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Then Again, Maybe I Won't
Ever since his dad got rich from an invention and his family moved to a wealthy neighborhood on Long Island, Tony Miglione's life has been turned upside down. For starters, there's his new friend Joel, who shoplifts. Then there's Joel's sixteen-year-old sister, Lisa, who gets undressed every night without pulling down her shades. And there's Grandma, who won't come down from her bedroom. On top of all his other worries, Tony has questions about growing up... Why couldn't things have stayed the same?
3 pages, Audiobook
First published January 1, 1971
246 people are currently reading
3256 people want to read
About the author
Judy Blume
140 books11.9k followersJudy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge. She has also written three novels for adults, Summer Sisters; Smart Women; and Wifey, all of them New York Times bestsellers. More than 80 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-one languages. She receives thousands of letters a year from readers of all ages who share their feelings and concerns with her.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
She is the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation. She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; the Key West Literary Seminar; and the National Coalition Against Censorship.
Judy is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980's she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of Places I Never Meant To Be, Original Stories by Censored Writers.
Judy has completed a series of four chapter books -- The Pain & the Great One -- illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson. She has co-written and produced a film adaptation of her book Tiger Eyes, and is currently writing a new novel.
Judy and her husband George Cooper live on islands up and down the east coast. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
She is the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation. She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; the Key West Literary Seminar; and the National Coalition Against Censorship.
Judy is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980's she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of Places I Never Meant To Be, Original Stories by Censored Writers.
Judy has completed a series of four chapter books -- The Pain & the Great One -- illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson. She has co-written and produced a film adaptation of her book Tiger Eyes, and is currently writing a new novel.
Judy and her husband George Cooper live on islands up and down the east coast. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 615 reviews
August 1, 2007
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. This one's kinda the boy version of "Are You There God...", demystifying for pre-adolescent readers that unfamiliar new stain in their undy-dundypants.
Can you imagine being Judy Blume's child? You'd have been the most well-informed kid on the playground. I bet parents never let their kids go to sleepovers at the Blumes, though.
Can you imagine being Judy Blume's child? You'd have been the most well-informed kid on the playground. I bet parents never let their kids go to sleepovers at the Blumes, though.
August 17, 2007
I think I was about ten years old when I read this book (one of a Judy Blume box set); I suspect my mother has yet to recover from my ensuing questions: "Mommy, the book I'm reading has a boy in it who keeps saying that 'it went up'. Why would he be embarrassed if his ZIPPER went up? Was it written wrong?"
After my mother's commendable (and surprisingly unflappable)explanation, I had some serious thinkin' to do...I mean, I grew up without brothers, so the nitty-gritty of the workings of male anatomy was an absolute mystery to me, at least up to that point.
I wonder just how many of us (at least those of us who came-of-age in the 70s and early-80s) learned life's...business...from Judy Blume? To think, she went from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Super-Fudge to Deenie and Forever! Subversive!
After my mother's commendable (and surprisingly unflappable)explanation, I had some serious thinkin' to do...I mean, I grew up without brothers, so the nitty-gritty of the workings of male anatomy was an absolute mystery to me, at least up to that point.
I wonder just how many of us (at least those of us who came-of-age in the 70s and early-80s) learned life's...business...from Judy Blume? To think, she went from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Super-Fudge to Deenie and Forever! Subversive!
December 23, 2019
Yet another highly enjoyable Judy Blume book! In this one, Tony's family become wealthy and move to a new neighborhood. There's some good aspects to this of course, but Tony's mother is desperate to impress the neighbors, to earn their approval and acceptance. 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.
This is quite a frank book, exploring puberty, anxiety, appearances being deceptive etc. Unfortunately this is the last of the Judy Blume books that I had set aside -- I hope to find more soon as they have been a lot of fun!
This is quite a frank book, exploring puberty, anxiety, appearances being deceptive etc. Unfortunately this is the last of the Judy Blume books that I had set aside -- I hope to find more soon as they have been a lot of fun!
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August 20, 2021One of my favorite Judy Blume novels, and that's saying a lot.
June 24, 2020
Then Again, Maybe I Won't is actually one of the few Judy Blume novels from the 1970s that I did not read as a teenager (in the early 1980s). Yes, I did in fact remember signing Then Again, Maybe I Won't out of our school library, but then returned it mostly unread because at that time of my life (from about 1980 to 1984) I was just not all that interested in reading a novel for pleasure (and in fact any novel) that did not have a teenaged girl but instead a teenaged boy as a main protagonist (as I was personally at that time finding the boys in my class annoyingly immature and boring and could therefore also not imagine finding Then Again, Maybe I Won't either all that relatable or readable, since Tony Miglione, the main protagonist, indeed is a thirteen year old teenaged boy).
