This universal aspect of Blume’s storytelling is what appealed to television mogul Mara Brock Akil when she was 12 and read “Forever” for the first time.

Creator Mara Brock Akil's take on the 1975 YA classic moves the action to 2018 Los Angeles, following two Black teens as they navigate the ups and downs of first love.

Judy Blume’s 1975 novel “Forever …,” about a New Jersey high schooler’s first love — and first experiences with sex — is a book I initially encountered with a childhood friend who got her hands on a copy.