Ramona Forever

“Uncle Hobart took the accordion and began to play and sing: ‘Ramona, I hear the mission bells above, Ramona they’re ringing out the song of our love.’ Ramona stared at her book as she thought mean, dark thoughts about Uncle Hobart.”

Ramona is sorely disappointed when Uncle Hobart turns out to be the worst kind of grown-up who teases her relentlessly. This humorous and relatable passage adds to the book’s theme on Children’s Perspectives on Relationships, emphasizing how Uncle Hobart’s teasing is fun for him, but irritating for young Ramona, as the latent threat of these proto-sexual ideas creates fear in Ramona, which she processes as anger toward Uncle Hobart. This passage foreshadows Uncle Hobart’s increasing role as a symbol of adult relationships in the novel.

“Ramona was suddenly struck by a new and disquieting thought: Mrs. Kemp did not like her. Until this minute she had thought that all adults were supposed to like all children…she did not care what happened. She was not going to be looked after by someone who did not like her.”

Ramona’s relationship with Mrs. Kemp sours further when the older lady accuses her of neglecting Willa Jean. Ramona is sensitive to rejection and Mrs. Kemp’s unfair accusations, and she decides to never return to their house again. This passage bolsters the novel’s theme on Children’s Perspectives on Relationships by showing how Mrs. Kemp’s behavior affects Ramona. This passage is a turning-point for Ramona’s understanding of relationships, made explicit by the omniscience of the narrative voice.

“How was she going to inform her family that she was never going to stay with Mrs. Kemp again? Never, and then what? If she did not stay at the Kemp’s after school, her mother might not be able to work at the doctor’s office, her father could not go to college, and the whole family would fall over like dominoes pushed by Ramona.”

Ramona worries about what will happen when she puts her foot down about Mrs. Kemp. This passage reveals Ramona’s love for her family and understanding of the financial pressure her parents are feeling, even though she is largely focused on her own personal problems with the Kemps. By showing Ramona’s internal monologue about her family’s wellbeing, this passage adds to the theme on Children’s Perspectives on Relationships. The repeated rhetorical questions emphasize Ramona’s uncertainty. The childhood game simile of “dominoes” stresses the irony of Ramona’s perverse idea that her determination is final and could ruin the family order.

“Ramona thought fast. Beezus would act big. Beezus would be bossy. She and Beezus would quarrel with no one to stop them. Beezus might tattle. Sometimes she did, sometimes she didn’t. Of course, Ramona tattled too, but somehow she felt that was different. On the other hand, there was Mrs. Kemp.”

Ramona’s new option of staying home with Beezus after school seems problematic, but she recognizes that it is much better than the other choice of being babysat by Mrs. Kemp. Ramona’s concerns about Beezus reveal more about their dynamic as a “big” and “little” sister, adding to the story’s theme on The Bond Between Siblings.

“Ramona sat down on the bed with a thump. A damp, dribbly baby, another Quimby. ‘Why would mother do a thing like that when she already has us?’ ‘Don’t ask me,’ said Beezus, ‘But I’m pretty sure she is.’”

Ramona worries about her mother being pregnant and what it would mean for the family. Ramona’s concerns add to the theme on Children’s Perspectives on Relationships, as she focuses on why her mother would want another child when she and Beezus are already part of the family. This passage also connects with the story’s theme on The Bond Between Siblings, as it shows how Beezus and Ramona are each other’s main confidants about their parents. This episode provides humor through dramatic irony for the parent reader, as the girls wonder naively about the adult motivations or causes of conception.

“Ramona’s wish had come true. ‘Hey Beezus,’ she shouted, ‘I’m going out and ride Howie’s bike.’ ‘You’re supposed to ask first,’ said Beezus. ‘You can’t go out unless I say so.’ Ramona felt that Beezus was showing off in front of Howie. ‘How come you’re so bossy all of a sudden?’ she demanded.”

Ramona is irritated when Beezus asserts her authority on her after-school activities. This quotation shows how Beezus and Ramona experience the typical tension between older and younger siblings, adding to the theme on The Bond Between Siblings. This spat marks a low point between Beezus and Ramona that they need to recover from to avoid going back to the Kemps. The short phrasing of the exchange of dialogue in this passage communicates the sisters’ mutual irritation and sense of urgency to have their own way.

“Maybe she could make Beezus speak if she let her know she had been right, that Ramona had hurt herself when she disobeyed. She said in her most pitiful voice, ‘Beezus, I had a bad fall. Come and help me.’ ‘I don’t care, you hateful little creep,’ was her sister’s answer.”

Beezus punishes her sister Ramona, who needs her help. Their argument adds realism to their characters and presents them with a problem they must solve in order to stay more independent and not need Mrs. Kemp’s babysitting. The phrase “you hateful little creep” is the most derogatory in the novel, marking out this episode as a low point for Ramona.