In fact, I never did end up reading Then Again, Maybe I Won't until just a day or so ago, when I came across a vintage copy at my local independent bookstore and thought, well, I guess I should probably also now read Then Again, Maybe I Won't and see how Judy Blume manages to handle a main character who is male and whether her switch from a protagonist who is a teenaged "she" to one who is a teenaged "he" reads realistically and feels successful. And yes indeed, in my humble opinion, with Then Again, Maybe I Won't Judy Blume definitely demonstrates that she can and does pen her main "boy" character of Tony Miglione as a realistic teenager, experiencing issues of male puberty (including his first penile erections and so-called wet dreams), family dysfunction, and after moving, encountering a new "best" friend who turns out to be not so stellar and is in fact a serial shoplifter even though he tends to be considered a neighbourhood paragon by many.
Now while I certainly have despised on an emotional and personal level how Tony's mother is portrayed by Judy Blue as being rather a typical and increasingly arrogant urban social climber in many ways, considering that in reality there sadly are and always have been many individuals exhibiting these types of character traits, Carmella Miglione's change and devolution in Then Again, Maybe I Won't from a previously mostly contented and generally sweet natured housewife and mother to a person who upon the Miglione family striking it rich when Tony's electrician father goes into business with a well heeled partner (selling his electrical box inventions) and moving to a more posh and upper-class neighbourhood, this does definitely feel painfully realistic. For although we might as readers be and rightfully so annoyed at and by Tony's mother's increasing snobbiness and her lack of basic understanding and empathy when she basically lets the new and glamorous housekeeper remove the grandmother (who had previously done all of the family's cooking) from her realm as queen of the kitchen (with cooking for the family being the grandmother's one remaining joy and delight), we also do see and must understand that Judy Blume is not simply depicting an unrealistically nasty scenario here but something that sadly feels real and very much woefully so (and as such, this realism certainly should be both appreciated and feted, if not actively lauded).
And indeed, the only part of Then Again, Maybe I Won't which I (personally) have found a bit tacked on and not developed enough, although of course considering the time period still realistic enough in and of itself, is that part about Tony's older brother Vinny having been killed in action in Vietnam, simply because, while Vinny is often mentioned in Then Again, Maybe I Won't, Judy Blume also never really seems to do all that much with this and does not in my opinion ever smoothly and specifically incorporate either Vinny's death or how the family has reacted and feels about this and/or the Vietnam War in general into the storyline itself (to the point that for me it actually even kind of feels as though since Then Again, Maybe I Won't was published in 1971, Judy Blume might have felt that she somehow just needed to include a Vietnam War casualty but that she never really sufficiently then expands on this and kind of just leaves Vinny Miglione having been killed in action in Vietnam hanging in space).
In fact, I never did end up reading Then Again, Maybe I Won't until just a day or so ago, when I came across a vintage copy at my local independent bookstore and thought, well, I guess I should probably also now read Then Again, Maybe I Won't and see how Judy Blume manages to handle a main character who is male and whether her switch from a protagonist who is a teenaged "she" to one who is a teenaged "he" reads realistically and feels successful. And yes indeed, in my humble opinion, with Then Again, Maybe I Won't Judy Blume definitely demonstrates that she can and does pen her main "boy" character of Tony Miglione as a realistic teenager, experiencing issues of male puberty (including his first penile erections and so-called wet dreams), family dysfunction, and after moving, encountering a new "best" friend who turns out to be not so stellar and is in fact a serial shoplifter even though he tends to be considered a neighbourhood paragon by many.
Now while I certainly have despised on an emotional and personal level how Tony's mother is portrayed by Judy Blue as being rather a typical and increasingly arrogant urban social climber in many ways, considering that in reality there sadly are and always have been many individuals exhibiting these types of character traits, Carmella Miglione's change and devolution in Then Again, Maybe I Won't from a previously mostly contented and generally sweet natured housewife and mother to a person who upon the Miglione family striking it rich when Tony's electrician father goes into business with a well heeled partner (selling his electrical box inventions) and moving to a more posh and upper-class neighbourhood, this does definitely feel painfully realistic. For although we might as readers be and rightfully so annoyed at and by Tony's mother's increasing snobbiness and her lack of basic understanding and empathy when she basically lets the new and glamorous housekeeper remove the grandmother (who had previously done all of the family's cooking) from her realm as queen of the kitchen (with cooking for the family being the grandmother's one remaining joy and delight), we also do see and must understand that Judy Blume is not simply depicting an unrealistically nasty scenario here but something that sadly feels real and very much woefully so (and as such, this realism certainly should be both appreciated and feted, if not actively lauded).
And indeed, the only part of Then Again, Maybe I Won't which I (personally) have found a bit tacked on and not developed enough, although of course considering the time period still realistic enough in and of itself, is that part about Tony's older brother Vinny having been killed in action in Vietnam, simply because, while Vinny is often mentioned in Then Again, Maybe I Won't, Judy Blume also never really seems to do all that much with this and does not in my opinion ever smoothly and specifically incorporate either Vinny's death or how the family has reacted and feels about this and/or the Vietnam War in general into the storyline itself (to the point that for me it actually even kind of feels as though since Then Again, Maybe I Won't was published in 1971, Judy Blume might have felt that she somehow just needed to include a Vietnam War casualty but that she never really sufficiently then expands on this and kind of just leaves Vinny Miglione having been killed in action in Vietnam hanging in space).
