Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey

Tish's English teacher, Mrs. Dunfrey, requires the students to write in a journal 3 times a week. She specifically said that if the students mark an entry "Do Not Read" she will not read it. At first, Tish distrusts the promise. She tests Mrs. Dunfrey by writing about harmless things that no one else would know (the fact that Tish can crochet for example). Once Tish realizes that the journal is safe, she begins writing freely and talking about how difficult her life is becoming. Her father is abusive and has left them. Her mother is depressed and doesn't do anything except cry that she wants the father back. Tish has an 8-year old brother, Matt and she takes care of him. She talks about how much she misses her Granma and how she doesn't show more really care about school. She talks about her job and how she deals with problems there.
Tish started doing the journal because she was required to, but she gradually comes to realize that writing in the journal is like talking to a friend. But, will she ever let Mrs. Dunfrey read any of her real entries? And what is going to happen to Tish & Matt.
My Opinion
I enjoyed this book. It is told completely through Tish's journal entries which are very heartfelt and meaningful. Tish struggles to be the adult in her family and is dealing with issues far beyond her years. I liked her strength and her vulnerability. And the end of the book is satisfying without feeling too trite. show less

This was an okay book. Very short and an easy read, took me about an uninterrupted hour on the couch.

Enjoyed is not the right word, but I am glad I read this book. It was really interesting and kept me reading the whole time. Despite its short length, it was very descriptive of what it might be like to be a young girl responsible for her younger brother. Her mother is dysfunctional and her father is absent (although he does come back into the picture for a brief time) and her younger brother is scared. So is she (our heroine, Tish), but she's got to be strong for her brother. It very accurately describes what it might be like to try and be an adult and a teen at the same time. Tish isn't old enough to handle all the responsibility show more thrust on her, but at the same time, she has to shoulder it and her friends don't understand what's going on as she's afraid to confide in anyone. Not only does she have problems at home but a crush by one of her managers at her fast food job makes her life even more difficult. All in all I thought it was a good view of what it might be to be struggling to get by and the responsibility that a teen might be under with inadequate parents. I don't know how "real" this book is, but it came across as very authentic. The only part that I found disingenuous was the ending. Too fairy tale for the reality of the rest of the book, but since it's a upper middle grade book, not surprising. I'd give this 3 1/2 stars. show less

I wish I read this in high school so I'd know how to express myself freely.
It has similar vibes to Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary, also an all-time favorite.
With Haddix, every book I read captures my heart and soul.
I read other books with similar plot, but they have less effect on me.
Besides, that's a catchy title right there, so I put it in 2020 PopSugar Reading Challenge: a book with a title that caught your attention.
Definitely worth recommending to those who are struggling to open up about themselves.

Teens will relate to and enjoy this book. The determination to keep hidden all the embarrassing aspects of their lives is a struggle all teens can understand. Keeping an English class writing journal is also an assignment that most teens know about. Even though few teens are unlucky enough to experience the life of the main character, they are intuitive enough to know that there are peers in every school who deal with parents who are barely coping. Unfortunately, some readers will be disappointed by the lack of character development and will be left feeling that something is lacking. However, the journal format allows you to cut the author some slack in that the writing is 100% that of a teenager, with no narrative/author input.

3.5/5 stars
You can find all my reviews here

I read this book when I was in Junior High, it was one of those stories that I remembered vaguely but I knew I had liked at the time. It’s very short and in the format of journals assigned by Tish’s English teacher, Mrs. Dunphrey.

Tish has been forced to grow up much faster than the normal fifteen year old. Some might say she’s even more grown up than her mother who forgets she has children and only pines for the love of her life. The love of her life is less than perfect, in fact, he’s a terrible man who beat his family and then left them for two years. Tish takes care of her younger brother Matt, feeding and clothing both of them with the little money she makes at her part-time, show more minimum wage job.

This story is sad, a brief look at a broken home. One that I was happy I decided to reread in the end. If nothing else, it made me thankful that my parents were always there for me growing up, even if we didn’t always see eye to eye. If you have people who love and care for you cherish it because not everybody is so lucky. show less

Margaret Haddix is an excellent storyteller. Here she gets to the heart of why so many young people just can't make school work for them. excellent read.

Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey was a story that even at my age I could relate to. I was a huge journal writer as a young teen, and it was definitely a way for me to really let my inner thoughts flow. It is amazing how we can really not see the chaos and drama that is going on in a teen's life. Or anyone's for that matter.

Tish follows through on her assignment to make several journal entries each week for Mrs. Dunphrey's English class. Because of a promise to not read anything marked "Don't Read This," Tish is actually able to really let her life out on paper that probably doesn't match what her friends and teachers imagine.

The story moves swiftly and is really a pretty short book at just 125 pages. Tish is a teen character show more that is believable and one that many can relate to. Your emotions just might get caught up in this story. My emotions were definitely caught. Tish is a girl you could actually know, but would be surprised to find out how little you might know. Reading this caused me to really open my eyes to those around me. This was an excellent book, and I am so glad I stumbled on it. :)

Side Note: Another little treat was because I got it on Paperback Swap it was not just a good deal but also used. The inside cover made me giggle, because first it was signed by one girl who owned it and then another signed it and also drew some funny pictures on the inside cover. Silly but it was kind of sweet to see. show less