Ramona the Pest (Ramona #2), by Beverly Cleary

(Paperback, 240 pages, first published in 1968)

Newbery Medal–winning author Beverly Cleary expertly depicts the trials and triumphs of growing up through a relatable heroine who isn't afraid to be exactly who she is.

Ramona Quimby is excited to start kindergarten. No longer does she have to watch her older sister, Beezus, ride the bus to school with all the big kids. She's finally old enough to do it too!

Then she gets into trouble for pulling her classmate's boingy curls during recess. Even worse, her crush rejects her in front of everyone. Beezus says Ramona needs to quit being a pest, but how can she stop if she never was trying to be one in the first place?

Readers ages 6-12 will laugh and relate to Ramona's timeless adventures.

Storyglory Cautions: 1) In Chapter 2, Ramona is trying to think of a name to call Howie, a boy who goes to school with her and whose mother is good friends with Mrs. Quimby. "Perhaps 'little booby boy' would do," she says, "booby" here meaning a childish person. 2) Chapter 6 is called "The Baddest Witch in the World" and is about Halloween. Ramona gets a witch mask because she wants to be the "baddest witch." "She had no patience with books about good witches, because witches were supposed to be bad. Ramona had chosen to be a witch for that very reason." This is all written in the typical style of Ramona's playful, silly antics.

Recommended Age: 6-12