Ramona Quimby Age 8

How does Ramona change and develop throughout the novel? What events mark her journey toward emotional maturity?

How does Danny evolve in the narrative, particularly through the lens of his relationship with Ramona? How is Ramona’s friendship with Danny different than her friendship with Howie? Why does Beverly Cleary fade Howie’s influence at this point in the series?

How does Mr. Quimby’s career change impact the family and Ramona? How does the family handle it, and what does this suggest about how a family can survive adversity? 

Though Cleary intended for her novels to be timeless, she includes several references to pop culture in this novel. Find the brand name references and discuss the effect of their inclusion. Are there any other elements that might date the novel or situate it in a specific time? Conversely, what are the timeless lessons from the story?

How is Mrs. Whaley different from Ramona’s past teachers? Does Cleary imply that she was she wrong to call a student “a show-off,” even behind closed doors? What role do teachers play in the Ramona series? 

What role does Beezus play in the story and in Ramona’s life? How does the sisters’ relationship evolve throughout the text?

How does Cleary use food throughout the novel? How do physical messes relate to the emotional and psychological messes that occur in the story?

What impact does the older man’s generosity have on the Cleary family and on the story’s ending? How does Cleary leave the family in the end? Is the ending ambiguous, or is there closure?