Us kids all needed SOMEBODY to give us the lowdown on periods and boners back in the '80s, and Judy Blume tended to be a bit more reliable than that weird kid on the bus. My favorite part of this book was when Tony first goes over next door to the pool when he meets his neighbors sister who he thinks is stunning but years older than him. This often overlooked book plays second fiddle to Are You There God? The ending was built up but I still felt like it wasn't really ended well. I think my favorite part of this novel was when Tony's mom says something like "He's a 13-year-old boy; he doesn't have any problems!" Hmm, maybe his binoculars can be used for more than birdwatching! She eventfully softens as the book progresses. Judy Blume claimed that she was inspired to write the story following the success of her preceding novel Are You There God? I really loved this book and many others written by Judy Blume. Tony meets a neighbor, a boy his own age, Joel Hoober. Why does this guy get to masturbate while Margaret simply waits to need a bra and get her period! Have you ever made bad choices just to fit in? Plot Summary. Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Children and Young Adult Literature portal, The One in the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo, Letters to Judy: What Kids Wish They Could Tell You, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Then_Again,_Maybe_I_Won%27t&oldid=1006371104, Articles lacking sources from November 2015, Articles that may contain original research from December 2016, All articles that may contain original research, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Joel secretly engages in misbehavior such as prank calls, underage drinking, hiding issues of Playboy magazine under his bed, and shoplifting, and encourages Tony to participate as well. Overall, it wasn't my favorite because I wasn't the most comfortable with some of the issues presented, but I don't think I'd ban it from young adults. Buy Then Again, Maybe I Won't; Buy Then Again, Maybe I Won't with Rewards. By: Judy Blume Narrated by: Justin Long Try for $0.00 $14.95/month after 30 days. I don't think I really grasped the whole thing back then--I think I'll go back and reread it. Tony faints from anxiety, where he is then admitted to the hospital sent to therapy after doctors determine the malady is not medical. When his dad's invention makes a lot of money, the family moves to a more upscale neighborhood, and suddenly Tony has got a great view into the window of the older teen girl next door. Have you ever made bad choices just to fit in? Asked By Wiki User. The Hoobers are representative of the "high-powered American family" and seem to believe the "American way" is about money, affluent living, social status and not much else. Free Online Library: Then Again, Maybe I Won't. I thought some of the issues it brought up (selling out, girls, friendship,and shoplifting) are real things that sometimes get ignored in relation to the age group of young adults. Schools earn Scholastic Rewards when parents or staff order from us. Unlike many o I respected them. This is a nice changein young adult literature. Ah yes, my introduction to hard-ons and semen. Wasn't there an After School Special about the book too? It's Me, Margaret.Given her earlier novel was about a girl entering puberty making the transition to womanhood, she decided to write one about a boy going through puber… amy. Tony is a typical boy who lives in a suburb and his life is pretty normal. ." She ends up dating Tony's Sunday school teacher. The character I want to tell today is Joel. If that doesn’t say weird then what does? Summary: Unable to accept or explain his family’s newly acquired wealth, his growing interest in sex, and a friend’s shoplifting habit, a thirteen-year-old finds the pains in his stomach getting worse and worse. He is a practical joker and a shoplifter. I do think that the issues in the book are issues that real young adults face, and this book could be a good starting point for a discussion about those sorts of things. But then I realized that was part of what made Judy Blume as an author successful during the 1970s. If you work at a school you can use Rewards to buy books and resources for your classroom or library. Tony is also now more at ease with himself and the family changes, and had the courage to tell the therapist he spied on Lisa. Back in Jersey City, Ralph was respected amongst Tony's peers, known as "The Wizard of Seventh Grade Social Studies". Tony thinks it would be best if he cuts it out with his Peeping Tom behavior for good, but finally says to himself 'Then again, maybe I won't.'. His mother becomes absorbed with climbing the social ladder in her new, wealthier neighborhood, while his maternal grandmother becomes angry and withdrawn when she is no longer allowed to cook for the family as she loves to do. You can learn more if … Welcome back. Lisa Hoober – Joel's attractive 16-year-old sister, who Tony develops a crush on, and spies on with binoculars via his window. Frankie Bollino – Tony's best friend from Jersey City who comes to visit. She loves to cook, but was no longer permitted to do so after hiring their housekeeper, so she spends every day in her bedroom watching TV, depressed. He has hard-working parents, a brother who teaches junior … Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Rate it * You Rated it * 0. I’d really like to get a look at that!”, Books Mentioned in Lizzie Skurnick's "Shelf Discovery", SOLVED. On Episode 133, Alli and her guest take a look at a book that feels like a bit of a departure for our queen — Then Again, Maybe I Won’t , which was published in 1971. Why would he be embarrassed if his ZIPPER went up? