Melanie Dulaney’s Reviews > The Last Ember > Status Update
Melanie Dulaney
is starting
Several instances of violence against the orphan boys at St Ichabod’s, first by Wakey-Wakey the administrator, who uses assorted implements to beat them on less visible places than the face and then by Parnassus who slaps and nearly breaks the jaw of 5 or 6 yr old Titch. Parnassus is clearly established as a sadist as his pleasure in Titch’s pain is described in detail.
— Sep 28, 2025 10:57AM
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Melanie’s Previous Updates
Melanie Dulaney
is 92% done
I wonder why the effort to use substitutionary curse words like plod and Jervis but use damn/damned twice?
— Sep 29, 2025 01:46PM
Melanie Dulaney
is starting
Another creative substitution for profanity used pretty regularly: “plod,” as in bullplod, oh plod I don’t know plod and more, means the sh curse word that needs to be avoided in most middle grade titles in order to be purchased for that 4th-8th grade age group.
— Sep 29, 2025 01:34PM
Melanie Dulaney
is starting
Random word in place of expletive-“Jerpis” as in Hot Jerpis, What in the Jerpis, For Jerpis’ sake, etc.
— Sep 29, 2025 07:35AM
Melanie Dulaney
is starting
Dr Frogg exclaims, “Well, I’ll be damned!” when she see the aerimander egg for the first time.
— Sep 28, 2025 07:15PM
Melanie Dulaney
is starting
Eva MAY be coding queer-reference to her wanting to impress a popular girl at school and a specific note about her roommate/friend Myrnie liking boys.
— Sep 27, 2025 12:47PM
