Module 2: Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Cleary, B. (1981). Ramona Quimby, Age 8. New York: Morrow Junior Books.

Summary
In this continuation novel about heroine Ramona Quimby, Ramona starts the third grade at a new school. On her own and taking the bus by herself for the first time presents new challenges for Ramona but she is excited to face these new adventures. She makes new friends, learns how to get along at the babysitters house and learns that school, while difficult, can be as rewarding as her close-knit family.

My Impressions
This is such an enjoyable book and I think a great chapter book for kids aged 7 to 10. Cleary's characters are heartfelt and memorable and while the time period is not current, the emotions that the characters feel are very relevant, no matter what the time. Ramona's problems are quite simple by today's standards but the characters are charming and I believe kid's will want to learn more about Ramona's adventures.

Professional Reviews
From the first day of third grade, when Ramona Quimby meets her eventual nemesis Yard Ape, life moves on at its usual wild pace--usual for the boisterous Ramona, that is. Soon she is accidentally squashing a raw egg into her hair at the school cafeteria, being forced to play Uncle Rat with her annoying young neighbor, and, worst of all, throwing up in her classroom. The responsibilities of an 8-year-old are sometimes daunting, especially in a family that is trying to squeak by while the father goes back to school. But Ramona is full of too much vim and vigor to ever be down for long. In her second Newbery Honor Book about Ramona (the first was Ramona and Her Father), Beverly Cleary presents another slice of the Quimby family life. Author of more than two dozen children's books, Cleary has a true knack for understanding the tangle of thoughts and emotions in a child's mind and heart. Empathic, witty, and astute, she has earned many other awards, including the Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw. Alan Tiegreen's clever line drawings have charmed countless readers of Cleary's books over the years, and his style is now inextricably tied to hers. (Ages 8 to 12) --Amazon.com Review, Emilie Coulter, 2005. (Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0380709562/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books)

Cleary shows us life through Ramona's eyes and shows her young readers that they are not alone. --Kirkus Reviews, 2007. (Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0380709562/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books)

Suggested Use in Library
This is a great book to recommend to younger readers. While the storyline is simple and not fraught with too much drama, this is a book children can read for enjoyment and to help them become more independent and engaged readers. Since this is the sixth book in the Ramona Quimby series, a child can follow Ramona's storyline and read all of Cleary's books. A child may also enjoy the characters in this book and thus take an interest in other Cleary books, as many of her other popular characters make an appearance in Ramona's world.

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SLIS 5420/Module 2, Book 2
Classic Children's and YA Literature
August 30-September 5, 2010