Sex, masturbation, puberty, bullying, body image, divorce — Judy Blume’s children’s books have earned a special place in the hearts of millions of young readers for taking an unvarnished look at the issues affecting their lives. “I don’t think that Judy Blume wrote her books to be timeless. I think she wrote her books to be timely — and they were so timely that they became timeless,” says “Ghost” author Jason Reynolds in a new trailer for “Judy Blume Forever.” Directed by Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok, the documentary explores why generations of readers have connected with Blume’s novels and shines a spotlight on the author’s own life.
“I grew up as a good girl with a bad girl lurking inside so by the time I started to write I really had a lot to get out,” Blume explains. “I could be fearless in my writing in a way that maybe I wasn’t always in my life.”
The spot features some of Blume’s famous fans including “Pen15’s” Anna Konkle, “An American Marriage” author Tayari Jones, and “Girls'” Lena Dunham. “[Judy Blume] allowed young women to be as complicated and messy and funny as we are,” the latter gushes.
Blume’s trailblazing works have also attracted a great deal of negative attention. “Overnight, the censors came out of the woodwork,” she recalls. The doc examines why her books, including “Forever” and “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret,” have been banned.
“Judy Blume Forever” made its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January and launches on Prime Video April 21.