October 12, 2019
The old-smelling used 1973 paperback copy I read has this catchphrase written across the top of the front cover:
When I was growing up, Judy Blume was regarded as a very edgy author for middle-school-level readers. Schools and libraries banned some of her books, or kept them behind the checkout desk. Among those books, Then Again, Maybe I Won't was known to be the most dangerous. My parents wouldn't have wanted me reading it when I was a kid, and so I didn't.
But it wasn't just because I knew my parents wouldn't approve—it was also the general tone of Blume's books. I remember a lot of youth-focused books in that era were based in the real world and featured protagonists in urban settings (especially New York or New Jersey); in families that were in some way dysfunctional; enduring problems at school and navigating adolescence; dealing with class and race issues. I was growing up in a rural, agricultural small town in the Midwest, part of a loving family, and stories like these seemed to have nothing to do with me. Somehow my literary imagination didn't extend to putting myself into these settings. I didn't care for the slightly gritty, urban realism. Perhaps that's one reason I tended to choose fantasy stories for my childhood reading. Narnia, Prydain, and Middle-Earth were a lot more appealing to me than a present-day lower-middle-class neighborhood in New Jersey.
Then Again follows this genre of youth fiction from that era. Tony, the protagonist, and his family (not a terribly dysfunctional or broken family, though with plenty of room for improvement) move from their working class neighborhood in Jersey City to an upper-class area of Long Island after his dad becomes recognized as a genius and has all the money the family could possibly want, forever. Tony befriends the boy next door, who looks perfect on the surface but is actually a real jerk with the beginnings of some serious problems. Tony has his own problems, figuring out how to deal with his family and with his own adolescent development.
Reading this for the first time as an adult, I don't particularly love it. The prose style is fine, but (to me) a little bland. Even though Blume tackles some tough issues in a helpful, open way, I'm very uncomfortable with the same things that led to the book's risky reputation years ago. Tony floats through life, wrestling internally with questions about himself and others around him, but he gets almost no true wisdom or guidance. He's on his own.
Because no one can help him, there's no one to tell him that some of his actions are completely wrong. He attends a church youth group, but it doesn't seem to have anything to do with spiritual guidance. The local pastor feels distant and uninvolved, even though he can surely tell that Tony and his family need help. Tony's dad seems like a good man, but he doesn't know how to be meaningfully involved in his son's life; and his mother is distracted by their new wealth. The one person who might be able to help Tony is his grandmother—but she can't speak, because she lost her larynx to cancer. I found it really disturbing to have a character in forced silence.
It's interesting picking up a book whose title I heard so often in my childhood. For me, this is a case where the book would never have passed my standards for youth literature, and the years and cultural changes between its original publication and now have not rendered it more endearing or helpful.
The funny, touching story of a boy with problems.Wow. Who wouldn't want to read that?
When I was growing up, Judy Blume was regarded as a very edgy author for middle-school-level readers. Schools and libraries banned some of her books, or kept them behind the checkout desk. Among those books, Then Again, Maybe I Won't was known to be the most dangerous. My parents wouldn't have wanted me reading it when I was a kid, and so I didn't.
But it wasn't just because I knew my parents wouldn't approve—it was also the general tone of Blume's books. I remember a lot of youth-focused books in that era were based in the real world and featured protagonists in urban settings (especially New York or New Jersey); in families that were in some way dysfunctional; enduring problems at school and navigating adolescence; dealing with class and race issues. I was growing up in a rural, agricultural small town in the Midwest, part of a loving family, and stories like these seemed to have nothing to do with me. Somehow my literary imagination didn't extend to putting myself into these settings. I didn't care for the slightly gritty, urban realism. Perhaps that's one reason I tended to choose fantasy stories for my childhood reading. Narnia, Prydain, and Middle-Earth were a lot more appealing to me than a present-day lower-middle-class neighborhood in New Jersey.
Then Again follows this genre of youth fiction from that era. Tony, the protagonist, and his family (not a terribly dysfunctional or broken family, though with plenty of room for improvement) move from their working class neighborhood in Jersey City to an upper-class area of Long Island after his dad becomes recognized as a genius and has all the money the family could possibly want, forever. Tony befriends the boy next door, who looks perfect on the surface but is actually a real jerk with the beginnings of some serious problems. Tony has his own problems, figuring out how to deal with his family and with his own adolescent development.
Reading this for the first time as an adult, I don't particularly love it. The prose style is fine, but (to me) a little bland. Even though Blume tackles some tough issues in a helpful, open way, I'm very uncomfortable with the same things that led to the book's risky reputation years ago. Tony floats through life, wrestling internally with questions about himself and others around him, but he gets almost no true wisdom or guidance. He's on his own.
