Judy Blume Forever - A New Amazon Prime Video Documentary & Director Interview

Judy Blume Forever - Image from Amazon Prime Video

For decades, Judy Blume's novels have been entertaining audiences.  With the release of the new movie, "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" in theaters this month, I anticipate a whole new generation will be eager to read her books.  While Judy Blume's books are well-known, the woman behind the books may be a bit more of a mystery.  It's this mystery that prompted directors Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok to create a documentary, Judy Blume Forever, exploring the woman behind the books and her lasting impact on audiences and American literature.  Recently, I had the chance to sit down with down with director Leah Wolchok to discuss this project alongside several entertainment writers.  

While I was familiar with several of Blume's books, the documentary extended my appreciation for her work - particularly as a pioneer in writing to young adults in a voice that was honest, straightforward, and true. One of the most powerful parts of the documentary in my opinion is hearing from the women who began corresponding with Blume as kids and the impact her books had on their lives.  While these are just a few stories highlighted, I'm sure there are many more in the boxes of letters that Blume received over the years.  

Judy Blume Forever also takes a look at the topic of book banning, both historically and in present day.  Blume's books have raised eyebrows over the years and have found themselves on banned book lists over the decades they've been in publication.  As the topics of book banning and censorship once again find themselves front and center in mainstream media today, many of our contemporary conversations as a country don't sound all that different than 40 years ago.

Whether you have been a fan of Judy Blume's work or don't know much about books, the documentary is an interesting look at a fascinating woman - a woman who dared to do something different and reach out to young people in a way that others had dared not to previously.  Judy Blume Forever is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

About Judy Blume Forever (From Amazon Prime Video)

Generations of readers have found themselves in a Judy Blume book. Her name alone launches a flood of memories for anyone who’s gripped one of her many paperbacks. For decades, Blume’s radical honesty has comforted and captivated readers – and landed her at the center of controversy for her frankness about puberty and sex. Now the beloved American author candidly shares her own coming-of-age story. Emmy-winning filmmakers Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok trace Blume’s journey from fearful, imaginative child to storytelling pioneer who elevated the physical and emotional lives of kids and teens, to banned writer who continues to fight back against censorship today. Playful and poignant animations celebrate the magic and awkwardness of being young, while intimate conversations with acclaimed authors and artists reveal Blume’s profound impact on readers. Long-standing fans share open-hearted letters they wrote to Blume over decades. With humor, sensitivity, and a healthy dose of adolescent cringe, Judy Blume Forever tells the story of the woman whose trail-blazing books changed the way millions of readers understand themselves, their sexuality, and what it means to grow up.