This post contains plot spoilers.

When I was nine, someone brought FOREVER by Judy Blume to my fourth grade class and we all gathered around reading the “dirty” bits during recess. When the teacher caught us, she called our parents. My mum went out and bought me the book and said, “Read the whole thing or don’t read it at all.” The only other rule was that I couldn’t share it with my friends because presumably, she didn’t want to take on angry mothers. I probably read FOREVER half a dozen times over the next seven or eight years. And with each reading, and my increasing age, more and more of it made sense.

Fast forward to 2012. Next month I am sitting on a panel at Portland’s literary festival, Wordstock, and the topic is Adult Themes in YA Literature. I thought I’d revisit FOREVER, just to see how it held up, and what my thoughts on it now might be. Luckily, when I mentioned this to Eileen Cook, she had a reissued copy from her publisher, which she let me borrow. I read the entire thing in one sitting last night.

Wow. It’s really, really good. I mean, I always think of it as being great, but you never know if books from your childhood will hold up or not. Even, or maybe especially, famous ones. But FOREVER stands the test of time.

What was interesting to me was how my perspective has changed. When I first started reading FOREVER, Michael and Katherine seemed like adults to me. Then my peers. Now…well, now they seem like babies kids. And for all these years, I’ve remembered being kind of pissed off at Katherine for betraying Michael for some “hairy” guy. In my mind, he was covered in hair. In reality, he has a mustache! Which was probably very sexy in 1975. Or maybe not. Certainly not to my nine year old self! Also, now I see that Katherine did not betray anyone, she was just growing up. That’s all.

The timelessness of this book is remarkable. Except for busy phone lines, and shooting a roll of film, it’s really quite free of anything that could date it. Except the subplot. I think the story of Katherine’s friend/Erica’s cousin Sybil definitely dates the book. Sybil is pregnant and plans to see the pregnancy through and then give the baby away for adoption. There is almost no emotion on any of their parts in regards to this…they are all quite cavalier about the idea of having an abortion, too. And unlike today, it is understood that Sybil can’t keep the baby and it’s not even discussed. In fact, she gives it away and then plans to go off to college like nothing happened. I found all this quite callous. And yet, like I said, I think it was probably a sign of the times, which in turn, dates the book. But that’s about the only thing that really does. Oh, and the bit about having sex without a condom. But Blume addresses that at the beginning with her author’s note.

As for adult topics in YA, I don’t see any. As far as I’m concerned, this is a book about teens and what happens to teens and how they deal with it…in other words, these are simply teen topics in YA. Which is great, and necessary, and not controversial at all as far as I’m concerned. However, while any sex in teen books can make people upset, I actually believe the reason people got so upset over FOREVER is because the teens enjoy it.

If you are in Portland and have thoughts on this subject, please join us for our panel discussion. I’m thinking it might get lively!

Saturday, October 13th @ 1pm: The Adult in YA panel & book signing

Sex, drugs, drinking, language and other things that readers tend to ignore in adult fiction can often get readers of YA all riled up. We’re here to discuss what’s appropriate, where the line should be, and if there even should be a line in YA fiction. Join us for what will undoubtedly be a lively debate! Panelist include myself, Steve Brezenoff, Kristen-Paige Madonia, and moderator, Erica Lorraine Scheidt.