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber and Then Again, Maybe I Won't — making Blume a champion for supporters of intellectual freedom for young people. This breaks Tony's heart but makes the reader laugh which I love. Millicent – Housekeeper to the Hoobers who seems to be the only one who is aware of Joel's antics because one night when Tony is at Joel's house she catches them in Lisa's room. When he makes a new friend it makes his life very different. She confines herself to her room after the Migliones hire Maxine, a maid who takes advantage of the family's inexperience with their new lifestyle and essentially directs the household to her tastes instead of taking orders from the family. Mrs. Gorsky yelled from her upstairs window. It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge. His friend’s sister undresses with the blinds open. 80s or 90s teen fiction. / Simulcast in paradise / But I know if I make one false move / I won't be back here twice / Isn't his blessing (??) Another slight theme touched upon is Tony regaining slight respect for the working class life his parents left behind. However, Tony also has to deal with the fact that she is three years older than he is, and, that if such a crush developed further, the age difference would be uncommon among boys he knows. Was it written wrong?". I know I'm dating myself but I think Leif Garret was in it and he just always seemed like bad news-maybe that was why I stayed away from the book back then too. (then again maybe i won´t) JOEL . I would rate this book a 4 1/2, it was a very enjoyable read! Then Again, Maybe I Won't is a young adult novel written by Judy Blume. We giggled, and read the pages like we were about to get yelled at by our teachers. Then Again, Maybe I Won't is a realistic fiction novel that tells the story of Tony Miglione as his family goes from lower middle class to more upper class. I'm sick of it. Answer (1 of 1): Like many of her other books, it deals with teenage problems and anxieties, especially sexual ones. The ending was built up but I still felt like it wasn't really ended well. The time frame of this story is evidently the late 1960s or early 1970s, as Tony's eldest brother, Vinnie, has been killed in action in the Vietnam War. Loved the working class family made good story (which I'd forgotten) and the grandmother/grandson relationship is so touching...bring a hankie, is all I'm saying. when I decided it would be interesting, and maybe even fun, to write a book from a boy’s point of view. Complete your Johnny Bravo collection. “I wonder what it’s like watching ladies try on underwear all day? She receives thousands of letters a year from readers of all ages who share their feelings and concerns with her. I know I keep gushing about Judy Blume but once again she proves to be one of the best young adult novelists ever. Then Again, Maybe I Won't Then Again, Maybe I Won't. Discover releases, reviews, credits, songs, and more about Johnny Bravo - Then Again, Maybe I Won't at Discogs. In addition, Tony's grandmother has been marginalized, as she loved to cook for the family in Jersey City but is told that this would be inappropriate in their new home. Recommend for you to read it! [1. Then Again Maybe I Won't has boners, wet dreams,masturbation, embarrassing stuff for a fifth grade reader. Like, This book made me feel uncomfortable. He died in Vietnam a few years before the story takes place. Then Again, Maybe I Won’t by Judy Blume has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine. Then Again, Maybe I Won't Lyrics: Wasn't last weekend nice? He sees many things in a very complicated way. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? I love the emotion and the writing style of Judy Blume so much. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. I thought some of the issues it brought up (selling out, girls, friendship,and shoplifting) are r. This book made me feel uncomfortable. Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey, making up stories inside her head. Surprisingly, Joel is not angry at him and the two boys agree amicably to end their friendship, after Joel is sent to a military academy after explaining to Tony that he acted out to see if he could get away with it. I read it when I was around 12 and I still remember it. Then Again, Maybe I Won't is a realistic fiction novel that tells the story of Tony Miglione as his family goes from lower middle class to more upper class. All it's done this March is rain. Vincenza (Vickie) Miglione – Tony's niece, and Angie and Ralph's daughter. Tony is emotional and a very confused kid. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? This happens quite frequently, and, on a smaller scale, I have observed many people falling into this way of thinking/living, so it was easy to appreciate Tony's honest take on the situation. Judy Blume's writing is absolutely great and the characters feel real. This book is told in first person point of view from the main character Tony. I remember, at the time, one of my best friends was also reading this book, and we found it dirty and scandalous. Start by marking “Then Again, Maybe I Won't” as Want to Read: Error rating book. I noticed some spelling errors (but I have an older edition of the book so it has probably been fixed by now) such as "lamb shop" But overall the book is ver. It was felt by some authorities that Blume's very frank language and depiction of sexual acts made them unsuitable for younger readers (with whom her books are very popular.) Tony also overcomes his infatuation with Lisa and curtails watching her window after learning of her relationship with his youth group leader. [s]. Tony is emotional and a very confused kid. That's a lot of bull. Then Again, Maybe I Won't - Ebook written by Judy Blume. Then Again, Maybe I Won't. Judy Blume is J.D. The giant of children's lit plumbs an unusual event from her own girlhood—when three planes crashed in her hometown—for her new novel for adults,... Grade 6-10 When his hardworking inventor father strikes it rich and moves the family from working class Jersey City to wealthy Rosemont, Tony Miglione finds that everything from friendships to school takes on a new and confusing twist. More than 80 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-one languages. Tony's older brother, a new father who was previously a well-respected junior high school teacher, gives up teaching to make more money working for Tony's father, because Tony feels that his brother is 'selling out'. Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey, making up stories inside her head. The therapy helps Tony learn new ways to fix his problems. Maybe YA - Book about moving to a new home after father invents wireless plug. Then Again, Maybe I Won’t Long ago, Judy Blume was established as one of the reigning queens of the SSR podcast. Strangely, it was published in 1971 when I would have been twelve years old, just like the boy in the story, but I never heard of it then and was only vaguely aware of the author's name until now. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper.