Hosts Rebecca and Jeff on the Zero to Well-Read podcast discuss Judy Blume's 1975 novel Forever..., one of America's most consistently banned books for its frank portrayal of teenage sexuality. The episode covers its radical impact, ongoing bans, and enduring relevance. A companion newsletter highlights related media, trivia, and reader letters.
Judy Blume's Forever..., published over 50 years ago, remains controversial for being sex-positive and addressing first love, losing virginity, and growing up. The book originated from Blume's daughter wanting a story where 'two nice kids do it and nobody has to die.' It is banned in all Utah public schools as of the article's writing and has faced challenges since 1975. In the 1980s, Blume received over 2,000 reader letters monthly, many sharing secrets and seeking advice; some are archived at Yale and featured in the 2023 documentary Judy Blume Forever. Blume felt deep responsibility, leading her to seek mental health support. Podcast quotes include: “He’s been having sex with every tree in North Carolina—anything he can get his mitts on,” and “This sad, shriveled three pieces of orange is all you have left to offer your partner!” The newsletter notes Blume and her husband run an indie bookstore in Key West, Florida, and her 2015 novel In the Unlikely Event draws from a real New Jersey plane crash. A 2025 Netflix series adaptation, directed by Mara Brock Akil and starring Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr., updates the story to modern Los Angeles with Black leads, earning a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score; a second season is planned. The documentary Judy Blume Forever streams on Amazon Prime, featuring fans like Jason Reynolds and Molly Ringwald. Recommended reads include Reynolds' Twenty-Four Seconds from Now, inspired by Forever....