“Beezus, with her hands clasped to her chest, was standing over Picky-picky’s basket. ‘He’s dead.’ Beezus stared at the motionless cat in disbelief, tears in her eyes. ‘Picky-picky is dead.’ ‘How can he be?’ asked Ramona. ‘He was alive this morning.’ Both girls had forgotten, or at least put aside, their feelings toward one another.”

While Beezus and Ramona are still upset with each other, they are united in their grief over their cat, Picky-picky. This passage reveals more about their bond as siblings, as they support each other through their upsetting afternoon burying Picky-picky. The word “dead” expresses the sisters’ childlike directness but also creates shock for the reader that mirrors that of the characters, as the cat’s death comes without warning.

“I’ll make him a tombstone […] the grave bore a marker made from a scrap of board. Printed in crayon were the words: Picky-picky Quimby, Age 10 Years, a good cat. Beneath the words Ramona had drawn a picture of a yellow cat.”

Losing Picky-picky and having to bury him by themselves is a real challenge for both Ramona and Beezus, adding to the story’s exploration of The Highs and Lows of Growing Up. Ramona’s efforts to make a tombstone for her cat show her growing independence and maturity as she learns to deal with difficult situations without her mom or dad’s help, but the tombstone’s childlike words and images act as a juxtaposition for this.

“‘Whee,’ cried Ramona, ‘No more Mrs. Kemp!’ At the same time she was thinking, a third Quimby child? Her mind was full of excited questions, but deep down inside where she hid her most secret thoughts, Ramona realized she would lose her favored place as the baby of the family. She would become the middle child, neither big nor little.”

Ramona’s inner thoughts reveal her insecurity about becoming a big sister to a new baby sibling. This adds to the story’s theme on The Bond Between Siblings by showing how Ramona is excited to have her mother around, but is hesitant to share her affections with a new baby brother or sister. This passage adds to the suspense in the story by raising questions about how Ramona will cope with this big change in her family. This passage combines author omniscience with Ramona’s perspective to show that she not only has secret feelings about the baby, but is aware of these herself and actively keeping them secret.

“They hung around, trying to guess what the laughter was about from their mother’s side of the mysterious conversations. They were able to guess that Aunt Bea was very busy, and that she went skiing almost every weekend, but the ski season would soon be over. Their mother’s remarks were meaningless. ‘Why, Bea!’ ‘I don’t believe it!’ ‘What did Michael say?’ ‘No. No, I won’t tell the girls.’ Both Beezus and Ramona pounced on their mother when a conversation ended. ‘What won’t you tell us?’ they demanded.”

Beezus and Ramona are curious about the mysterious developments of their Aunt Bea’s personal life. Ramona’s frustration with being left out adds to the story’s theme on Children’s Perspectives on Relationships as she desperately wants to be included in the grown-ups’ conversations. This mysterious passage foreshadows the big changes in Ramona’s life that will come with Aunt Bea’s exciting news later in the story. This passage is an example of the novel’s dramatic irony, as the reader may know or guess what is happening, although the sisters do not.

“Mrs. Quimby would leave her job to take care of It, which pleased Ramona. The house always seemed so empty without her mother.”

Ramona is happy that “It,” or the new baby, will mean her mother will be home from work. This passage adds to Ramona’s role as a little girl who wants to enjoy her mother’s company and attention as much as possible. This passage encapsulates the novel’s treatment of childhood growing pains.

“Nothing in the world was worse than unhappy parents. Nothing. When parents were unhappy, the whole world seemed to go wrong.”

Ramona’s sensitivity to her parents’ moods and problems adds realism to her character’s emotional life. This passage adds to the novel’s theme on Children’s Perspectives on Relationships by revealing that Ramona’s happiness depends on her parents being happy, too. The two halves of the final sentence act as an implied metaphor, suggesting that Ramona’s family is indeed her “whole world.”

“Ramona sighed. She remembered what it was like to be the littlest child in the neighborhood. She remembered all too well the days back in kindergarten when she was known as Ramona the Pest.”

Even though Ramona does not enjoy playing with Willa Jean, she sympathizes with her position as the youngest child in the neighborhood, which Ramona herself used to be. This passage reveals Ramona’s growing empathy and maturity as she reassures Willa Jean that she will play with her another time. Her thoughts about being little provide a contrast to her worries about not being her family’s “baby” anymore, allowing the reader to perceive that her feelings are muddled at this stage in the narrative.

“Ramona was blunt. ‘Mr. Kemp, how come you’re still here?’ Nobody would catch her calling him Uncle Hobart, even though because of Howie, this was the way she thought of him. ‘Ramona!’ Mrs. Quimby’s voice was a warning.”

