Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (book)

Ramona Quimby didn't need magic powers or a secret kingdom to make childhood feel like an adventure. She just needed third grade, a little sister's place in the family, and a talent for getting into trouble without meaning to. Beverly Cleary understood the enormous feelings behind ordinary kid problems: embarrassing moments, unfair teachers, money worries, and wanting desperately to be taken seriously. Ramona could be stubborn, funny, sensitive, and completely exhausting, sometimes on the same page. Matilda fights outrageous villains, and Harry Potter battles dark magic, but Ramona faces something every kid recognizes: everyday life. Does a story that understands childhood this well deserve to beat the books with bigger adventures?