|
Happily “Forever” After "Adults that are fearful" often begin to promote banning a book, states Judy Blume. “Somehow they get it into their heads that if a child reads about it, a child will then know about it, and if they know about it, maybe they’ll do it.” Blume is the author of numerous books for children and young adults and six of her works are on the top 10 all-time, best selling list of children’s books. In addition, four of these titles have been placed on the American Library Association’s list of the 100 books that are most often banned in school libraries. Forever, one of Blume’s most popular novels for teen, has been placed at number eight on the list and has been banned based on its sexual content and its incorporation of homosexuality. It has also been said to promote the use of “the pill” and other contraceptives as an excuse for teen sex. Forever, published in 1975, has been banned at numerous school libraries throughout the country. Although the novel is a bit descriptive and should include some sort of warning about its content, it should not be outlawed by these libraries because what Blume writes is based on the truth and she is only exposing these teens to the reality of life. She is not, in any way, promoting the behavior that she describes, but merely acknowledging that it exists. As Blume begins her novel, she introduces the reader to Katherine and Michael. They are both high school seniors and have recently met each other at a party. As their relationship progresses they decide to take it to a more physical level and eventually mutually consent to sex, but not before Katherine begins taking “the pill.” During the year their relationship blossoms and it seems as though it will last “forever.” However, the two go their separate ways for summer vacation and Katherine realizes that their relationship is not working for her anymore and ends up falling for her tennis coach. Through Katherine and Michael’s relationship, the reader is confronted with the issue of teenage romance and the affect that pre-marital sex has on relationships. Also, the reader is acquainted with Michael’s friend, Artie, who seems to be questioning his own sexual preferences, bringing homosexuality out into the open. Judy Blume has provided much to criticize in her novel, and the critics have not held back. “One of the major messages of Forever,” the English Journal Points out, “is that teenagers have the right to act in any way they choose” and “that teenage sex is fun, pleasure-filled, and carries no moral repercussions” (Blanchette). Therefore, many adults assume that Blume is promoting these behaviors and that teens that read this novel are more likely to participate in them. According to the journal, the novel raises the “frightening issues [of] promiscuity, gender roles, lying and sexual ethics” and can therefore be deemed “inappropriate” for readers under a certain age (Blanchette). Similarly, author Nora Klein has had two of her texts banned. Both It’s Ok If You Don’t Love Me and Breaking Up have been banned or censored for reasons much like those used to ban Forever. Furthermore, when deciding whether a book should or should not have been censored, one must also consider the era in which it was written. For example, Forever, addressed subjects “that were not frequently discussed in stories written for teens” when it was published in 1975 (Hart). Parents of children growing up in the 1970's had grown up themselves in the 1950's and 1960's, a time when sex was not often discussed at such a young age. Therefore, the discussions with their own children were often “evasive and vague” and they “often had trouble talking about sex, in particular, with their daughters” (Hart). Based on these opinions alone, one would not object to the book’s numerous censorships and bannings. However, one must consider both sides of the controversy and must be familiar with the book itself. Opposing the school officials and parents that worked so hard to ban the book, are the teen readers, themselves, and many other adults that look outside the box and see the value of Blume’s work. First, “Blume writes with complete honesty” and she creates “a protagonist who is real,” thus allowing the reader to step into Katherine’s shoes (Hart). Most teens find it difficult to ask their parents questions about sex and other personal matters, but Forever offers them answers to many of their questions and can also help provide them with a stepping stone to these discussions. Also, many of Blume’s readers believe that “Blume did not write the book to be a dirty piece of smut” and that it was the “only thing that told [them the whole] truth” (Goldberg). Since many parents are just as nervous to have “the talk” with their teens as their teens are of listening to it, many choose to gloss over the subject, and often leave out important details. Blume, however, seems to fill in these gaps for her teen readers. Furthermore, Forever has “[remained] a popular text” because “teens can find themselves truthfully represented” (Younger). From the time it was published in 1975, Forever has been surrounded by controversy and has been banned and censored numerous times. For example, between 1997 and 2001, one could not find a copy of Forever in any school library in the Elign, Illinois Area School District U-46. The novel was banned because adults felt that it “sanctions and glorifies inappropriate sexual behavior among minors” (Goldberg). While Librarian, Joan Devine, “led the fight to reinstate Forever,” it was not until her second appeal that she was able to do so. Her first appeal to the school board, made in 1999, was defeated because of a dead-locked vote, but finally in the fall of 2001 she was able to gain “a victory for the students,” as the novel was reinstated (Margolis). A similar case has been presented in Texas recently but, in that particular case, a librarian is pushing to have Blume’s novel “taken off all school library shelves in the state” (Crown). All in all, Forever has had to endure many controversies since its publication, but it has survived and that, in itself, must speak for the popularity and support for the book. The English Journal is accurate, as it states that “Forever should not be censored. It should be available in classrooms and libraries for those who wish to read it” (Blanchette). While Judy Blume does bring up issues that some adults feel are controversial, her novel Forever was simply written to inform today’s teens about the realities of life and especially about the pressures they can expect to face. Her readers truly feel that they can step into Katherine’s life and relate to the events and decisions she makes in her life, making her novel a timeless classic and a must-read for teens. Though it has been criticized for being too sexually explicit and for promoting risky teen behavior, it depicts the realities of life in some of the most honest and direct ways a fictional author could possibly portray them. Therefore, Forever should come with a warning for parents, readers, and teachers about its content, but it should also suggest that instead of banning or censoring it, they should use it as a teaching mechanism to facilitate open and healthy discussions with their teens. |