Book Review of Beezus and Ramona
The Children’s Book Review
Beezus and Ramona
Written by Beverly Cleary
Ages 7+ | 160 Pages
Publisher: HarperCollins | ISBN-13: 9780688210762
What to Expect: Family, Friends, and Siblings
If you need a heartwarming and hilarious book, you’ve got to check out Beezus and Ramona. The story follows two sisters, Beezus and Ramona, and their crazy ups and downs. Their quirky and funny journey is relatable even for those who haven’t grown up with a sis. Unsurprisingly, this book has been translated into multiple languages worldwide and is considered a classic must-read for kids of all ages.
Four-year-old Ramona has a big imagination and is constantly testing nine-year-old Beezus’s patience and causing embarrassing problems, the kind of problems that cause the girls not to get along. Ramona likes to wear her handmade rabbit ears and pretend to be the Easter Bunny. She takes one bite out of every apple in a box, enjoys walking her pretend lizard named Ralph, invites 15 kids to her house without permission and ruins two birthday cakes made for Beezus’s tenth birthday. The ruined cake—and potentially ruined birthday celebration—are the last straw.
However, when Beezus learns that her mom and Aunt Beatrice had funny childhood experiences of their own, she may discover that all sibling relationships have their challenges. While having a sister like Ramona can be difficult, it’s hard not to love family. Thanks to sisters Beezus and Ramona Quimby, we learn that our family shapes a big part of who we become when we are grown-ups.
The Ramona series is eight books in total. So once you’re done reading Beezus and Ramona, you can follow the sisters on many more hilarious adventures. And if you can’t get enough of the sister action, there’s a movie adaptation of the Ramona books! The film, also titled Ramona and Beezus, is a fun way to experience the story in a new, exciting way.
Sisters can be the best or the worst, but one thing’s for sure—Beezus and Ramona is a must-read book that will have you laughing out loud!
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About the Author
Beverly Cleary is one of America’s most beloved authors. As a child, she struggled with reading and writing. But by third grade, after spending much time in her public library in Portland, Oregon, she found her skills had greatly improved. Before long, her school librarian was saying that she should write children’s books when she grew up. Instead, she became a librarian.
When a young boy asked her, “Where are the books about kids like us?” she remembered her teacher’s encouragement and was inspired to write the books she’d longed to read but couldn’t find when she was younger. She based her funny stories on her own neighborhood experiences and the sort of children she knew. And so, the Klickitat Street gang was born!
Mrs. Cleary’s books have earned her many prestigious awards, including the American Library Association’s Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, presented to her in recognition of her lasting contribution to children’s literature. Dear Mr. Henshaw won the Newbery Medal, and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and Ramona and Her Father have been named Newbery Honor Books. Her characters, including Beezus and Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Ralph, the motorcycle-riding mouse, have delighted children for generations.
Looking For More Books Like Beezus and Ramona? Try These!
Book List: What to Read Next If You Love the Ramona Books
Ramona the Pest, by Beverly Cleary
Ramona the Brave, by Beverly Cleary
Ramona and Her Father, by Beverly Cleary
Ramona and Her Mother, by Beverly Cleary
Ramona Quimby, Age 8, by Beverly Cleary
Ramona Forever, by Beverly Cleary
Ramona’s World, by Beverly Cleary
The Mouse and the Motorcycle, by Beverly Cleary
Bianca Schulze reviewed Beezus and Ramona. Discover more books like Beezus and Ramona by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Family, Siblings, and Friends.