Because no one can help him, there's no one to tell him that some of his actions are completely wrong. He attends a church youth group, but it doesn't seem to have anything to do with spiritual guidance. The local pastor feels distant and uninvolved, even though he can surely tell that Tony and his family need help. Tony's dad seems like a good man, but he doesn't know how to be meaningfully involved in his son's life; and his mother is distracted by their new wealth. The one person who might be able to help Tony is his grandmother—but she can't speak, because she lost her larynx to cancer. I found it really disturbing to have a character in forced silence.
It's interesting picking up a book whose title I heard so often in my childhood. For me, this is a case where the book would never have passed my standards for youth literature, and the years and cultural changes between its original publication and now have not rendered it more endearing or helpful.
May 29, 2018
Then again, maybe I shouldn’t reread all the Judy Blume books from my youth.
March 29, 2008
This was one of the few Judy Blume books I didn't read when I was younger. I guess it always seemed like a boy's book to me but a friend was going on and on about reading it when she was younger and I felt like I was missing out so I got if from the library. Wasn't there an After School Special about the book too? 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.
The book is kind of like "Are You There God? It's me Margaret" for boys. Tony, the main character, is going through puberty and starts spying on the girl next door. He even asks for binoculars for Christmas so he can watch her. It's weird to read the book and see how it's no big deal that's he watching the girl next door undress. He even tells the psychologist he's seeing for anxiety about it and he doesn't even react! Today the kid would be in a treatment program for juvenille sex offenders but in the book it's no big deal.
It was fun to go back and read a book like this, even if it's kind of warped! It makes me want to read some of my favorite Judy Blume books!
The book is kind of like "Are You There God? It's me Margaret" for boys. Tony, the main character, is going through puberty and starts spying on the girl next door. He even asks for binoculars for Christmas so he can watch her. It's weird to read the book and see how it's no big deal that's he watching the girl next door undress. He even tells the psychologist he's seeing for anxiety about it and he doesn't even react! Today the kid would be in a treatment program for juvenille sex offenders but in the book it's no big deal.
It was fun to go back and read a book like this, even if it's kind of warped! It makes me want to read some of my favorite Judy Blume books!
March 24, 2009
I read this for a real-world book club; it took about two hours to breeze through. 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.
It struck me as a strange book. The prose was pretty juvenile, with short and uncomplicated sentences. Is it intended for 'tweens? I don't know, it seems a nice "I guess I'm not a freak after all" message might be good about then, but I didn't actually have any problems adjusting to early adolescence (now, mid- and late-teens with rebellion, generalized maladjustment and hair-trigger emotions: that was trouble). But at about twelve I think I was reading stuff like Christopher Johns' kid's scifi Tripod Trilogy (expected to be a movie in 2012!) and stuff like Old Yeller and My Side of the Mountain. Not introspective stuff.
My rating is based on the purely hypothetical question of whether I would hand this to a kid. Yeah, I would -- boy or girl, but probably a bit younger than the ages of those in the book. By the time kids are going through those changes, the privacy instinct is going to kick in pretty hard and they'll have a tough time asking questions about what they've read. I figure get this to them a bit before that hits and talk to them about the freaky stuff afterwards.
It struck me as a strange book. The prose was pretty juvenile, with short and uncomplicated sentences. Is it intended for 'tweens? I don't know, it seems a nice "I guess I'm not a freak after all" message might be good about then, but I didn't actually have any problems adjusting to early adolescence (now, mid- and late-teens with rebellion, generalized maladjustment and hair-trigger emotions: that was trouble). But at about twelve I think I was reading stuff like Christopher Johns' kid's scifi Tripod Trilogy (expected to be a movie in 2012!) and stuff like Old Yeller and My Side of the Mountain. Not introspective stuff.
My rating is based on the purely hypothetical question of whether I would hand this to a kid. Yeah, I would -- boy or girl, but probably a bit younger than the ages of those in the book. By the time kids are going through those changes, the privacy instinct is going to kick in pretty hard and they'll have a tough time asking questions about what they've read. I figure get this to them a bit before that hits and talk to them about the freaky stuff afterwards.
January 2, 2013
I know I keep gushing about Judy Blume but once again she proves to be one of the best young adult novelists ever. I loved that this story--told from the POV of the male lead Tony--is just a strong a reflection of the juinior high years as "Are There God---It's Me Margaret."
The story is a simple one--a poor Italian kid's family becomes successful and moves from Jersey City to a toney neighborhood and exactly how this changes the entire mores of the each person. It's about being the new kid in school, figuring out puberty and esuxal urges, about class struggle and even about "the whiting" one's racial background.
