Why was the Forever book banned? Details explored as television adaptation arrives on Netflix

Judy Bloom’s books started to come out from 1969 and while she is considered to be one of the most influential children’s authors of all time, her books also top the list of banned books.

Since her books deal with controversial subjects like menstruation, teenage girls exploring their own s*xuality, she naturally came under the fire of conservatives who believe that her content is too mature for teenagers to consume.

While a number of her books have been banned, Forever is at number 7 among the top 100 banned books at the American Library Association. Now that Netflix has brought an adaptation of this controversial book, let's explore in detail how the book's exploration of themes pertaining to s*xuality led to its banning in the first place.

Disclaimer: The article contains explicit language. Reader discretion is advised.

Netflix has adapted the controversial Forever book by Judy Bloom

Forever is a 1975 book by Judy Bloom and remains one of the most controversial books by her till date. Netflix has now adapted the book as a show and the official synopsis of the show reads,

“Two high schoolers in Los Angeles navigate first love and intimacy amidst social and parental pressures.”

The book remains controversial because of its theme of teenage romance and s*x. Forever, the book, focuses on Katherine, a teenager in the late 1970s, who falls in love with Michael, another teenager, who has more s*xual experience than her. This essentially leads to a story that deals with first love and the first s*xual encounter of Katherine.

Bloom has been honest in her depiction of what a teenage girl might feel when she discovers her own s*xual desires and likings. There is the theme of empowerment that comes with a girl taking control of her s*xuality and desires. Further, the book contains depictions of oral s*x, a number of penetrative s*x scenes, and mutual masturbation.

While Bloom has been respectful and realistic in portraying such sensitive scenes and has not made them lewd or vulgar, some have called the book “immoral” and “pornographic.” However, it is to be noted that the book also talks about consent and mutual pleasure, making it more like a s*x education book but with elements of fiction.

Forever, the book, also shows Katherine talking about contraception with her grandmother, which, naturally, did not sit right with the pro-abstinence supporters. Katherine’s discussion leads to her getting oral contraceptives and the book shows how teenagers can deal with their s*x lives in a healthy way without getting into the troubles of teen pregnancy.

Because of its realistic portrayal of teenage s*x and healthy methods that show, through the eyes of a woman, how to navigate the s*xual desires and feelings that teenagers have, Forever was considered unsuitable and therefore banned.

Now with the Netflix adaptation of the book, where the streamer has maintained its core themes with several changes made here and there, it can be expected that more people will come to know about the book and read it.

Forever can be streamed on Netflix.

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