Ramona the Brave

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Ramona the Brave
1st edition
Author	Beverly Cleary
Illustrator	Alan Tiegreen
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Ramona (novel series)
Genre	Children's novel
Publisher	William Morrow
Publication date	1975
Media type	Print Paperback
Pages	176 pp
ISBN	0-688-22015-0
OCLC	1009704
Preceded by	Ramona the Pest
Followed by	Ramona and Her Father

Ramona the Brave is a children's novel written by Beverly Cleary. The third book in the Ramona series, it follows Ramona Quimby and her classmates into first grade. Ramona the Brave was first published in 1975, seven years after Ramona the Pest. It was originally illustrated by Alan Tiegreen.^[1]

Plot summary

Summer is coming to an end. Ramona has spent most of it with her friend Howie Kemp, pounding old bricks into dust in a game called Brick Factory. Brick Factory makes Ramona feel powerful, something that doesn't happen very often since she is the youngest in her family. Ramona longs to be brave and grown-up, so when some boys tease her older sister about her name, calling her Jesus Beezus, Ramona sticks up for her and "preaches a sermon". She's crushed to realize that instead of considering her a hero, Beezus is embarrassed and angrier at Ramona than the boys. Why can't everyone see that she is trying so hard to grow up?

Summer gets more interesting when Mother gets a part-time job and some workmen cut a hole in their house to add an extra bedroom. Beezus and Ramona are going to take turns using the room, and for once Ramona gets to be first. She can't wait for school to start so she can tell everyone in first grade about the big, slightly scary, hole in her house. But she isn't prepared for how frightening it is to go to sleep in the new room - alone.

The good part about first grade is that Ramona is learning to read. The bad part is that Ramona is sure her teacher, Mrs. Griggs, doesn't like her. And as hard as she works on her self-control she just can't seem to stay out of trouble. One day when her class is making paper-bag owls for Parents' Night, Ramona sees Susan, her kindergarten nemesis, copying her owl. Mrs. Griggs sees Susan's owl first and shows it off to the class. Ramona is so angry that Susan copied so now her owl isn't special, that she destroys both of them. Later she is forced to apologize to Susan in front of the whole class, and things don't get better when the class is nice to her.

The final chapter describes how Ramona became "The Brave." One day on her way to school a big dog comes after her, so she takes off her shoe and throws it at him. The dog picks up her shoe and carries it away and Ramona limps off to school. That turns out to be the morning Mrs. Griggs finally chooses her to lead the morning flag salute, and she discovers that Ramona is only wearing one shoe. Ramona uses her ingenuity to deal with the situation, and when her shoe is returned the school secretary compliments her bravery.

Characters

Ramona Quimby
Beatrice "Beezus" Quimby -Ramona's older sister who is in the sixth grade.
Mrs. Dorothy Quimby -Beezus and Ramona's Mother.
Mr. Robert Quimby -Beezus and Ramona's Father.
Picky Picky- The Quimby's old yellow cat who is 10.
Howard "Howie" Kemp-Ramona's first grade friend since nursery school.
Mrs. Griggs -Ramona's boring first grade teacher.
Susan Kushner- Ramona's enemy since kindergarten.

Critical Reception

"Again Beverly Cleary takes us right inside Ramona's head where screaming "Guts!" in a fury is perceived as a desperate action (and her parents' amusement over the "bad word" deeply humiliating) but the behavior that gets her into trouble at school is totally innocent and reasonable. Amusing, sound, empathic. . . as always."^[2]

Editions

Audio Formats: Ramona the Brave is available in cassette, CD and eAudiobook from Random House/Listening Library.^[3]

Print/English: Large print books through Avon Books, braille editions available at Scholastic Book Services, and e-Books through HarperCollins e-books.^[3]

Print/Worldwide: As of 2010, 95 editions of Ramona the Brave had been published in 8 languages.^[4]

v t e Henry Huggins and Ramona by Beverly Cleary

Henry Huggins novels	Henry Huggins Henry and Beezus Henry and Ribsy Henry and the Paper Route Henry and the Clubhouse Ribsy

Ramona novels	Beezus and Ramona Ramona the Pest Ramona the Brave Ramona and Her Father Ramona and Her Mother Ramona Quimby, Age 8 Ramona Forever Ramona's World

Characters	Henry Huggins Ramona Quimby Beezus Quimby Ribsy Picky-picky Howie Kemp Mrs. Swink Susan Kushner Davy Roberta Quimby Mrs. Dorothy Quimby Mr. Robert Quimby

Adaptations	Ramona (TV) Ramona and Beezus (film)

v t e Works by Beverly Cleary

Henry Huggins	Henry Huggins Henry and Beezus Henry and Ribsy Henry and the Paper Route Henry and the Clubhouse Ribsy

Ramona Quimby	Beezus and Ramona Ramona the Pest Ramona the Brave Ramona and Her Father Ramona and Her Mother Ramona Quimby, Age 8 Ramona Forever Ramona's World

Ralph S. Mouse	The Mouse and the Motorcycle Runaway Ralph Ralph S. Mouse

First Love	Fifteen The Luckiest Girl Jean and Johnny Sister of the Bride

Ellen & Otis	Ellen Tebbits Otis Spofford

Leigh Botts	Dear Mr. Henshaw Strider

Leave It to Beaver	Leave It To Beaver Here's Beaver!

Picture books	The Hullabaloo ABC The Real Hole Two Dog Biscuits The Growing-Up Feet Lucky Chuck Janet's Thingamajigs Petey's Bedtime Story

Other fiction	Emily's Runaway Imagination Mitch and Amy Socks Muggie Maggie

Related media	Ramona Ramona and Beezus

Autobiographies	A Girl From Yamhill My Own Two Feet

References

↑ "Ramona the Brave". First Edition. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
↑ "Ramona the Brave". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
↑ 3.0 3.1 "Formats and Editions". 'Ramona the Brave. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
↑ "Editions". Beverly Cleary. Retrieved April 21, 2012.

External links

Chapter 1 of Ramona the Brave at Harperchildrens.com
"Trivia Game". Ramona the Brave. Retrieved 2012-04-25.

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