I really did care for Tony and understand his concerns and confusions as his family adjusted to their new wealth and surroundings in ways that seemed to go against their nature. I loved the character of his homesick grandmother--unable to cook since it would seem unseemly, the perky and annoying Corky who just wants Tony to like her, the high end Hoober family who cause all the concerns and joy in the story.
A near perfect book and one I would read again.
The story is a simple one--a poor Italian kid's family becomes successful and moves from Jersey City to a toney neighborhood and exactly how this changes the entire mores of the each person. It's about being the new kid in school, figuring out puberty and esuxal urges, about class struggle and even about "the whiting" one's racial background.
I really did care for Tony and understand his concerns and confusions as his family adjusted to their new wealth and surroundings in ways that seemed to go against their nature. I loved the character of his homesick grandmother--unable to cook since it would seem unseemly, the perky and annoying Corky who just wants Tony to like her, the high end Hoober family who cause all the concerns and joy in the story.
A near perfect book and one I would read again.
May 2, 2022
Shocking!!! This a book for an adolescent chold but it must be openly discussed with a trusted adult. This is not merely a book to give to a pre-pubescent boy and not discuss it.
Very, very good book and it reads like you are actually a part of his thinking; diary-ish not on calendar format but freealy sharing without fear of snooping. He discusses things that are happening in and to his body; he shares his emotions, and difficulties coping with his change in status, his new messed-up friends, his parents dreams for his life, while having a changing body when all the changes are not very welcomed. All of this is openly shared when in reality he is having a hard time sharing his thoughts with others.
Since he is bottling up all his emotions, it starts to manifest in a very physical ailment.
Very, very good book and it reads like you are actually a part of his thinking; diary-ish not on calendar format but freealy sharing without fear of snooping. He discusses things that are happening in and to his body; he shares his emotions, and difficulties coping with his change in status, his new messed-up friends, his parents dreams for his life, while having a changing body when all the changes are not very welcomed. All of this is openly shared when in reality he is having a hard time sharing his thoughts with others.
Since he is bottling up all his emotions, it starts to manifest in a very physical ailment.
July 22, 2009
The boy version of Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. I enjoyed this one (though not as much as Margaret). I never read this as a kid, but reading it as an adult makes me appreciate how much of a pioneer Judy Blume really was. She's not afraid to write about anything, no matter how taboo the subject. I'll definitely be sharing this one with my son when he's a bit older. Even though it's a bit dated now, Tony's teenage problems are universal and still very much relevant.
November 6, 2022
Part of my read through of the entire Judy Blume catalogue to discover why she's the most banned author in the U.S.
This book is one of her most banned and challenged books since it's 1972 publication. I think this is for boys what Margret was for girls. Or attempted to be...was she successful?
This is about Tony hitting puberty just as his father gets a great work opportunity and they relocate from Jersey to New York and move up to the upper class world. Blume again is so cruel to the parents and I'm not sure if that's to highlight the child's perspective or if it's intentional to make parents aloof and just plain awful. But Tony's mom was truly painted in the worse light as she lets money rule her world and is suddenly self-conscious of everything but her son's feelings.
But the reason this is banned is probably due to it's discussions of Tony not understanding why he's getting hard or his shame over wet dreams and asking for binoculars for Christmas to spy on the neighbor girl getting dressed by her open window every night. It was a little uncomfortable at how hyper -focused Tony was on Lisa, but I was never a boy going through puberty so maybe it's accurate...or maybe it was the only thing he could look forward to with all his parents neglect. >_>
So, once again...a very human experience book but judge maturity of your reader and if you deem them ready to read about male puberty because that is a heavy theme here.
This book is one of her most banned and challenged books since it's 1972 publication. I think this is for boys what Margret was for girls. Or attempted to be...was she successful?
This is about Tony hitting puberty just as his father gets a great work opportunity and they relocate from Jersey to New York and move up to the upper class world. Blume again is so cruel to the parents and I'm not sure if that's to highlight the child's perspective or if it's intentional to make parents aloof and just plain awful. But Tony's mom was truly painted in the worse light as she lets money rule her world and is suddenly self-conscious of everything but her son's feelings.
But the reason this is banned is probably due to it's discussions of Tony not understanding why he's getting hard or his shame over wet dreams and asking for binoculars for Christmas to spy on the neighbor girl getting dressed by her open window every night. It was a little uncomfortable at how hyper -focused Tony was on Lisa, but I was never a boy going through puberty so maybe it's accurate...or maybe it was the only thing he could look forward to with all his parents neglect. >_>
So, once again...a very human experience book but judge maturity of your reader and if you deem them ready to read about male puberty because that is a heavy theme here.
February 10, 2026
Cute book about a year of change in a young boys life. I loved so much about him and about his thoughts. It was just so well written and I loved it!
