Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days!

How does Milo’s relationship with his family impact his self-esteem? Are his family members in the wrong for their behavior? How does Milo overcome his insecurities around them?

Define “absurdism” and identify examples of it in the story. Why might Manes have used this approach? Does it convey the text’s themes to his intended audience more effectively?

Compare how perfection and goodness are presented in the story, notably how Manes represents good people as inherently flawed. Structure an argument either for or against his depiction of goodness, with a thesis statement on whether you believe Milo is a good person or not.

How does Milo’s father help him in his journey towards self-acceptance? What is the importance of support from loved ones when trying to become a happier, more confident person?

How is food symbolism used throughout the story? How does Milo’s approach to food and eating change by the end? Support your argument with examples from the text.

Milo stands up to his bully by telling him to mind his own business. Is this an effective method for dealing with bullies? Why didn’t Milo ask for help from anyone at school when he was being teased? How does handling the situation on his own help alleviate his personal insecurities?

Milo fails at his final task and feels ashamed, but he is reassured by Dr. Silverfish’s book that this is okay. Is this a task that could actually be accomplished, and if not, why would Dr. Silverfish have created it? What is the value of learning from failures?

How do Dr. Silverfish’s lessons help Milo perform better in his baseball game? Would the story’s ending have been as effective if Milo continued to play poorly? What is the value of participating in hobbies or games even if one isn’t “good” at them?