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28 pages 56 minutes read

Stephen Manes

Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days!

Stephen ManesFiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1982

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Character Analysis

Milo Crinkley

Milo is a young schoolboy who enjoys stories about monsters. He lives at home with his parents and older sister, Elissa. Milo is a self-confessed klutz. He shares that he knocked over his mother’s expensive vase, sat on his sister’s new record album, and let the bottom fall out of a full grocery bag. Milo is self-conscious about his clumsiness, and he takes his sister’s comments like “‘You sure are stupid, Milo’” and “‘Don’t be a pest. Milo’” to heart (11). When Dr. Silverfish’s book falls on Milo’s head in the library, he initially dismisses it. However, Milo is unable to resist the temptation to change from a clumsy tween into a perfect person in just three days, so he commits to following Dr. Silverfish’s three steps. During his journey to perfection, Milo’s characteristics of perseverance, willpower, and courage are shown. He proudly weathers the humiliation of wearing broccoli and stands up to a bully during step one, overcomes the temptation of delicious food during step two, and realizes that he likes his imperfections and those of his family during step three. By the end of his journey, Milo is a self-assured boy who is comfortable with his individuality and imperfections, knowing that everyone makes mistakes.

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