Ramona’s terrible realization that Howie’s Uncle Hobart would soon become her Uncle Hobart is another low point for her, adding to the story’s theme on The Highs and Lows of Growing Up. This passage shows how Ramona tries to express her dislike of Hobart in her own way, adding some humor to the story.

“Ramona slipped over for a glimpse of herself in the three-way mirror, which reflected her back and forth from every angle. She began to dance, to watch all the Ramonas. Obediently, they imitated her, dancing on and on into the distance, tinier and tinier until they could no longer be seen. Forever me, thought Ramona.”

Despite her relationship with Hobart, Ramona finds herself enjoying dress shopping for the wedding. This playful passage quotes the novel’s title, Ramona Forever, and prefigures the closing passage.

“Uncle Hobart crunched the last bite of his cone. ‘All taken care of, along with the wedding ring and the caterer, who will supply the food. But thanks for keeping track. I might forget something.’ He probably will, thought Ramona, and wished she had a three-way mirror in her room at home so that when her bridesmaid dress was delivered, she could watch herself twirling forever.”

Ramona warms up to Uncle Hobart when he treats her to ice cream, but she doubts his wedding planning abilities. This passage adds to the story’s theme on Children’s Perspectives on Relationships, as Uncle Hobart’s kindness and generosity slowly persuade Ramona to give him another chance.

“Uncle Hobart calmed down and looked ashamed. Aunt Bea wiped her eyes on the corner of one of her new bath towels. ‘Why can’t we just pick some flowers?’ asked Ramona.”

Ramona’s eagerness to help Uncle Hobart and Aunt Bea resolve their argument about the wedding flowers shows her good nature and her sensitivity to conflict. Ramona’s suggestion helps cheer up Aunt Bea, who agrees to pick flowers from the neighbors’ gardens. The neighborhood flowers are a symbol of the importance of family and community.

“Oh no, thought Ramona. Third graders would gobble up all the food at the wedding reception and run around bumping into people and spilling things. Still, she looked forward to seeing the class she had heard so much about from Aunt Bea.”

Ramona worries about Aunt Bea’s third grade class causing problems at her wedding. This passage highlights Ramona’s love for her aunt and how invested she feels in the success of the wedding.

“Ramona began to have an uneasy feeling that she had outgrown her white slippers, which she had not worn for at least a year. She would have died rather than complain.”

While Ramona is excited for Aunt Bea’s wedding, she realizes she has no comfortable shoes to wear with her fancy bridesmaid dress. Ramona’s refusal to complain about her shoes shows her growing maturity and her determination to keep her Aunt Bea’s wedding running smoothly. This passage adds to the story’s theme on The Highs and Lows of Growing Up, as Ramona learns how to overcome everyday inconveniences on her own.

“‘Quick,’ whispered Beezus to Ramona. ‘Give me your shoes. Astonished, Ramona obeyed. As the wedding party proceeded through the reception room to the vestibule of the church, Beezus dropped the two pairs of slippers into a large bouquet of rhododendron blossoms. When the organ burst forth with the processional, the girls stifled their giggles.”

Beezus and Ramona decide to take matters into their own hands and get rid of their too-small shoes before the ceremony. This funny quotation bolsters the story’s theme on The Bond Between Siblings by showing how the girls confide in each other and have their own secrets from the grown-ups. This passage reverses the usual role between Beezus and Ramona, as here Beezus is the mischievous one.

“Ramona could not bear to have her aunt’s wedding laughed at. She decided to act, even if it meant showing her white socks. Laying her nosegay on the carpet, Ramona got down on her hands and knees prayed her wreath wouldn’t slip, crawled over to her aunt, reached under her skirt, took hold of her ankle, and when the surprised bride looked down, raised her foot and pulled the ring off her heel.”

Ramona’s eagle eyes save the day as she spots and finds her Aunt Bea’s missing wedding ring. This passage affirms Ramona’s commitment to her aunt’s happiness by showing how she risks her own embarrassment to help her Aunt Bea. This scene deepens Ramona’s characterization as a loving and caring niece.

“As she nibbled to make the sandwiches last, she had an idea that she whispered to Beezus. ‘If we had some string, we could tie our slippers to the bumper of Uncle Hobart’s truck. We can’t wear them anymore.’ Beezus, usually so proper, was delighted with the idea. ‘There must be some string someplace,’ she said.”

Ramona and Beezus conspire to rid themselves of their uncomfortable formal shoes forever by tying them as wedding decorations to their new uncle’s truck. By working together to make their plan a reality, Ramona and Beezus enjoy their Aunt’s wedding even more, adding to the theme on The Bond Between Siblings.