Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (Avon Camelot Books)
by Beverly Cleary

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• ISBN13: 9780380709564
• Condition: New
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Book Reviews of Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (Avon Camelot Books)

Book Review: Ramona and her Reading
Summary: 5 Stars

Benson, Linda. "The Hidden Curriculum and the Child's New Discourse: Beverly Cleary's Ramona Goes to School. Children's-Literature-in-Education. 30.1 (1999): 9-29.

Mackey, Margaret. "Ramona the Chronotope: The Young Reader and Social Theories of Narrative." Children's-Literature-in-Education. 22.2 (1981): 97-109.

The Newbery Award-Winning novel, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, by Beverly Cleary, paints a vivid picture of the distresses of childhood. Ramona is a tenacious third grader, learning the ins and outs of the social confines of elementary school. Evolution of her character occurs through the novel as she comes to terms with her identity and self-expression primarily by means of trail and error. Often, her energy and self-confusion is channeled through her own literacy. Literature serves as the vehicle for Ramona to focus her negative and inadequate feelings. Once she has done this successfully, she is able to share her love of literature with others. As are most third graders, Ramona is challenged to learn the social rules of the elementary school classroom. Much of this challenge stems from her own feelings of incompetence which is supplemented by her perception of herself based upon how she feels others see her. For instance, in one portion of the book, Ramona assimilates herself into the third grade by cracking and egg that she assumes is hardboiled on her head. Seconds later, it is very apparent that the egg was indeed not hardboiled. With egg oozing down her face, she trots to the school office to get cleaned up. While there, she overhears her teacher say, "What a nuisance" (Cleary 68). She is so hurt by this statement that she attempts to figuratively run from her teacher, Mrs. Whaley. "The episode again underscores Ramona's dependence on and vulnerability to what her teachers think of her: Mrs. Whaley's conversational gambit has redefined Ramona for Ramona" (Benson 24). Luckily, Ramona was able to use her reading skills to overcome her feelings of ineptitude towards Mrs. Whaley when assigned a book report. She uses her creativity to write an interactive report on a book she does not even like. After accomplishing this task, she knows within herself that she has done an exemplary job in using her ideas to "sell" this book to her class. Her newfound confidence through this process allows her to confront her teacher about her comment regarding Ramona being a nuisance. The conflict clears as Mrs. Whaley explains that she merely meant it was a nuisance to clean the egg out of her hair. Therefore, Ramona's literacy allows her to gain self-confidence, thereby mending the relationship with her teacher. Another prime example of the influence of literacy in the novel appears when Mrs. Whaley presents the idea of "Sustained Silent Reading" to her class. As Margaret Mackey points out in her article, "Ramona the Chronotope: The Young Reader and Social Theories of Narrative," this time set apart in the day to read for pleasure allows Ramona to escape from her problems and from herself. "Ramona masters words, stores, chapters, books. She reads when things are unbearable elsewhere" (Mackey). The pivotal issue surrounding Sustained Silent Reading is the fact that Ramona is able to gain independence through this endeavor. In turn, she is able to transform into a non-selfish character and share her love of literature with a younger generation. This is displayed through her interactions with her opponent, four-year-old Willa Jean Kemp. Ramona is forced to be well mannered around Willa Jean because her grandmother is Ramona's caregiver. Throughout the novel, Ramona struggles with this demand and often is displayed as an egotistical character, jealous because she is not old like her sister Beezus, nor is she young like Willa Jean. This conflict also resolves as Ramona uses her sustained silent reading as a tool to escape from having to play with Willa Jean. Gradually, Ramona realizes that she can share with Willa Jean by sharing her sustained silent reading with her. In essence, Ramona displays the true meaning of service learning, as she becomes a stronger reader through oral reading while Willa Jean benefits from her exposure to literature. Therefore, both Ramona and her relationship with Willa Jean are transformed through her ability to read and share. As has been demonstrated, literacy is used by Beverly Cleary in Ramona Quimby, Age 8 to assist in the evolution of the character of Ramona as well as a catalyst in solving conflicts. Ramona is able to comprehend her self-identity more and more as she learns to use her literacy for her benefit. Upon gaining more self-esteem through this act, she is able to resolve conflicts between her two "rivals," Mrs. Whaley and Willa Jean.

Summary of Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (Avon Camelot Books)

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) --Emilie Coulter

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