In Zindel's The Pigman, has John matured since his freshman year in school?

In
Zindel's , John writes about being a troublemaker in school. He brags about
being called the Bathroom Bomber because he used to set off tiny bombs in bathrooms during his
Freshman year. He then brags about a prank he calls "the fruit rolls," which is when
he gets other students in class to roll old apples at substitute teachers. John says the
following about himself after bragging about his pranks:

"I gave up all that kid stuff now that I'm a sophomore. The only thing I do now
that is faintly criminal is write on desks" (3-4).

This does not mean that John has matured. Someone who has a mature outlook on life
wouldn't start a book that is supposed to be a "memorial epic" (5) by bragging about
himself. Not only that, but as John is writing the first chapter, he has just done something
very immature--he held a teenage party in Mr. Pignati's house without permission. During the
party, John had his friend bring alcohol, the girls tried on the deceased wife's dresses, and
police were called in to break it up. This does not demonstrate that John has matured. Even
though John is the one who wants to write about his and Lorraine's friendship with the Pigman,
which might seem honorable, he only suggests it to help Lorraine with her grief. Mr. Pignati
died after they held that party at his house and she feels as though this pushed him into the
grave. Therefore, John is not much more mature by his sophomore year. He is getting better, but
he still has a way to go before one might call him mature.