28 pages • 56 minutes read
Stephen ManesBe a Perfect Person in Just Three Days!
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1982A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
BetaChapters 1-2Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 1 Summary
Middle schooler Milo Crinkley is in the library when a book titled Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days! falls off the top shelf and hits him on the head. On the back of the book is a photo of the book’s author, Dr. K. Pinkerton Silverfish, who is pictured eating a mustard-dripping hot dog while wearing baggy pants, a Hawaiian shirt, half a bow tie, one mitten, and a clown nose. The first paragraph echoes Milo’s thoughts—how can someone who looks so “stupid” teach anyone how to be perfect? The next paragraph intrigues Milo: “Well, maybe I'm not as stupid as I look. After all, I guessed what you were thinking, didn't I? You have just learned the first lesson in perfection. Things are not always what they seem” (7). Milo turns the page and reads chapter two, which simply tells him to turn the page. Chapter three congratulates Milo on following instructions and warns him not to skip to the end, instead telling him to read one chapter each evening for the next three days. Milo has a strong urge to skip to the last page, so he does. The last page screams, “BOY, ARE YOU DUMB!” (9) but gives the reader one more chance for perfection, sending them back to the beginning. Milo checks the book out of the library and imagines how nice it will be to be perfect: no more dumb accidents, being called “stupid” or a “pest” by his sister, or being in trouble with his parents.
Chapters 2 Summary
Milo thinks about Dr. Silverfish’s book while doing his homework. Milo imagines correcting his teachers and always getting perfect scores. At dinner, Milo’s father tells him not to slurp his soup, his mother tells him to slow down, and his sister complains about his feet. When Milo comments, “I bet you’d love me if I turned perfect’” (13), they all laugh. His father says, “‘I’d settle for okay […] Nobody’s perfect’” (13). Back in his room Milo looks at the book and wonders what the “K” in Silverfish’s name stands for. “DAY 1” opens with: “I know what you’re thinking again. You’re wondering what the K. in my name stands for” (15). Impressed, Milo reads on. His first instructions are to get a stalk of broccoli, tie string around the end, leave it in his bedroom overnight, and wear it around his neck the following day. Milo is surprised but looks for broccoli in the kitchen. He rejects the frozen broccoli in a “succulent chemical” sauce and finds a stalk of fresh broccoli, making it the first time he asks for a vegetable. That night, Milo dreams that he is sitting on a huge piece of broccoli, laughing at all the imperfect people making mistakes below him: His sister stubs her toe, his mother locks her keys in her car, and his father drops the groceries.
Chapters 1-2 Analysis
Milo is initially skeptical of Dr. Silverfish’s claim to be an expert on perfection, since Dr. Silverfish looks the opposite of “perfect,” but Milo’s opinion is swayed when that exact thought is the first sentence of Dr. Silverfish’s book. The ability of Dr. Silverfish to seemingly read Milo’s mind overrides Milo’s negative impression and convinces Milo that Silverfish might be a real doctor. This sequence of events highlights both the impact of first impressions—Silverfish looks “stupid” because of his unusual clothing and messy eating—and the importance of looking beyond first impressions. Despite his appearance, Dr. Silverfish is an astute doctor who uses his appearance to eventually prove a point about perfection, which touches on the theme of Societal Pressures and Expectations. His pointed use of jokes and sarcasm helps intrigue his younger audience and introduces themes of humor as a vehicle for discussion of serious topics, which will be expanded upon more throughout the book.
The allure of achieving perfection is addressed in these chapters and speaks to the theme exploring The Myth of Perfection and Its Impact on Self-Esteem. Milo is tempted by the idea of perfection, which he believes will solve all his problems with school, his family, and his clumsiness. Notably, while he is daydreaming about being perfect, he forgets the book he went into the library for. Milo’s self-esteem is low, but this is not atypical for a preadolescent boy who takes to heart everything his family—especially his sister—teases or corrects him about. When he dreams about being perfect, he is the one laughing at his family while they make common, everyday mistakes. His self-esteem is boosted as he looks down on his parents and sister as a superior, perfect person. Milo’s family is close, and their banter is indicative of a loving family unit. He argues with his older sister, but their interactions are typical of sibling teasing. When his father says, “Nobody’s perfect”, Elissa laughs and says, “Especially Milo.” In response, Milo gives Elissa “a kick under the table” (13), highlighting their normal sibling dynamic. Despite this common relationship, Milo is clearly impacted by her behavior, which leads him to take unusual advice to overcome her power over his self-esteem.
