From: Karen Breen <kbreen>
Date: Fri, 04 Aug 2000 11:23:32 -0400

Yesterday Peggy Rader spoke of some of the things that make Cleary's children so real. Implied, but not exactly listed was the vulnerability. Remember when Ramona wanted so much to be like the other kids who were cracking their hard-boiled eggs on their heads before peeling them? Oh, the misery of discovering too late that her overworked mom had packed an uncooked one in Ramona's lunch. Or sitting in the nurses office and overhearing her favorite teacher speaking of her in what she perceived to be a negative way? I think she was in the office because that was the day she'd worn her pajamas under her clothes and she was exhibiting signs of a fever. I'm sure I have these moments jumbled up, but it doesn't matter. The point is that mixed in with the wonderful humor is the sweet little poignancy of the vulnerability of not being quite old enough to get it all. When you stop and think about it, there's really no one else who captures all of what makes children so wonderful as Beverly Cleary does. I think it's why adults react so well to her characters. She helps us remember our own childhood. What an amazing talent. Karen Breen Kirkus Reviews
Received on Fri 04 Aug 2000 10:23:32 AM CDT