16+

There is a reason that Judy Blume’s books have become modern YA classics and honestly this one feels timeless and yet a perfect snapshot of less than a year and a relationship that would change forever and yet change nothing.

I originally picked this up because it was a banned book in American schools, and I got curious because I had loved Blume’s Tiger Eyes the previous month. I can see why it is banned because it explores sex more explicitly – but not gratificationally to the reader – than YA books especially ten or so years ago did. I enjoyed this one because of how directly it discusses the difficulties of teenage life, and Blume’s straightforward writing style guides us through a summer with Katherine that somehow changes everything and nothing.

The plot was relief to read after the trope filled books on my shelf and this is definitely a book that I would recommend for readers who are looking for a lasting impact. When you finish it you don’t think – wow, this was perfection – but you slowly start to realise that the simplistic prose and the characters stay with you in a way that lots of four stars don’t.

World – 4/5 – its our world. Albeit a few years ago so I can’t really say much about it.

Characters – 5/5 – human. So so human. They all are complex or some of them even aren’t because we are seeing them through Katherine’s eyes whom doesn’t really understand some of the people’s emotions.

Plot – 4/5 – it is achingly straightforward and realistic while still being interesting which is very very rare.

Romance – 4/5 – Swoony C – can’t say much for the spoilers but realistic and also perhaps a little toxic. This is not the idealised romance that many YA feature where they always know what to say and respect each others emotions completely without ever discussing triggers/experiences and it was enjoyable for that.

Romance Rating: Swoony C

Violence Level: Level 1 – but with content warnings, this is not a romance level 1!

Content Warnings: attempted suicide by a side character, negative body image (between Katherine’s parents and focused on her mother. Small sentences but heartbreaking.)

13+

Okay so this is a YA classic, Judy Blume has wrote so many YA books and so far this is the third of hers I have read! I whipped through this in a few hours, it was easy to read and yet the emotional impact behind the story was really powerful and honestly when it finished I would have read another 300 pages of Daveys journey.

To me this book felt like a snapshot of a time which Davey will never revisit again in her life, a time of upheaval and grief but also one of the most important periods of her life with people she will never forget. Grief is something that is really explored in this book, Davey’s father has been shot in his convienence store and the entire family is left in shambles after this.

Going to live with their relatives in New Mexico to live out the aftermath and get away from the horror of what happened Davey and her family are introduced to this really capsule town. Everyone works at the Lab, everyone is defined by were and what position they work in the Lab and even the houses like Bathtub Row are linked to the ever present factory. The paranoia of her aunt and uncle, the alcoholism of her new friend Jane, the mysterious boy Wolf and above all dealing with the fact that her father is not coming back.

I honestly have no words for this book, it is raw, it is full of grief and exploration of what it means to be safe in a world that has shown you betrayal and in the end I am going to have to read more of her work!

Romance –5/5 Soft – barely present really and not the focus of the book.

World – 1000/5 – I have talked about it above but the idea of going to live in a town that is full of people who create bombs and other warfare and are incredibly paranoid because of that is something I havent seen explored before.

Characters – 5/5 – all of them are so distinct and real except Wolf who isn’t supposed to be. I really want to know what happens to Davey after the events of this book, after she returns to New Mexico and her old life and how much her time away changed her.

Plot – 5/5 – I was there, I loved it, the plot isn’t as driven as some books I have read recently and that’s because its not supposed to be an adventure its supposed to be the story of violence and grief and yet everyday teenager experiences.

Age Recommendation: 12+ is when I think you would probably enjoy it best but honestly this book feels so timeless that I think you could read it earlier around 11 if you wanted to.

Romance Rating: Soft – as in barely there, I honestly debated putting a NA on it because it really isn’t very relevant to the story.

Violence Rating: Level 2 – this was tricky because it does have Gun Violence in it and a lot of grief however on the page there isn’t much violence.

Content Warnings: Gun Violence, Death, Grief, Child Alcholism, mention of SA (briefly mentioned by a character as something that happens) Racism (one mention, less than a sentence.)

Tag: Judy Blume

Forever by Judy Blume

16+

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume