Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

 

Book Title: Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Author: Beverly Cleary
Book Series: Ramona Quimby series
Reading Level: middle-grade (3rd through 5th grade)
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Content Rating: G
Tidbit: Eight-year old Ramona Quimby is just trying to survive 3rd grade and do as well as she possibly can at the job she's been assigned in her family.

Third grade isn't for wimps! Just ask Ramona Quimby. When Ramona's father decides to quit his job and go back to school, some things in the Quimby household have to change. Ramona's biggest responsibility is getting along with 4 year old Willa Jean, the granddaughter of the woman who watches Ramona and her sister after school. It's not a job Ramona enjoys. She also doesn't enjoy the cheaper meat her mom prepares for meals; nor her new classmate, whom she refers to as Yard Ape. When Ramona overhears something her teacher says after an egg-fad gone wrong, Ramona is sure this will be the worst year ever. She'll soon learn, however, that there are bright spots on even the cloudy days. 

So I loved this book! I dont think I ever read it when I was young. But I'm glad my daughter did! There were a few parts that made me chuckle out loud. I loved seeing things from an 8 year old's perspective. True, I was 8 once. But that was a very long time ago, and I don't remember how things felt. It was good to be reminded that the things that are hard for my daughter right now may not be hard for me, but they ARE hard for her! I also could identify so well with Ramona's parents, now that I'm of that general age.

My daughter loved this book. She is continuing the series (though I know now that this is book 6... oops).

April 2022 Mom & Me Book Club: Ramona Quimby, Age 8

 

Because this is my daughter's last full month of being 8 years old, I thought it'd be fun for us to read Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary for our Mom & Me Book Club!  I'm so glad I did.  I don't know if I read this when I was around 8 or not.  I mean, I've known it existed for as long as I can remember (I was born in 1980, and this book was originally published in 1981, so it's been around for as long as I can remember ;)).  Yet I can't recall ever reading it on my own.  

Well, I loved it!  I will write more about that in my review.  But I loved it.  And so did my daughter!  She is now wanting to read the whole series.  Turns out this one is #6 in the series, which I didn't realize.

We had a lovely little book club meeting.  And we even included my 6 year old son, since his siblings were napping and I know he gets bored.  Plus, he told me he read a little bit of it too (I'm guessing the first few pages, since he remembered that Beezus and Ramona are watched in the afternoons by a grandmotherly lady).  We enjoyed graham crackers and apple juice -- the after school snack Ramona has to eat every day at Mrs. Kemp's house after school.  And we had white chocolate Reese's eggs, since it's just after Easter and I actually had some!  And because we weren't going to have raw eggs to match the cover.  LOL.  

Here were the questions I asked and we discussed:

What did you think of Ramona Quimby, Age 8?

What was your favorite part of the book?

This book was written in 1981, and a lot of things have changed since then... do you think this is a book that stands the test of time (can be popular even after 40 years)?

Do you think Ramona's job in her family (to get along with Willa Jean) was a fair one for her? Or was it too much to ask?

What did you think about the egg fad? Would you be an egg rapper or an egg whacker? Are there fads at your school?

What did you think about the kind stranger at the end? Do you think things like that happen in real life?

I appreciated the opportunity to talk about fads and whether or not to follow along.  While the egg fad was no big deal (well, Ramona might disagree!), I was able to talk to my kids about more recent fads in our society which weren't so innocuous.  Like the tide pod challenge fad.  It was a great way to talk about thinking things through and not being afraid to say, "No I'm not doing that."  I also loved that I already knew the answer from both my kids about whether they'd be an egg rapper/tapper or an egg whacker.  Ha!  I have one of each (of the two who were at our book club), and I knew who would choose what!  I'm a total egg tapper.  

I also loved our discussion about the kind stranger at the end of the book.  When I asked if they thought those kinds of things happen still today, they kind of had to stop and think about it for a bit.  My daughter decided that it could if people wanted to.  I was so glad I could share examples of it actually happening in our day too.  There is still so much good in this world and in people.  And I loved that our discussion could touch on that!

Mom & Me Book Club -- March 2022

 

Wow!  Where did March go?  I swear it feels like it came in like the Road Runner and went back out the same way!  It's been a busy month for sure.  Not only am I totally slacking on getting this post written, but I also slacked on developing good questions for our Mom and Me book club discussion this month.  Yikes.  We actually had an impromptu book club discussion on the way to school after I'd dropped off her younger brother and it was just the two of us in the car.  

I vow to do better for April.  But even so, March wasn't a wash.  We definitely discussed some great stuff in the short time we had, and this time my daughter even asked questions of her own!

Her questions were largely trivia questions (which gave us an opportunity to define what trivia questions are and why they are fun and important!  One of her questions was why did Captain Cook start feeling sick.  And her other question was what the names of all the baby penguins born to Captain Cook and Gerta were.

My questions were a little more general this time, but I aimed for a few thinking questions.  Here they are:

Did you like Mr. Popper's Penguins?  Her answer was yes!  And I knew it would be.  She loved this book!

What did you like so much about the book? 

Do you think the book was realistic?  Could it really have happened?

What do you think about the decisions Mr. Popper made in regards to the penguins and to his family?

I have to say, I am so excited she loved this book.  As for me...  It wasn't really my favorite.  But because she loved it so much, it bumps it up for me quite a bit.  And it's so completely innocent and perfect for young independent readers, and I really love that about it! 

Mom & Me Book Club -- February 2022

For the month of February, my daughter and I read The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes!  I have seen this book on many middle-grade recommendation lists, but I had never read it.  Then a new "Bookstagram" friend shared a review of it and I decided I needed to read it.  When I commented on her post, she generously offered to send me one of her three copies of the book.  How sweet was that!?!  Bookstagram is a happy place full of kind people.  

Anyway, when making a list for books to read with my 8 year old this year, I felt like this one should be included.  Now that I've read it, I can see that it really is a timeless story that all "tween" kids should read or hear, especially girls. But I'll save the rest of my thoughts for my official review :).  

Below are the questions my daughter and I discussed after we'd both finished the book (some questions may be slight spoilers!):

Of the 3 main characters, who do you think you're most like?

Do you think Wanda realized Peggy was making fun of her?

Do you think Wanda was lying - or intentionally misleading - about the 100 dresses? Why or why not?

Were you surprised by who won the drawing contest and what that revealed about the story?

Do you think Peggy changed after this experience? If so, how? And if not, why not?

Do you think Maddie changed after this experience? If so, how? And if not, why not?

Have you ever been like Peggy? Or Wanda? Or Maddie?

That last question probably brought about the best discussion -- more on my part than on hers.  As a 6th grader, I can so vividly remember a time when I was a Peggy.  I regret that to this day.  And I'm grateful this book opened an opportunity to talk openly with my 8 year old, who is on the cusp of those hard middle-school years, about a poor choice I once made and how much I wish I could go back and fix it.  We all make mistakes, but we can learn from them and not repeat them.  Kindness is always the best choice.

Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene

 

Title: Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock
Author: Carolyn Keene
Reading Level: middle-grade
Movie rating equivalent (in my opinion): G

It was very interesting to read this as an adult. In my pre-teen years, I loved Nancy Drew and read all these original books. I didn't remember them seeming quite so unrealistic back then. But I was young, and they are certainly written for young girls. And I think they are perfect for readers moving from early chapter books into middle-grade books. So while I can't say I enjoyed the story as an adult, I 100% feel this series has merit and is still a great choice, and I'm so glad my daughter loved it and is now on the 3rd in the series!!

 

If I had to apply a movie rating to this book, I'd definitely rate it a G.  Though my daughter did say she felt anxious during a couple parts, it was nothing too scary.  And there certainly aren't any other content concerns with language, mature themes, or otherwise.  

Also, I may have known this before, but I forgot it: Carolyn Keene wasn't  a real person!! It was a pen name for a variety of writers over the years. It makes sense, of course, but I felt surprised when I googled it.

Mom & Me Book Club -- January 2022

One of the goals I set this year was to do a "Mom & Me" book club with my 8 1/2 year old.  Each month, we will read the same book (not necessarily together) and finish it before the 15th of the month.  We don't have a set day to discuss it, so once we're both finished with the book, we have a mini discussion!  

This month, we read the first in the Nancy Drew Series:  Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock.  

My daughter is an avid reader these days.  As a parent, I hope to help her choose age-appropriate books.  But that means I need to know the books.  And how to do I know them?  Well, I have to read them.  She has gotten to the point where she finishes so many books so quickly that I can't keep up!  So I've been trying to find books to ease her into the middle-grade category:  books which will still be age-appropriate, but with a bit more length and a little less fluff.  Nancy Drew seemed a great place to start!

In case you're interested in what kind of questions we discussed, this is my list of discussion questions:

• What character traits or attributes do you think helped Nancy solve the mystery?
• Are any of those traits/attributes ones you would like to develop?

• This book was written in the 1930s and was likely set around that time.  That was a long time ago -- even before all of your grandparents were born!  What did you notice was different in the story's time-period from the way you know life now?
• Do you think the events of the story could have happened the same way if it took place today? Why or why not? 

• Did you notice any stereotypes in the story? What did you think of them? Do you agree with them?

• What emotions did you feel while reading the book?  Why?

• Did you enjoy reading Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock?  What did you like or dislike about the book?

 

I feel like this was a great start to a year of reading with my girl!  She loved that we could compare where we were in the book as we each read individually.  She loved reading a book that challenged her a little more.  She had the opportunity to learn some new vocabulary words.  And she has decided she really liked the book and wants to read the rest of the series!  She was also excited to be able to do our "book club" discussion, and at the end of the day, when our family each shared something that made them happy that day, our special book club was hers.  And that just melted my mama heart. 

 Tomorrow I'll put up my review of Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock, so stay tuned!