Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey
Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey
When reading the book, Don’t You Dare Read This Mrs. Dunphrey, I believe that I had read it entirely in two hours. It is a book that you could not put down. The author had a way of putting the journal entries in such a real way that I felt a part of a connection to the main character, Tish. The most important journal entries that touched me the most came from the entries marked Don’t you Dare read this and of course the final entries. The following passages were of importance to me and are included below with the page number.
Throughout the entries and in the first entries written, Tish was full of anger and it was shown within the first sentence of each entry.
September 16- Aren’t you proud of me? This isn’t due for two
days, and I’m doing my last entry already. I
wouldn’t admit this to anyone, of course, but this
journal stuff isn’t too bad. It’s better than any of the
other homework you teachers make us do. As long as
you’re not reading this, I can just put down whatever I’m
thinking. (Page 15)
This passage goes on to say what Tish did to her brother Matt. She was angry at him and then she felt bad that she got mad at him. Throughout this entry Tish was actually mad at her mom for working late and always crying for her father not being there. Tish was angry. But, she had every right to be angry. She was still a child and acting like an adult and trying to take care of Matt, her brother. The journal entry is helping her to get her emotions and feelings onto paper. She likes it because she needs it.
October 12- Mom’s going to do something stupid, I know she is.
She’s missed work the last three nights-I had to call
in sick for her, because she forgot to do that. She
just sits in the rocking chair rocking, muttering things
like, “I could see him…It could work…” It really wasn’t
a lie for me to tell her boss that she was sick, because she
hasn’t been sleeping or eating, and she looks really terrible.
(Page 28)
Tish’s mother is lost without her husband, but her husband left her and is abusive. She still wants him back. Tish has the sense and is so intelligent to know that her father is abusive and doesn’t understand why her mother is so upset over him not being home. I think Tish is worried about her mother, but doesn’t understand that her mother has a mental illness. Abuse in all forms, as mentioned in this book, can make a person fall apart. Tish’s mother has fallen apart.
March 11- Do you know how stupid the world is? I went in to Mr.
Seagrave this afternoon, and told him what I wrote about
Tuesday- I mean, I sure didn’t say I was worried about
paying the bills because mom left us, but I did say I wasn’t
getting anything out of school and I was thinking about
dropping out so I could work full-time at the Burger Boy.
(Page 93)
At the beginning of the book, the Assistant Manager asked Tish out for dinner and Tish said no. Tish knew how men were in her mind because of her father and so she turned off others in general. This passage reminded me of this and Mr. Seagraves response to her thinking of working full time was very realistic, even though Tish needed the money. A few entries later, Mr. Seagrave left and Bud, the Assistant Manager took over his position. Then Tish was fired. It was because she decided not to go on a date with him.
Personally, I could write more. I could ask the question, Did Tish’s grandmother understand this abuse? Is that why she crocheted? How can you stay in control when everything is out of control? Tish did her best and I do not know how she accomplished that. I think this book puts us into realistic thinking. Our world does not do enough to protect our children and to educate parents on raising children. I feel that abuse is rising all over and is resulting in more crime, addictions, and additional mental and emotional abuse to others. I have many journals that I have kept since High School. I know that they do help and are wonderful to express positive as well as negative experiences.
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