ramona quimby, age 8

Synopsis from Goodreads: 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.

What I think: I adored all of the Ramona books when I was a kid, but "Ramona Quimby, Age 8" stands out most in my memory.  Probably because of the very funny egg scene when Ramona cracks what she thinks is a hard boil egg on her head.  I remember laughing out loud the first time I read that part.  Ramona is a rebellious, strong-willed, all-around fantastic character.  It's impossible not to love her.  

(If you haven't listened to the Ramona books on tape, they're terrific.  Stockard Channing reads aloud and gets the voice just right.)

Image via Goodreads