Reading Response-Why Forever Shouldn't Be Banned

 Why Forever by Judy Blume Shouldn’t Be Banned

Reading Response

Kate Pamplin 802

The book Forever by Judy Blume is the story of Katherine, who is a senior in high school. When she goes with her friend Erica to a New Years Eve party, she meets Michael Wagner. Soon Kath finds herself thinking about Michael constantly and after realizing they both like each other, the two become a couple. The book goes through their relationship as a couple and the questions and complications of sex and intimacy.

          This book is banned in many schools and libraries. It has been banned because it discusses sex, and the idea of having sex in high school, which apparently parents don’t want their children reading. I think this book can teach kids valuable lessons and have them open up to an important idea before the time for them to make the decision to have sex themselves.

           Early in the relationship the two characters begin to discover sex and intimacy. Kath wants to spend as much time as possible being with Michael. Kath is all about safe sex and is very careful. She says, “Like my mother said, you can't go back to holding hands.” This shows that Kath is aware that having sex can change the relationship, and take things to a more serious level. In the end, Katherine ends up with another boy, but she doesn't regret having sex with Michael.

                This book can teach kids about the choices of whether to have sex or not.  It’s a big deal for Katherine and Michael. They have to take time to decide to do it or not. This book can show kids that sex is a normal thing in a relationship, and that they have a choice about it.

          I don’t think it should be banned. I am a thirteen-year-old girl myself, and reading this book, I did not take the sexual content as something bad or a sin. I was helpful to read and comprehend about the decisions I’ll have to make. This book is a realistic book describing what it will be like for all of us in about four or five years, so reading it now will prepare us for what’s to come. And it’s not like this book is 50 Shades of Grey, apparently a novel with lots of explicit sex scenes; it’s written for teens, so it shouldn't be banned. In fact, it should be more publicized.

          Kids shouldn't be sheltered their entire life. They need to read about these topics before they have to face them in the real world themselves.