Warning: This article includes SPOILERS for Netflix's Forever and the Judy Blume book!

The 1975 Judy Blume book Forever has been the subject of unending controversy and book banning, raising the question of what happened and how the Netflix series compares to the original story. Beloved author Judy Blume started releasing books in 1969, and she’s widely considered one of the most influential children’s authors of all time. Blume was one of the first writers for middle-grade and young adult audiences (labeled as children’s books at the time of their release) to write about uncomfortable topics. Her books primarily target teen girls and explore issues like menstruation, religion, divorce, and sexual development.

As expected, numerous Judy Blume books have been subject to controversy, but none is as widely banned as the book Forever. Despite this, fans rejoiced when Netflix announced an of Forever’s cast are fans of the book, and it shows in the onscreen adaptation, which handles the controversial topics well while expanding the themes.

Judy Blume’s Forever Includes Controversial Depictions Of Teen Sexuality & Contraception

Many Conservatives & Religious Folks Object To The Sex Scenes & Contraception In Forever

The 1975 book Forever is one of Judy Blume’s most controversial books of her entire career. The story follows a teenager named Kathleen who falls in love with a more sexually experienced teen named Michael in the late 1970s, leading to an exploration of first loves and first sexual experiences. Judy Blume includes a very honest depiction of the angst and empowerment that comes along with a teen girl discovering her sexual desires.

The Judy Blume book is very grounded in navigating consent, engaging in safe sex, and working together with a partner to find pleasure.

Forever is explicit with descriptions of sex, but it’s not written in a salacious or fantastical way. Instead, the Judy Blume book is very grounded in navigating consent, engaging in safe sex, and working together with a partner to find pleasure. The writing doesn’t attempt to shame or control teens for having sexual desires. Instead, it’s essentially sex ed in a fiction book.

Unfortunately, some dissenters have called it “immoral,” “too graphic” for teens, and “pornographic.” They take issue with the book’s oral sex, mutual masturbation, and multiple penetrative sex scenes. Pro-abstinence groups also see a problem with the fact that Kathleen and her grandmother discuss contraception, resulting in a trip to Planned Parenthood to get the teen a prescription for oral birth control. Rather than deciding what's appropriate for their own teens and setting boundaries, these individuals have taken steps to stop anyone from reading the book, overstepping their role.

The Emmy-nominated 2023 documentary Judy Blume Forever, which is available on Prime Video, explores the history of Judy Blume’s books, explaining their impact and touching on the controversies that came from them.

Consequently, Forever was number 7 in the American Library Association's top 100 most banned books, alongside four other Judy Blume Books, and she’s still one of the most challenged authors of the 21st century. While sentiments have changed slightly, it’s banned in many places. Most recently, in 2024, Utah law required all classrooms and libraries to remove the book alongside twelve others (via The Guardian).

What Judy Blume Said About The Content Of Her Forever Book

Judy Blume Is Outspoken About Her Objection To Censorship & Book Banning

Since the beginning of her writing career, Judy Blume's books were challenged and banned, starting with her 1970 book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. This led her to become an outspoken opponent of censorship and book banning. That being said, she wasn't trying to write about uncomfortable subjects just for the sake of writing about uncomfortable subjects. On Judy Blume on the Web, Blume explained:

I was never told what I couldn’t write. I felt only that I had to write the most honest books I could. It never occurred to me, at the time, that what I was writing was controversial. Much of it grew out of my own feelings and concerns when I was young.

The book Forever came from a similar place, except it was her daughter's concerns instead of her own. Judy Blume explains on Judy Blume on the Web that her 14-year-old daughter, Randy, asked her to write a book where two nice teens have sex and neither dies or gets punished. Blume’s daughter noticed that teen girls were punished with unplanned pregnancies, grisly abortions, or death. When it came to the characters, the girls never had sexual desires, and the boys never had emotions other than lust.

The prolific author wrote Forever, at her daughter’s suggestion, to counteract all these issues. As for the appropriateness of the book’s content, she thinks of it as YA and says teens will be ready to read Forever at different ages, depending on their development and maturity. She suggests that parents read it before their children do so that they can answer questions their teens might have.

How Netflix’s Forever Handles The Topic Of Teenage Sexuality

The Forever TV Show Explores The Topic Of Sex But Takes Out References To Female Contraception

The topic of sex and love is still at the forefront of the Netflix love story, but it gives a wider perspective on the topic by making both Keisha and Justin the main characters instead of just Keisha. Like the book, the duo have multiple sexual encounters that vary from mutual masturbation to penetrative sex. The theme of consent is also present in Netflix’s Forever, with the couple having an open conversation about their sexual limits.

Unfortunately, the topic of contraception is slightly less prominent in the show. Keisha doesn’t go on oral contraceptives like her book counterpart, but Justin’s father does make him practice putting a condom on a cucumber both in the light and dark. Justin and Keisha also discuss using condoms during sex, which is better than nothing.

The Netflix show also explores an issue that wasn’t present in the original story – sex tapes. Keisha gave an ex-boyfriend named Christian oral sex, recording it. Sadly, he leaks the video, ruining her reputation. The good news is that Forever doesn’t present this as punishment for Keisha’s actions, placing the blame solidly on Christian. Additionally, the recording didn’t stop Justin from having a relationship with her. It’s good to see that she’s not getting punished for her sexual decisions, keeping in line with Judy Blume’s intent with the book.

Why Netflix Was Right To Depict The Controversial Parts Of Forever

The Topics Of Sex & First Loves Are The Heart Of Forever By Judy Blume

Although showrunner Mara Brock Akil made many changes when adapting the book, she explained to Tudum that she remained steadfast about keeping the sex-positive message of the original story. Ultimately, that was the right decision for a few big reasons.

It's important that Forever provides a healthier and less stigmatizing depiction of teenage sex so that teens won't be terrified of their bodies if they choose to be sexually active.

Firstly, those themes are the heart of the book. Taking them out would be the equivalent of making an adaptation of Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret without any mention of religion. Additionally, many teens still don't have access to education on topics like sex and contraception in schools, so they rely on the media to educate them. It's important that Forever provides a healthier and less stigmatizing depiction of teenage sex so that teens won't be terrified of their bodies if they choose to be sexually active.

Finally, Judy Blume's books are still widely popular, so most people going into Netflix’s Forever will have at least a loose idea of what they’re getting into. It's safe to assume that the conservative and religious individuals who hate the Forever book and label it “pornographic” won’t watch the onscreen adaptation. There is no reason to cater the story to the moral values of people who aren’t the target audience. Instead, Akil makes the right choice by keeping true to Forever’s original message and intent, a decision that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of the Judy Blume book.