The protagonist, Ramona Quimby, is an imaginative, highly sensitive second grader who has internalized the stress of her family’s financial trouble. The book follows the precocious Ramona as she tries to distance herself from her more childish self and convince those around her to take her seriously. The book highlights how Ramona becomes more self-aware, leading to anxious feelings about her appearance and personality. When Ramona sees the angelic Willa Jean, she thinks, “her corduroy slacks and turtleneck sweater suddenly felt big and awkward beside her little guest and [she was] embarrassed to have jack-o-lantern teeth” (20)—a description that registers Ramona’s creativity as well as her self-consciousness. Ramona is also becoming more attuned to her environment and the larger world around her, which causes her to fixate on her family’s financial struggles and her parents’ happiness, which she equates with stability and security. Throughout the novel, Ramona becomes more self-reflective as she maintains a child’s impulsivity but becomes mindful of how her actions affect others. She wants to be viewed as a big kid but still often reacts to situations like a young child, and her reactions embarrass her.

Much of Ramona’s journey involves navigating her relationships with adults, from her parents and her parents’ friends to her teacher, Mrs.