Ramona Quimby's cozy seven-year-old world changes when her father unexpectedly loses his job. Quickly, Ramona resolves to do her part to help make ends meet, but her grand plan to star in a TV commercial backfires! Despite Ramona's efforts to keep her father--and her family--cheerful, weeks go by as Mr. Quimby is unable to find work, and bills and worries pile up. As Christmas approaches, Ramona crosses out every item on her wish list, keeping only "one happy family" as her heart's desire.

Family

Suomeksi

I'm less impressed than the Newberry judges. Ramona father has lost his job and her mother goes full time but still the family budget is tight and family fun is rare. Ramona and her sister badger their dad to quit smoking - worried for his health and to save the expense. Every one remains remarkably even keeled and some fun is had. No lasting devastation. ( )

Another Ramona re-read for me. Ramona is back in second grade; and her father has lost his job. Ramona faces her usual grade-school trials and tribulations, but this time her troubles are driven mainly by family dynamics. Everyone is short-tempered, and the cat doesn't like the cheap cat food, so he eats the jack-o-lantern. Beezus fights with the parents, which makes Ramona cry. She's reassured repeatedly that the family will get another pumpkin to carve, but that's not the issue. "Didn't grown-ups think children worried about anything but jack-o-lanterns? Didn't they know children worried about grown-ups?"

It's not all down. Ramona and her friend Howie make coffee-can stilts and delight in stomping all over the sidewalk belting out "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall." It takes them all through the evening through a rain shower, but they make it from 99 down to 1. Huzzah! I love the young Ramona who delights in noise.

And the final episode, where Ramona participates in the church nativity scene dressed in a home-made ragtag sheep costume, is priceless. Ramona Forever! ( )