two 17-year-olds that decide to have sex and guess what... the world doesn't end because of it.
      Kath's life revolves around tennis, her friends, and her family. We get real insights as to what's inside the teen's head and what really happens when she graduates and gets ready to go to college.
      The (bad) language is minimal, the sex is... well, there's a few scenes but I think they are essential because it demonstrates the awkwardness of that "first time".
      What is also amazing to me is how Blume (praise Judy Blume!) has Kath goes through getting birth control for the first time. The doctor's examination is explained, and the scenario is not scary. Kath explains her nervousness, but then says "[that] was nothing".

      This is a MUST-read for any teen going through that first relationship with sex and all the feels.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      If this book had been available to girls 55 years ago, a lot of misery due to plain old ignorance could have been avoided. Thank you Judy Blume

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This is one of my all time favorite books that I read in high school. It is about young love and two teens who fall in love but it does not end up working out in the end. Great read for young love
    • 3/5
      One of those classic YA novels that you have to read to see where we've been. Pretty unremarkable and tame by modern "Gossip Girl" standards but still gets challenged.

    Book preview

    Forever . . . - Judy Blume

    1

    Sybil Davison has a genius I.Q. and has been laid by at least six different guys. She told me herself, the last time she was visiting her cousin, Erica, who is my good friend. Erica says this is because of Sybil’s fat problem and her need to feel loved—the getting laid part, that is. The genius I.Q. is just luck or genes or something. I’m not sure that either explanation is 100 percent right but generally Erica is very good at analyzing people.

    I don’t know Sybil that well since she lives in Summit and we live in Westfield. Erica and I decided to go to her New Year’s party at the last minute for two reasons—one, because that’s when she invited us, and, two, we had nothing better to do.

    It turned out to be a fondue party. There were maybe twenty of us sitting on the floor around a low table in Sybil’s family room. On the table were a couple of big pots of steaming liquid Swiss cheese and baskets of bread chunks. Each of us had a long two-pronged fork, to spear the bread, then dip it into the cheese. It tasted pretty good. I had gotten about two bites when this guy said, You’ve got some on your chin.

    He was on Erica’s other side, sort of leaning across her. You want me to wipe it off? He held out his napkin.

    I couldn’t tell if he was putting me on or what. So I told him, I can wipe my own chin, and I tried to swallow the bread that was still in my mouth.

    I’m Michael Wagner, he said.

    So? I answered, as Erica shot me a look.

    She introduced herself to Michael, then tapped me on the head and said, This idiot is my friend, Katherine. Don’t mind her… she’s a little strange.

    I noticed, Michael said. He wore glasses, had a lot of reddish-blond hair and a small mole on his left cheek. For some crazy reason I thought about touching it.

    I looked away and went back to spearing chunks of bread. The guy on my other side said, My name’s Fred. I live next door to Sybil. I’m a freshman at Dartmouth. Unfortunately he was also a creep.

    After a while I tuned him out but he didn’t know and kept blabbing away. I was more interested in what Michael was saying to Erica. I wondered where he went to school and hoped it was some place close, like Rutgers. Erica told him that we’re from Westfield, that we’re seniors, and that we’re spending the night at Sybil’s. Then Michael introduced her to somebody named Elizabeth and I turned around in time to see him put his arm around this pale dark-haired girl sitting next to him. I pretended to be interested in Fred the Creep after all.

    At midnight Sybil flashed the lights on and off and Fred wished me a Happy New Year, then tried to stuff his tongue in my mouth. I kept my lips shut tight; while he was kissing me I was watching Michael kiss Elizabeth. He was much taller than I first thought and thin, but not skinny.

    After the party we helped Sybil and her parents clean up and somewhere around 3:00 a.m. we trudged upstairs to bed. Sybil conked out as soon as her head hit the pillow but Erica and I had trouble getting to sleep, maybe because we were on the floor in sleeping bags, or maybe because Sybil was snoring so loud.

    Erica whispered, Michael’s a nice guy… don’t you think so?

    He’s much too tall for you, I told her. You’d only come up to his belly button.

    He might enjoy that.

    Oh, Erica!

    She propped herself up on an elbow and said, You like him, don’t you?

    Don’t be silly… we barely met. I rolled over, facing the wall.

    Yeah… but I can tell anyway.

    Go to sleep!

    He asked me for your last name and your phone number.

    I turned around. He did?

    Uh huh… but I guess you don’t care about that. She buried herself inside her sleeping bag.

    I gave her a half-hearted kick. Then we both laughed and fell asleep.

    Erica and I have been friends since ninth grade. We’re a good pair because she is outspoken and uninhibited and I’m not. She says she has to be that way to compensate for her size. She’s just four-feet-ten—so when I said that she would come up to Michael’s belly button I wasn’t kidding. Everyone in her family is tiny. That’s how her great-grandfather got their last name. He came to this country from Russia, not speaking a word of English. So when he stepped off the boat and the man in charge asked him his name, he didn’t understand. Instead of just calling him Cohen or Goldberg, the way the immigration officers did with so many Jewish refugees, this man sized him up and wrote down Mr. Small. Erica swears if she ever marries she will choose someone huge so that if they decide to have children the kids will at least have a chance to grow to normal size.