June 19, 2014
Judy Blume is J.D. Salinger for the tween set. Like The Catcher in the Rye, Then Again Maybe I Won't has the same elements, just a younger protagonist. Exhibit A: Angst and isolation; it's lonely being a 13 year old boy. Exhibit B: obsessed with sex; at least Holden Caulfield, as creepy as he was, wasn't a peeping tom. Exhibit C: Phoneys. Lots of phoneys. I always approach Judy Blume cautiously, because I know as a kid whenever I read her books, something happened that made me feel weird or gross or guilty about something. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret had the word "period" (among many, many other things). Superfudge had the many realistic and cringeworthy scenes of crap Fudge torments Peter with. Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great had that damn slam book. Blubber is just one big story of feeling like shit and remembering every single person you ever bullied or didn't help who was being bullied. Then Again Maybe I Won't has boners, wet dreams,masturbation, embarrassing stuff for a fifth grade reader. As a grown up reader, what was far more interesting - and cringeworthy - was the commentary on class, and the need for Tony's mother to fit in with all her neighbors (the same thing her son was trying to figure out in junior high). That was too subtle for me way back in fifth grade; there was actually some depth here and not just pedantry or shock value. That was a fun discovery, and really made this re-read well worth my time.
November 5, 2022
I remember liking this book as a kid, more than some other Judy Blumes even. Same with Tex by S.E. Hinton. How hilarious that tween me liked books with boy protagonists when I rarely read any now.
When we meet him, Tony Miglione is 12-year-old growing up in a multigenerational duplex in Jersey City, but soon his dad strikes it rich with an invention, and the family moves on up to a huge house on Long Island with a maid. The change is sudden and confusing for Tony, who is also becoming interested in girls (like asking for binoculars for Christmas so he can spy on this 16-year-old neighbor, Lisa (ew). I'm guessing that wouldn't be publishable today, but the binos are on the cover of the edition in this review! Tony isn't a very likable person, really. He's selfish and uptight. Maybe that's just how boys his age are, but I don't have a lot of patience for them--or this one.
When we meet him, Tony Miglione is 12-year-old growing up in a multigenerational duplex in Jersey City, but soon his dad strikes it rich with an invention, and the family moves on up to a huge house on Long Island with a maid. The change is sudden and confusing for Tony, who is also becoming interested in girls (like asking for binoculars for Christmas so he can spy on this 16-year-old neighbor, Lisa (ew). I'm guessing that wouldn't be publishable today, but the binos are on the cover of the edition in this review! Tony isn't a very likable person, really. He's selfish and uptight. Maybe that's just how boys his age are, but I don't have a lot of patience for them--or this one.
September 1, 2009
I read this when I was about 8 or 9--so yeah, it scared the heck out of me. There I was, a fourth grader, reading about a boy who watched a naked girl through her windows. I don't think I really grasped the whole thing back then--I think I'll go back and reread it. I remember, at the time, one of my best friends was also reading this book, and we found it dirty and scandalous. We giggled, and read the pages like we were about to get yelled at by our teachers.
This book was sure different than the normal 8-9-10 reading level material, which makes it stand out in my mind. I'd suggest you read it--it sure isn't Boxcar children, but it is still a great read.
This book was sure different than the normal 8-9-10 reading level material, which makes it stand out in my mind. I'd suggest you read it--it sure isn't Boxcar children, but it is still a great read.
May 13, 2016
I read this book when I was a 9-year-old girl and I was terrified. I still have war flashbacks about it from time to time.
September 28, 2019
Yikes
This book has not aged well. Why does no one have a problem with this kid invading his neighbor’s privacy? Will not be sharing this “classic” with my son.
This book has not aged well. Why does no one have a problem with this kid invading his neighbor’s privacy? Will not be sharing this “classic” with my son.
August 12, 2023
Teen issues from the view of a 13-year old boy.
Read
July 28, 2017Blast from the past!
I was looking for a light read and I realized that there are a lot of books on my shelf that I bought at Second & Charles last year but never read. So this week I decided to read Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume, who was always one of my favorite authors when I was a kid.
This is the story of Tony Miglione, a thirteen year old boy from Jersey City. His family is used to living a modest lifestyle until his father sells an invention and makes quite a bit of money! The family moves to a Long Island town called Rosemont and discovers a lifestyle filled with all of life's creature comforts, and more!
Tony likes his new life at first. Who wouldn't love a nice big house and a new 10 speed bike? But as his parents grow a little too comfortable with their lavish lifestyle, they change, and change isn't always a good thing.
I liked this book a lot because Tony always had such a good head on his shoulder throughout the whole novel. Sure, there were a few things he did (if you've read this book, you'll know what I mean) that were... immoral. But what thirteen year old doesn't have a few bad habits? Haha.
Overall, it was a great story and one that I would have loved to read when I was growing up. The themes of growing up, coping with change, and standing up for what you believe in are great themes for readers of all ages. If you're a fan of Judy Blume & coming of age stories, make sure you check this book out!
Take care,
Marian
I was looking for a light read and I realized that there are a lot of books on my shelf that I bought at Second & Charles last year but never read. So this week I decided to read Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume, who was always one of my favorite authors when I was a kid.
