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maddynd06's review against another edition
2.0
2/5
I wasn’t very fond of this book. While I can appreciate the idea of a book addressing sex education, I don’t think this did the best job. My main issue was with Michael’s character, and how pushy he was with Katherine. I’m not sure if Blume was trying to make a point about consent or not. Personally, I think Michael needed to be reflected on in a more negative light. Also, the characters felt very flat. There wasn’t a whole lot of depth to them. However, I think this was book pretty accurate to the teenage experience in terms of sexuality.
marissagoodell92's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ooh_lalaa91's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
brynners89's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cosmo_junk's review against another edition
2.0
sometimes i feel like judy blume is the only person who understands me.
this one was good! i really didn't like michael at all. he was so pushy when it came to sex but was also rly bad at it?? ik you can do better girl. and don't even get me started on ralph... i know ms judy blume only inserted that in (god) so she can avoid saying cock over and over, but it made me even more uncomfortable. anyway good on kath for finding someone else.
this one was good! i really didn't like michael at all. he was so pushy when it came to sex but was also rly bad at it?? ik you can do better girl. and don't even get me started on ralph... i know ms judy blume only inserted that in (god) so she can avoid saying cock over and over, but it made me even more uncomfortable. anyway good on kath for finding someone else.
lizzie_777's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lbarsk's review against another edition
3.0
WOW THE 70s WERE A WILD TIME HUH!!!
Anyway.
I fully respect Judy Blume for publishing a book that spoke so openly and forthcomingly about sex and women's sexual health in the year of our lord 1975. The fact that Katherine goes to Planned Parenthood and ASKS FOR BIRTH CONTROL, the fact that she and her friend both discuss how they'd be fine having abortions if unprotected sex led to pregnancy, and the fact that *IN 1975* a female teen protagonist was so boldly expressing desire are *all* huge milestones. Also, Blume is forever the master of realistically portraying the huge and sudden shifts of emotion that are teenagerdom's trademark.
The book was just really abrupt for me, I guess? That's the best way to describe it. Scenes just kind of ended and I was like, "Wait, what," and a lot of the dialogue would sort of wrap up in a way that felt really odd to me. And of course its politics are different than if a version of it were to be written today, because again, written in 1975. (E.g., there was SO much talk about body image and "fatness" by Katherine, her mother, and her close friend, but that... unfortunately... was the norm back then...) So for those reasons it's 3 stars.
BUT I can understand why the book is important, and I think Blume is groundbreaking for having written it!
Anyway.
I fully respect Judy Blume for publishing a book that spoke so openly and forthcomingly about sex and women's sexual health in the year of our lord 1975. The fact that Katherine goes to Planned Parenthood and ASKS FOR BIRTH CONTROL, the fact that she and her friend both discuss how they'd be fine having abortions if unprotected sex led to pregnancy, and the fact that *IN 1975* a female teen protagonist was so boldly expressing desire are *all* huge milestones. Also, Blume is forever the master of realistically portraying the huge and sudden shifts of emotion that are teenagerdom's trademark.
The book was just really abrupt for me, I guess? That's the best way to describe it. Scenes just kind of ended and I was like, "Wait, what," and a lot of the dialogue would sort of wrap up in a way that felt really odd to me. And of course its politics are different than if a version of it were to be written today, because again, written in 1975. (E.g., there was SO much talk about body image and "fatness" by Katherine, her mother, and her close friend, but that... unfortunately... was the norm back then...) So for those reasons it's 3 stars.
BUT I can understand why the book is important, and I think Blume is groundbreaking for having written it!
notmaiareading's review against another edition
3.0
an accurate depiction of a teen age relationship that is mainly built off attraction
rebesaurusrex's review against another edition
3.0
A book about a teen romance, full of love and all the feels but without the expectation of soul mates. I hadn't read this one before and it was fascinating in context of other teen romance that spin a tale of Forever.
Also, I thought that my gyno when I was an early teen was just creative with the whole mirror-and-speculum routine.
Also, I thought that my gyno when I was an early teen was just creative with the whole mirror-and-speculum routine.
shorty_320's review against another edition
3.0
Wow! Not sure how to rate this book! I can definitely see why it is still so controversial.