There might not be another Trans kid in their class, there might not be another person of color in their classroom. And they’re being banned in places where they are needed the most because kids would have no other way to be exposed to them. And the books that are most often being challenged are books by black and brown authors and books by queer and trans authors. The need for all kids to see themselves in a story reflected back to them in a story is stronger than ever. The “Don’t say period” law has been purposed in Florida. The “Don’t Say Gay” law has now been clarified in even worse ways in Florida. But now we also have state legislators and governors trying to get involved in telling our kids what they can and cannot read. It was before social media, and before they could find each other and these huge groups of conservative moms are getting together and trying to ban books across the country. So before it was small groups of parents challenging communities at their schools and their public libraries. What’s different today about book banning – it’s politicized and it’s legislated. We’re infuriated with the current state of censorship for children’s books. “When we started the film we never could have predicted the extreme ways that book banning has come rushing back into public discourse. What is the importance of making this documentary now?

We were able to sit down with Leah Wolchok to find out more about the timely documentary and what it means to Judy Blume fans of all ages. The extremely nostalgic and powerful documentary was directed by Davina Pardo & Leah Wolchok and is streaming now. Judy’s story of becoming a world-renowned author isn’t one that you would expect and her journey from a housewife to a banned author and writer of adult content, is now a documentary on Prime Video. And throughout her time as an author, not only took the time to write back to her young readers who wrote her letters throughout the years, but forged decades-long friendships with the children who wrote to her. Even with the constant fighting against her writing, Blume has decades of devoted readers who have now passed her books on to the next generation. However, throughout her decades of writing kids’ books and later novels, Blume has found herself on the banned book list countless times. It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t grown up reading at least some of her work in the past fifty years, but for many kids, besides her seemingly omnipotent betrayal of what it’s like being a kid and the struggles they’re going through – her name was just another author on a page. Her books ranged from mischievous kids to tales of bullies and the important topics of puberty and growing up. Few names will spark memories of your favorite childhood books like that of Judy Blume.

Judy blume forever review