    Not that being little has hurt anyone in her family. Her mother is Juliette Small, the film critic. You can read her reviews in three national magazines. Because of her Erica is positive she’s going to get into Radcliffe, even though her grades aren’t that hot. I have a 92 average so I almost died when I saw my college board scores. They were below average. Erica scored much higher than I did. She doesn’t fall apart over really important things and I’m always afraid I might. That’s another difference between us.

    The phone rang at noon the next day and woke me. Sybil jumped up and ran to answer it. When she came back she said, That was Michael Wagner. He’s coming over to get his records. She yawned and flopped back on her bed. Erica was still out cold.

    I asked Sybil, Does he go with that girl, Elizabeth?

    Not that I know of… why, are you interested?

    No… just curious.

    … because I could drop a hint if you want me to…

    No… don’t.

    I’ve known him since kindergarten.

    He’s in your class?

    My homeroom.

    Oh… I thought he was older.

    He’s a senior… same as us.

    Oh… He seemed older. Well… as long as I’m awake I might as well get dressed, I said, heading for the bathroom.

    Sybil and I were in the kitchen when the bell rang. I was picking raisins out of a breakfast bun, piling them in the corner of my plate. Sybil leaned against the refrigerator, spooning strawberry yogurt out of the carton.

    She answered the front door and showed Michael into the kitchen. You remember Katherine, don’t you? she asked him.

    Sure… hi… Michael said.

    Oh… hi, I said back.

    Your records are still downstairs, Sybil told him. I’ll get them for you.

    That’s okay, Michael said. I’ll get them myself.

    A few seconds later he called, Who’s K.D.?

    Me, I answered. Some of those albums are mine. I went downstairs and started going through the pile. Are yours marked?

    No.

    I was making a stack of K.D.s when he said, Look… and grabbed my wrist. I came over here because I wanted to see you again.

    Oh, well… I saw my reflection in his glasses.

    Is that all you can say?

    What am I supposed to say?

    Do I have to write the script?

    Okay… I’m glad you came over.

    He smiled. That’s better. How about a ride? My car’s out front.

    My father’s coming to pick me up at 3:00. I have to be back by then.

    That’s okay. He was still holding my wrist.

    2

    Everyone says that Erica has insight. I suppose that’s how she knew I was interested in Michael before I admitted it to anyone, including myself. It’s true that I come on strong with my sarcastic act sometimes, but only when I’m interested in a guy. Otherwise I can be as nice and friendly as they come. Erica says that means I’m insecure. Maybe she’s right—I just don’t know.

    A few minutes after we pulled out of Sybil’s driveway we drove past Overlook Hospital. I told Michael I work there every Thursday after school. I’m a Candy Striper, I said, and I was born there too.

    Hey… so was I, he said.

    What month? Maybe we slept next to each other in the nursery.

    May, he said.

    Oh… I’m April. I sneaked a look at him. His profile was nice but I could see he’d broken his nose more than once. His hair reminded me of Erica’s golden retriever, Rex. It was exactly the same color.

    Michael drove down the hill into the Watchung Reservation. I used to ride here, he said.

    I pictured him on a Honda XL 70.

    I had this one favorite… Crab Apple… until the time she threw me and I fractured my arm.

    Oh… a horse! I laughed.

    He glanced over at me.

    I thought you meant a motorcycle, I said. I’ve never ridden a horse.

    I figured that… you’re not the horsey type.

    Was that good or bad? How can you tell? I asked.

    I just can.

    What else can you tell?

    I’ll let you know later. He smiled at me and I smiled back. You have nice dimples, he said.

    Thanks… everyone in my family has them.

    He parked the car and we got out. It was cold and windy but the sun was shining. We walked down to the lake. It was partly frozen. Michael picked up a handful of stones and tossed them across the water. What are you doing next year?

    Going to college.

    Where?

    I don’t know yet, I said. I applied to Penn State, Michigan and Denver. I have to see where I’m accepted. What about you?

    University of Vermont, I hope. Either there or Middlebury. Michael took my hand and pulled off my mitten, which he shoved into his pocket. Holding hands, we started walking around the lake.

    I wish it would snow, he said, squeezing my fingers.

    Me too.

    You ski?

    No… I just like snow.

    I love to ski.

    I know how to water ski, I told him.

    That’s different.

    Are you good… at skiing, I mean?

    You might say that. I could probably teach you.

    To ski?

    Yeah.

    That’d be nice.

    We walked all the way to the Trailside Museum and had a look inside, before Michael checked his watch and said, We better head back.

    Already?

    It’s after 2:00.

    My teeth were chattering and I knew that my cheeks would be bright red from the wind. I didn’t mind though. My father says I look good that way—very healthy.

    When we were back in the car I rubbed my hands together, trying to get warm, while Michael started up the engine. It stalled a few times. When it finally caught he pumped the gas. I better give it a minute to make sure, he said.

    Okay.

    He turned to face me. Can I kiss you, Katherine?

    Do you always ask first?

    No… but with you I don’t know what to expect.

    Try me… I said.

    He took off his glasses and put them on the dashboard.

    I wet my lips. Michael kept looking at me. You’re making me nervous, I told him. Stop staring.

    I just want to see what you look like without my glasses.

    Well?

    You’re all blurred.

    We both laughed.

    Finally he kissed me. It was a nice kiss, warm but not sloppy.

    Before he let me out at Sybil’s house, Michael stopped

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