Then Again, Maybe I Won't (1971)

Then Again, Maybe I Won't is a young adult novel written by Judy Blume. Intended for pre-teens and teenagers, the novel deals with puberty from a 1970s male perspective as well as the other trials of growing up.

Plot summary

Thirteen-year-old Tony Miglione lives with his blue-collar family in Jersey City, New Jersey. After his family becomes wealthy from his father's sale of his electronics invention, the family moves to the fictional upper-class community of Rosemont, New York, on Long Island. His mother becomes absorbed with advancing in the social hierarchy in the family's well-to-do community, while his maternal grandmother becomes angry and withdrawn when she is no longer allowed to cook for the household as she loves to do. Tony's older brother, Ralph, a new father who was previously a well-respected junior high school teacher, gives up teaching to make more money working in the same business as their father, making Tony feel his brother is 'selling out'.

Tony meets and befriends a neighbor, Joel Hoober, a boy his own age. While Joel's manners impress Mr. and Mrs. Miglione, Tony sees Joel's true colors in private: he secretly engages in such uncalled-for deportment as making goof calls, underage drinking, reading adult-oriented fiction, and shoplifting, and encourages Tony to participate in such antics as well.

Joel also has a sixteen-year old sister, Lisa, whose bedroom window faces Tony's. Tony thinks she's gorgeous. When Tony notices Lisa does not close her blinds when dressing and undressing, Tony asks his parents for a pair of binoculars for Christmas "for birdwatching". Tony experiences his first wet dream about her. 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.

Tony begins experiencing anxiety-related spells whenever Joel is shoplifting. During a trip downtown, Tony suspects Joel stole something and faints in public. He gets admitted to the hospital. After doctors determine the malady is not physical (although he is diagnosed with "nervous stomach", which might now be translated to IBS), a therapist offers to help Tony. The therapy helps Tony learn new ways to deal with his problems.

Joel is eventually caught stealing golf balls from a sporting goods store, and Tony refuses to stand up for him when they are stopped by security. Surprisingly, Joel is not angry at him and the two boys agree amicably to end their friendship when Joel is sent to a military academy; he explains to Tony that he acted out simply to see if he could get away with it. Tony's mother (who tries to emulate everything the Hoobers do) considers sending Tony there too, until Tony's father intervenes and says this is a key decision that only Tony should make. Tony also overcomes his infatuation with Lisa and curtails watching her window after learning that she and his youth group leader are sweethearts.

In the final chapter, Tony is bicycling and talking to himself about his parents building a swimming pool and he is approaching his 14th birthday. Tony is also now more at ease with himself and the family changes, and he had the courage to tell the therapist he spied on Lisa. Tony thinks it would be best if he ceases his voyeuristic behavior for good, but finally says to himself 'Then again, maybe I won't.'

Major characters

Anthony (Tony) Miglione – Protagonist of the book who is 12 (later 13) years old, the youngest of three boys.

Victor (Vic) Miglione – Tony's father, who is a freelance electrician and an inventor whose invention changes their lives.

Carmella Miglione – Tony's mother, who eventually goes by the name Carol, much to Tony's dismay. She becomes self-absorbed with her social status once the family moves to Rosemont.

Ralph Miglione – Tony's older brother who is a teacher at his middle school in Jersey City, but goes into the family business with his father, which angers Tony to no end. Back in Jersey City, Ralph was respected amongst Tony's peers, known as "The Wizard of Seventh Grade Social Studies".

Grandma – Carmella's mother, who cannot speak after having her larynx removed due to cancer. 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.

Vincent (Vinnie) Miglione – Tony's deceased eldest brother. He died in Vietnam a few years before the story takes place.

Angie Miglione – Tony's sister-in-law and Ralph's wife.

Vincenza (Vickie) Miglione – Tony's niece, and Angie and Ralph's daughter. She was named after Vinnie.

Joel Hoober – Tony's new friend in Rosemont. He is a practical joker and a shoplifter.

Marty Endo – One of Tony's new friends who is also one of his basketball teammates and a member of the church youth group.

Scott Gold – Another new friend of Tony's, who is in all of Tony's classes at school. He is often seen with Tony, Marty Endo, and Joel Hoober as a group.

Lisa Hoober – Joel's attractive 16-year-old sister, whom Tony develops a crush on, and spies on with binoculars via his window

Kathryn (Corky) Thomas – A tomboyish girl of Tony's age who has a crush on him, but receives little attention from him.

J.W. Fullerbach – Vic's new boss and business partner.

Frankie Bollino – Tony's best friend from Jersey City who comes to visit.

Dr. Fogel – Tony's psychiatrist.

Maxine – Housekeeper to the Migliones who directs the house her way and will not let Tony's grandmother cook anymore. She eventfully softens as the book progresses.

Millicent – Hispanic housekeeper to the Hoobers who seems to be the only one who is aware of Joel's misbehavior