Ramona

Lore & Background

Ramona Quimby is a third-grader who lives with her parents, Robert and Dorothy, and her older sister Beatrice, whom she calls Beezus. Her father Robert loses his job, leading the family into severe debt. Ramona's attempts to earn money backfire, including a car-painting accident involving her aunt Bea's old flame Hobart. After ruining her school portrait by cracking a raw egg in her hair, Ramona worries when her classmate Susan reveals that her parents divorced after her father lost his job. Ramona's cat Picky-Picky dies, and the family later decides to sell their house after Robert gets a job offer in Oregon. During an open house, Ramona initiates a water fight that exposes a box of mementos from Bea and Hobart's teenage romance, leading to their engagement. Ramona runs away after feeling unwanted but is reunited with her family. At Bea and Hobart's wedding, Ramona saves the day by finding the dropped wedding ring. Robert gets a job offer as an art teacher at Ramona's school, and the family does not have to move.

In Their Own Story

The air in the Quimby household still held a faint tension when Ramona walked through the living room, her mind buzzing with schemes to earn money. She paused by the kitchen where her mother Dorothy was on the phone, her heart swelling with a love that transcended the family's financial troubles. The world outside was harsh, filled with job loss and uncertainty, but here, under the warm glow of the kitchen light, there was only safety. She knew her family was struggling, yet she poured every ounce of her creativity into helping, whispering promises of solutions that would often backfire in humorous ways. After her cat Picky-Picky died, the girls' private funeral helped them reconcile. At Bea and Hobart's wedding, Ramona saved the day when she found the wedding ring Howard had dropped. During the reception, Beezus and Henry shared a kiss and danced together. Robert got another job offer, this one at Ramona's school, as her teacher Mrs. Meacham recommended him as the new art teacher after she saw the mural that he and Ramona made. Ramona was delighted their family would not have to move and that her parents were reconciling.

Reader's Guide

Ramona serves as the central character in the 2010 film *Ramona and Beezus*, representing the adventurous and creative spirit of childhood. As a third-grader, she often finds herself in trouble at school and at home, but her actions ultimately bring her family closer together. Her defining moments include her efforts to earn money after her father loses his job, which end up backfiring, and her role in reuniting her aunt Bea with Hobart. Ramona's most significant turning point is when she runs away after feeling unwanted, but her family finds her and they are happily reunited. She saves the day at Bea and Hobart's wedding by finding the dropped wedding ring. The film ends with Ramona delighted that her family will not have to move and that her parents are reconciling. Ramona possesses no special powers, but her influence on her family is profound.

Did You Know?

• Ramona is played by Joey King in the 2010 film adaptation.
• The film's plot is mostly based on the sequels *Ramona Forever* (1984) and *Ramona's World* (1999), not the first book *Beezus and Ramona* (1955).
• Ramona's cat Picky-Picky dies in the film, which leads to the sisters reconciling.
• Ramona saves the day at her aunt Bea's wedding by finding the dropped wedding ring.
• The film grossed $27 million at the box office against a $15 million budget.