Written by American novelist Judy Blume, Forever is a daring piece of work that tackles issues of teenage sexuality and heartbreak in the most honest and realistic voice. 

This young adult novel was first published in 1975, and has been actively challenged and censored since then. Do you think it would be appropriate to stack this novel onto the shelf of a high school library, and how would you justify your stance?

How do the different characters in the book such as Katherine, her mother, her grandmother and Jamie perceive sex? How about the way they view death? Whose perspective do you find relatable, and why? To what extent do you think external factors or personal experiences affect one’s viewpoint on these topics?

How were gender roles portrayed in this story? Consider the relationships between couples of three generations in Katherine’s family. How were they similar to or different from each other, and what does it reflect about the change in gender roles? 

How would you interpret the title Forever, and what does this term mean to Katherine, Michael and the other characters in the book? What is the relationship between sex, love and the term ‘forever’? What does the necklace represent, and what is the significance of Katherine taking it off at the last part of the story?