This is the story of Tony Miglione, a thirteen year old boy from Jersey City. His family is used to living a modest lifestyle until his father sells an invention and makes quite a bit of money! The family moves to a Long Island town called Rosemont and discovers a lifestyle filled with all of life's creature comforts, and more!
Tony likes his new life at first. Who wouldn't love a nice big house and a new 10 speed bike? But as his parents grow a little too comfortable with their lavish lifestyle, they change, and change isn't always a good thing.
I liked this book a lot because Tony always had such a good head on his shoulder throughout the whole novel. Sure, there were a few things he did (if you've read this book, you'll know what I mean) that were... immoral. But what thirteen year old doesn't have a few bad habits? Haha.
Overall, it was a great story and one that I would have loved to read when I was growing up. The themes of growing up, coping with change, and standing up for what you believe in are great themes for readers of all ages. If you're a fan of Judy Blume & coming of age stories, make sure you check this book out!
Take care,
Marian
July 8, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up.
I've said it before, but I do honestly think Judy Blume is a national treasure. "Then Again, Maybe I Won't," published in 1971, one year after her classic, "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," is perhaps Blume's answer to anyone who thought she could only write for girls (though I think "Margaret" should be read by boys, but I digress...). The story centers on 13 year-old Tony Miglione, living in Jersey City with his parents, his older brother Ralph and his wife Angie, and his Grandmother who can't talk because her larynx was removed. Tony has his paper route, wants to play basketball, and overall, seems to enjoy his life. But when Angie reveals she's pregnant, it prompts Tony's father to share an invention with an investor in the city, and, just like that, Tony's family has struck it rich. They move to Rosemont into a giant house, and suddenly, Tony's life is very different.
What I love about this first person narrative is that Blume really gets deep into the character of Tony, and gives him a voice that is engaging. I love that the book deals with class and money, and how Tony notices that his mother has changed since striking it rich. I love that the book deals with the fact that Tony gets very sick from anxiety, though, at the time, it is called nervous stomach. The books treats his mental health as something that is just as important as his physical health.
And, like the classic "Margaret", only for boys this time, Tony deals with a changing body. Wet dreams, unexpected erections, all honest concerns for a 13 year-old boy.
My only qualm deals with what we see on the cover of the book--- binoculars. Tony spies on the 16 year-old girl who lives next door, Lisa, who leaves her shades open when she's changing. He admits to seeing her naked. I am not saying that this is out of character for a 13-year-old necessarily, and at times, Tony seems to know it is wrong. But he doesn't stop doing it, and never has any negative consequences for doing it. I would have liked to have seen him grow on this at least, know it's something he shouldn't do, how it isn't respectful to her privacy. Even in 1971 it would have been nice to see that.
But that doesn't keep this from being another excellent book, wonderfully written. I repeat: Judy Blume is a national treasure.
I've said it before, but I do honestly think Judy Blume is a national treasure. "Then Again, Maybe I Won't," published in 1971, one year after her classic, "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," is perhaps Blume's answer to anyone who thought she could only write for girls (though I think "Margaret" should be read by boys, but I digress...). The story centers on 13 year-old Tony Miglione, living in Jersey City with his parents, his older brother Ralph and his wife Angie, and his Grandmother who can't talk because her larynx was removed. Tony has his paper route, wants to play basketball, and overall, seems to enjoy his life. But when Angie reveals she's pregnant, it prompts Tony's father to share an invention with an investor in the city, and, just like that, Tony's family has struck it rich. They move to Rosemont into a giant house, and suddenly, Tony's life is very different.
What I love about this first person narrative is that Blume really gets deep into the character of Tony, and gives him a voice that is engaging. I love that the book deals with class and money, and how Tony notices that his mother has changed since striking it rich. I love that the book deals with the fact that Tony gets very sick from anxiety, though, at the time, it is called nervous stomach. The books treats his mental health as something that is just as important as his physical health.
And, like the classic "Margaret", only for boys this time, Tony deals with a changing body. Wet dreams, unexpected erections, all honest concerns for a 13 year-old boy.
My only qualm deals with what we see on the cover of the book--- binoculars. Tony spies on the 16 year-old girl who lives next door, Lisa, who leaves her shades open when she's changing. He admits to seeing her naked. I am not saying that this is out of character for a 13-year-old necessarily, and at times, Tony seems to know it is wrong. But he doesn't stop doing it, and never has any negative consequences for doing it. I would have liked to have seen him grow on this at least, know it's something he shouldn't do, how it isn't respectful to her privacy. Even in 1971 it would have been nice to see that.
But that doesn't keep this from being another excellent book, wonderfully written. I repeat: Judy Blume is a national treasure.
July 26, 2019
Another book from the 'coming of age' stack by Judy Blume, this time doing what was incredibly daring in the early 1970s when this was written and confronting some real issues, such as puberty, a boy's changing body (including the whole 'wet dream' incident) and a lot of voyeuristic stalker behavior that would get him arrested in this current timeline.
