Do Not Read - or Else!

Do Not Read This Book #3

by Pat Moon, Sarah Nayler

The third book following the award-winning Do Not Read This Book, shortlisted for the Sheffield Children's Book Award and Children's Book Award Pick of the Year.

Genres: Childrens

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2006

Reviews

[Cameron]

Sorting through all of my childhood books atm... this style of diary had me in an absolute chokehold in 2010

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I arrived home from England when I was almost 9, with the memories of so many new people I had met. I was so excited when my mum came back a month later. She had also brought with her a book series which my great aunt thought I may enjoy in a few years. The "Do Not Read" series were awesome to read, especially during my intermediate schooling years, when I could mostly relate to Finch Penny, the main character.

This story is written as a diary of a 12 year old girl who is going through year 8, spilling her secrets about love, lies, friends, her boyfriend etc into her trustworthy notebook. As a category, I find diaries really interesting because they capture the raw emotion as it's happening, and also leave room for the main character to reflect on what they have done.

All of Finch's friends have a cellphone, and through her diary her jealousy grows. She tries to bring up the issue with her mum and Ian, her mum's boyfriend. While her mum is sympathetic and willing to rethink the situation, Finch's soon-to-be-step-father is against Finch having a phone until she is 16. I could relate to her situation because when I was in year 8, it seemed like everyone except me had their own phone. My favourite quote comes from her frustration, when she writes, "Anyway, if Ian is right, I won't have any mates left to phone by the time I'm 16 - 'coz their brains will be zombified! Either way, I can't win." I just love this quote, because I still find it funny, after all this time.

Finch's mum had a rough life, her parents were killed in an accident, she was forced to live with her aunt and uncle, her uncle would beat her. Life just got so bad that she ran away when she got a chance. This was after a friend's brother's party (there was alcohol involved), and she later found out she was pregnant. Finch has recently been told the truth about her parentage, and now is stubbornly curious about her dad. What I find a thought-provoking concept is how she feels so desperate to get contact with him, since she feels like a part of her is missing. It's risky, but Finch is prepared to take the risks involved because finding her biological father means so much to her.

At the start of the term, Mia was a girl in Finch's year who seemed prissy, bitchy, and acted like a princess who got away with everything. Finch hated her. Later, she found out that Mia has cancer. They are now best friends. For me, Mia is an interesting character because of her cancer and how she's dealing with it.

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a kid. Does anyone know whatever happened to the 4th installment? Do Not Read This Means You?

[Remy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so old when I discovered this in the public library. And it'd been like 3-4 years since I last read the first one, give or take. Thank goodness Finch finally found her father, but I was also thrown off by Ian and Deb and how fuckin gross they were in here.

What I remember most, though, was being thoroughly amused by the bra talk. Lol.

[Jess Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my all time favourite books!