Hello. Have you met Michael’s friend, Ralph?

If you were an adolescent in the US at any point from the 1970s to the 1990s, then you’re probably very familiar with the memorable nickname Michael gives his single-eyed sailor in Judy Blume’s teenage masterpiece Forever… in an attempt at making his girlfriend, Katherine, more comfortable with touching his genitals. It’s a realistic, awkward yet cringeworthy touch – in the way many a teenager has been in the past. And that’s what makes this book so great. While some aspects of the novel feel a little dated, for the most part it’s a realistic point of view on growing up and rings as true as it ever did.

Ralph’s ‘owner’, Michael Wagner, meets Katherine Danziger at a fondue party. Even though he goes to a different school, the twosome become smitten and begin dating. Youthful infatuation turns to lust, and soon they’re contemplating having sex. A ski trip doesn’t pan out, but once they finally do make love it seems like a consecration of their lives, a forever kind of bond. Winter turns to summer, and Kath’s family goes to New Hampshire for vacation. Is what she has with Michael really a lifetime thing, or are they destined for heartbreak?

Judy Blume manages to capture something of life in every single one of her books. Forever… is no exception to that rule; there’s a teenage pregnancy, a dead relative, a suicide attempt, and plenty of sexual congress, but there are mundane moments filled with gossip and family love and the stress of school. Katherine and Michael both change as they go along, and their love changes quite significantly with them. They will both annoy you, but that only makes them quite realistically well-rounded. And the romance is beautifully bittersweet.

As you can gather, there are some dated elements here, from the fondue party on down. And everyone has an opinion about Katherine’s virginity, from her best friend Erica to her father. To be fair, Blume is very cognizant of what has aged poorly in the book, and in a new forward, encourages teenagers to wear condoms instead of simply going on the pill as Katherine does in her (pre-AIDS crisis) visit to her doctor.

There are a lot of cool supporting characters in this book: worldly Erica and Katherine’s cool, knowing grandma are my favorites. And imperfections aside, Forever…still entertains decades later.