Tony is going through a lot of changes in regards to his life, his body, his friends, and just about every aspect of things. The fact that his anxieties manifest quite physically is also quite a daring thought. He actually makes himself sick with worry, and for good reason. His mother has gone off the deep end, and there's a solid case of elder abuse brewing in regards to his grandmother.
Once again, I'm looking at a book considered a 'classic' and not buying in. While it's important that someone actually did touch on these topics, as no one else did at the time and where else were kids supposed to get their information. But the story itself felt unfinished. I'd like to know if his grandmother is going to be ok, or whether his mother ever gets a clue.
As for me? I didn't like this either as an adult or a child. I truly wish I had.
Tony is going through a lot of changes in regards to his life, his body, his friends, and just about every aspect of things. The fact that his anxieties manifest quite physically is also quite a daring thought. He actually makes himself sick with worry, and for good reason. His mother has gone off the deep end, and there's a solid case of elder abuse brewing in regards to his grandmother.
Once again, I'm looking at a book considered a 'classic' and not buying in. While it's important that someone actually did touch on these topics, as no one else did at the time and where else were kids supposed to get their information. But the story itself felt unfinished. I'd like to know if his grandmother is going to be ok, or whether his mother ever gets a clue.
As for me? I didn't like this either as an adult or a child. I truly wish I had.
September 8, 2011
This book made me feel uncomfortable. But then I realized that was part of what made Judy Blume as an author successful during the 1970s. She wrote about issues that tended to be swept under the rug by the culture (and in fact, still are a bit). 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 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. 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!" 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. 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.
May 23, 2008
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. Hmm, maybe his binoculars can be used for more than birdwatching!
But then, he feels kind of guilty about that, and about some shoplifting, and his stomach is definitely bothering him. New school, new housekeeper, new feelings about girls, too. Things just aren't the same anymore. It's a lot for a kid to handle.
The counterpart to Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, and just as full of touchy subjects. If you know what I mean.
But then, he feels kind of guilty about that, and about some shoplifting, and his stomach is definitely bothering him. New school, new housekeeper, new feelings about girls, too. Things just aren't the same anymore. It's a lot for a kid to handle.
The counterpart to Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, and just as full of touchy subjects. If you know what I mean.
February 5, 2018
Good old Judy Bloom, being a mother to thousands of children decades after first publication.
Essentially this is the boy's version of "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret". The struggles of blossoming manhood must be something that young men would find to be very scary and terrifying which is what makes books like these good. It's not always easy to turn to your parents as a kid; you're young and this world of puberty is new and embarrassing.
Wouldn't be a bad idea to get more young chaps to read this.
Essentially this is the boy's version of "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret". The struggles of blossoming manhood must be something that young men would find to be very scary and terrifying which is what makes books like these good. It's not always easy to turn to your parents as a kid; you're young and this world of puberty is new and embarrassing.
Wouldn't be a bad idea to get more young chaps to read this.
May 21, 2023
I never read this book when I was a kid, mostly because I had very little patience for books told from the point of view of boys back then, but I really enjoyed it even as an adult! It struck me as a covert cautionary tale about adults who are so insecure about themselves that they bend to the whims of other people, who are in turn just as fucked up as they are!! Everyone keeps being like “what does Tony even have to be worried about!!!” but his life is FAR from perfect. Money can’t solve everything! Tony is mildly gross but he IS a teenage boy lmao, and he matures a lot by the end of the story. Glad I read this!
November 22, 2016
This Judy Blume book has some of the most unlikable characters she's ever created. Tony, seriously, is the worst. He's an ungrateful thirteen year old who whines when his parents become rich and move them to a mansion with a swimming pool. He spies on the teenage girl next door with binoculars as she's undressing, and we're never meant to hold him accountable for it but accept it as a rite of passage. It was hard to feel any empathy for him, because even though recently I've had misgivings about other Blume books the characters were still relateable.
January 30, 2022
3.5
While there’s zero plot, the main character in Tony Miglione is a very relatable and likable 13 year old.
Raised in a lower middle class family in Jersey City, Tony has a life he appreciates. But, after his father sells an invention, his life his turned on its head, and he moves to a wealthy neighborhood and is befriended by a privileged klepto with a sister who never closes her blinds while she changes. His grandma locks herself in her room following the hiring of a maid. On top of that Tony is very 13, inconvenient boners and all.
While there’s zero plot, the main character in Tony Miglione is a very relatable and likable 13 year old.
Raised in a lower middle class family in Jersey City, Tony has a life he appreciates. But, after his father sells an invention, his life his turned on its head, and he moves to a wealthy neighborhood and is befriended by a privileged klepto with a sister who never closes her blinds while she changes. His grandma locks herself in her room following the hiring of a maid. On top of that Tony is very 13, inconvenient boners and all.
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