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If "Are You There God, It's Me Margaret" was the answer to edgma-cating young girls about growing up, then I suppose "Then Again, Maybe I Won't" is the answer to boys. While I read this one in my youth as well, it made a slightly less impression on me because it was about BOY ISSUES! Gross! Still, I couldn't wait to read it as a continuation of my Shelf Discovery Challenge Rampage Month.
Tony Miglione is moving to a new home over the summer before his 7th grade year. His dad has struck it rich on one of his electrical inventions, and has been hired on as an executive for the company that purchased it. Gone are the days of wishing for a new bike and working a paper delivery route for spending money. In are the days of a big house with five bathrooms, a live-in maid, a new car and rich neighbors.
Tony quickly makes new friends, particularly with his neighbor, who just happens to be a shoplifter and has a hot sixteen-year-old sister who dresses with her blinds open (which brings on the ever-notorious wet dreams and unexpected/inconvenient moments of "excitement"). His mother starts to become a social-climber, his big brother gives up his dream as a teacher to work with his father and make the big bucks, and Tony doesn't like it a bit. It takes a health issue for Tony to realize that his worries are important, and must be faced down.
Like Margaret, this book was incredibly easy to read, and brought back the memories. I remember my friend Tiffany and I reading this, and giggling in horrid fascination at all the boy problems, and learning that we should always remember to shut our blinds while dressing! For a tween-aged kid, it is a little edgy. Tony and his dad have the required uncomfortable sex talk, there is the wet dream/erection obsession, Tony gets drunk for the first time with his neighbor and throws up in the bushes, and of course he uses his binoculars to watch the neighbor girl get naked. There are great lessons here, though. I suppose if my daughter were a boy, I'd let her read it. Like any book of this nature, it would just need some advance discussion.
This was another great trip back in time. Now, I move on to some heavier, juicier Blume...Forever.
4 out of 5 stars
Tony Miglione is moving to a new home over the summer before his 7th grade year. His dad has struck it rich on one of his electrical inventions, and has been hired on as an executive for the company that purchased it. Gone are the days of wishing for a new bike and working a paper delivery route for spending money. In are the days of a big house with five bathrooms, a live-in maid, a new car and rich neighbors.
Tony quickly makes new friends, particularly with his neighbor, who just happens to be a shoplifter and has a hot sixteen-year-old sister who dresses with her blinds open (which brings on the ever-notorious wet dreams and unexpected/inconvenient moments of "excitement"). His mother starts to become a social-climber, his big brother gives up his dream as a teacher to work with his father and make the big bucks, and Tony doesn't like it a bit. It takes a health issue for Tony to realize that his worries are important, and must be faced down.
Like Margaret, this book was incredibly easy to read, and brought back the memories. I remember my friend Tiffany and I reading this, and giggling in horrid fascination at all the boy problems, and learning that we should always remember to shut our blinds while dressing! For a tween-aged kid, it is a little edgy. Tony and his dad have the required uncomfortable sex talk, there is the wet dream/erection obsession, Tony gets drunk for the first time with his neighbor and throws up in the bushes, and of course he uses his binoculars to watch the neighbor girl get naked. There are great lessons here, though. I suppose if my daughter were a boy, I'd let her read it. Like any book of this nature, it would just need some advance discussion.
This was another great trip back in time. Now, I move on to some heavier, juicier Blume...Forever.
4 out of 5 stars
22 comments:
It's always interesting to read from a boy's perspective, isn't it? ;)
It sounds like you're really enjoying this challenge!
These books are perfect for December. I'll have my first review for this up next week.
Do you think Blume is as good on young boys as she is on young girls?
I remember this one from when I was a kid. I don't think my parents had any idea what I was reading! LOL! I just bought this one for SD Challenge! Can't wait -- is Judy Blume a writing goddess or what?
I am too advanced in years...old...to have developed a fondness for her books at the right age...and I am sure I am too old to read them now..lol
I think this is one of the Blume's I didn't read. My mother didn't care for Judy Blume as an author because she felt her topics were "too racy" - that conservative roman catholic thing! So the ones I did read I read secretly! I would have felt as you did if I read this growing up - "Ewwww, Boy things GROSS!"
I'm glad you are enjoying this challenge for the most part!
Happy Reading!
Judy Blume always pushed the envelope, and I've always respected her for that. I know that I read this one, but I don't remember the details. These posts certainly take you back. ;)
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
I hadn't ever heard of this one, but considering how clueless I was about boys I probably should have read it when I was a young teen. :)
You know I don't remember this one at all. I've read a few of Blume's adult books and really enjoyed them as well.
I was sorry to be too old to read them myself but my two daughters both loved them and we had some great conversations based on both books. The "boys" book didn't bother them too much, I think because they had an older brother. Both daughters still hold Judy Blume as a favorite author.
I wish I'd known about this when my son was that age! I can just picture you and your friend giggling over it. You have to hand it to Judy Blume - she's great at writing about important topics.
I'm sure I never read this growing up and I think I might not have read a lot of the Judy Blume books other than the one she is most popular for. No idea she explored "boy" issues.
Can't believe I have never heard of this one. My son probably would have enjoyed reading it! I read Forever and loved it. The Shelf Discovery Challenge is AWESOME!! You are making me want to revisit so many of my childhood favorites!
Melody - I just had a sister, so I needed all the insight I could get when I was younger!
JoAnn - I am! I'm blasting through these books!
Beth - That is sort of what I thought. I'm always distracted in December, but these books are keeping my eye on the ball. They aren't too deep, and they aren't that long.
Jill - interesting question. I guess I'm partial to the girl issues, because I've been there and know she speaks the truth. But I think this book is does a pretty good job.
Julie - Oh she is totally a goddess. There were a couple more of her books that I didn't read for this challenge but should have. I just finished Wifey...woo hoo! Smut city!
Caite - oh Caite no! You are never too old for this stuff! If you are beyond the periods and boob exercises, then you should try Wifey! Blume has something for everyone!
Amy - yes, she crosses lines on all fronts. I really don't know how I pulled off reading these books under my mom's nose, except that she just wasn't paying attention.
Anna - I know! If you ever wanted the down and dirty on anything, Judy Blume delivered!
Alyce - As I said earlier, I had no brothers, so this book helped me and my friend (who HAD TWO BROTHERS, thank you!) try to figure them out. Can't say that I ever did figure them out though...
Dar - I think she has written books for about any audience out there.
Margot - Based on the author's notes in the book Shelf Discovery, Blume is a favorite even now with girls all over the world, even Africa. Amazing that she has stood the test of time.
Kathy - Based on what I've read and what I remember, she covered every important topic and then some!
Nicole - well, heck, she covered all the girl stuff and needed new material I guess!
Kathleen - I know, this challenge is awesome. I loved Forever...that review is coming next week!
Are you just having too much fun here with all of these, or what??? LOL....more power to you, Sandy!!
If your daughter were a boy? LOL
I didn't know Judy Blume even wrote books with male protagonists.
My mother read Blubber and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing to my brother and I. When we started reading on our own she assumed all of Judy Blume's books were like that until one day the author appeared on the Phil Donohue show to talk about Forever.
By that time I'd already read Then Again Maybe I Won't.
I've read a LOT of Blume, but I must have missed this one somehow...I can't wait to see your review on Forever though. There is a scene in that book that will forever be stuck in my head!
I just finished Are You There God? and this review definitely makes me want to read more Judy Blume.
I didn't read this one ... probably because it was about boys! But now that I have a son, maybe I should read it!
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