Beezus and Ramona

I read this book when I was younger. I am now reading it to my children and they love it. My six tear old son has never liked to be read to but hebis actually enjoying our one chapter a night routine. I think he has developed a slight crush on Beezus. He comments on some of the things that Ramona does to irritate her sister by saying things like ‘Ramona shouldn't be mean to Beezus'. It's funny because he does similar things to his sister.

The Ramona Quimby Series was one of my favorites growing up. As a kid, I identified and empathized so strongly with poor, neglected Ramona who no one gave any attention to/the time of day to. I honestly don't know that I have ever read the whole series. I certainly don't recall reading this first book.

In reading this book as an adult, I cannot help but empathize with Beatrice. She just wants peace and quiet, and she has a rambunctious, imaginative, loud, four year old sister! 

Rating: 2.5 leaves out of 5Characters: 2/5 Cover: 3/5Story: 2/5Writing: 3/5Genre: Children, Classic,Contemporary, Realistic Fic.-Contemporary: 5/5-Children: 5/5-Classic: 5/5- Realistic Fic.: 5/5Type: AudiobookWorth?: No!Hated Disliked It Was Okay Liked LovedI hated Ramona on such a spiritual level. She was nothing but a BRAT. A horrid creature, if you will. It is set in, what I believe is, the 50s so of course things were drastically different but this is ridiculous. There were something I was okayish about. Like Ramona did get punished but honestly... it could have been a bit sterner. It seemed like Ramona never learned her lesson because people were way too soft on the brat. Another thing that bothered me was how Beezus had to 1. somewhat raise Ramona. 2. Was told to basically suck it up because the fucking demon child was sooo young. 3. Ramona still got shit even when she didn't deserve it.We need to normalize hating siblings. Who fucking care if she is blood? Second the stupid as fuck aunt who got Ramona a present so she didn't feel left out? After all the shit she did? How trash. If you do this you are horrible. It is equivalent to those HORRIBLE parents who sit back like fucking idiots and watch their demon child blow out someone's birthday candles before them, or hell even at all. Then just laugh. Crawl in a hole and NEVER come back out.

My daughter loves this book - we've re-read it several times now!

Definitely not as good as I remember the later books in the series being. I never did like this one quite as much when I was little, and now that I'm theoretically “all grown up” I know why.

Ramona needs a lot more discipline. She's not cute, she's obnoxious. This coming from someone who adores children.

The next book is Ramona the Pest, and it was the first Ramona book I ever read. That was the book that started my obsession with this series. We'll see what I think this time around.

Read with Guinevere, age 4.
Me: Did you like it, really like it, or love it?
Guinevere: love it!

Me: What was your favorite part?
Guinevere: I think every single one.

Me: Was there a part you didn't like?
Guinevere: shakes head No, there wasn't. I like every single part.

Me: Who was your favorite character?
Guinevere: Actually, Ramona. Ramona's my favorite. Ramona's just like me, isn't she?

Me: How is Ramona just like you?
Guinevere: Because she cries like me, and yeah. And stuff.

I read this long ago as a child, but just listened to the audio version with my kids. I have fond memories of making a diorama of the cake scene in this book for a project in school. :)
My kids loved this book! It's so fun introducing a new generation to Ramona.