Follows the popular children's author from her childhood years in Oregon through high school and into young adulthood, highlighting her family life...
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Jul 20, 2009
Nancy
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I have started DD age 8 reading the Ramona books and while buying those I found this autobiography of Beverly Cleary. I didn't know she was an Oregonian. My MIL says Ms. Cleary frequently was a guest at the state fair and other places. Certainly an author I remember from my childhood.
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Apr 21, 2011
Kristen
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Beverly Cleary is my all-time favorite children's author. No other writer so vividly captures the heart and mind of the child. This book, the first of her two-part memoirs, follows her story from a brief history of her grandparents and parents, all the way through her high school graduation and journey to California to go to college.
Her early childhood on the farm was rather lonely. An only child, she was left much to herself, and seemed closer to her grandparents than to her parents More...
Her early childhood on the farm was rather lonely. An only child, she was left much to herself, and seemed closer to her grandparents than to her parents More...
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Aug 10, 2009
Bridget
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What a disappointment this book turned out to be! It's a memoir of the early years of Beverly Cleary, writer of the Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins stories for children. I was always a big Ramona fan in particular, but loved just about anything I read by Cleary.
A co-worker loaned me this book, and I read the entire thing, but I wish I hadn't. It basically details her life as a young girl, until she leaves to go to college. She starts out on the family farm in Yamhill, Oregon, and More...
A co-worker loaned me this book, and I read the entire thing, but I wish I hadn't. It basically details her life as a young girl, until she leaves to go to college. She starts out on the family farm in Yamhill, Oregon, and More...
Nov 02, 2009
Sonia
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If memory serves, I started to read this when it came out in 1988, but was deterred by the sad fact that to my 12-year-old self, Beverly Cleary was passe (when I had moved on to much more adult things, you know, like V.C. Andrews) and by a central character less compelling than Emily Bartlett, Leigh Botts, Jane Purdy (still my favorites). But I'm glad I waited, actually, because all the geography means a LOT more to me now; I too love going to the Hollywood Theater, for instance, and I have bee
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Jan 19, 2010
Anne-Marie
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I'm going to start this tonight. I'm interested because when I was reading the "About the Author" page in Ramona the Pest I found out that Beverly Cleary was a librarian in Yakima, Wa. which is where my husband lived for 13 years before we met. Also because she thought up Ramona and Ramona is pretty great.
This was an easy and fairly pleasurable read. I love any sort of depictions of Farm Life because the heart part of me wants to live on a farm but the brain part knows t More...
This was an easy and fairly pleasurable read. I love any sort of depictions of Farm Life because the heart part of me wants to live on a farm but the brain part knows t More...
Jan 15, 2012
Lydia
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It was so much fun reading this book! I am a HUGE fan of Beverly Cleary. As a young girl, once I discovered Ramona, I plowed through every Ramona book. Then I moved on to all of Cleary's other books. Cleary's voice is so pure in all of her books. She uses a similar voice in this autobiography. As you read it, you realize that much of her writing came from real-life experiences and real people from her past. I am thinking about reading through all of her books again this summer.
I More...
I More...
May 30, 2011
Anne
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This feels like a latter-era LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE only because the world of Depression-era Portland, Oregon is so different from today. Cleary's early years on a farm when she had freedom to explore and daydream starkly contrast with her later years in Portland with a controlling mother who showed little love. Her supportive father was diminished by unemployment and jobs he hated; it's too bad he wasn't able to stand up for her more when she needed it, but he did speak up at a crucial tim
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Feb 05, 2012
Lora
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I love Beverly Cleary's books, so it was fascinating reading her memoir. I enjoyed seeing the bits of her life that she recycled for her stories, like the first bite of an apple, or tin-can stilts, or Brick Factory, or even Klickitat Street. The character of Danny ("Yard Ape") in the Ramona books draws on a real-life boy named Ralph, which is perhaps why I always connected with him more than the churlish Howie Kemp.
One of the best parts of this was her relationship with her m More...
One of the best parts of this was her relationship with her m More...
Jan 25, 2009
Beth A.
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Clearly written in a comfortable tone, Beverly Cleary tells the story of her childhood. Her writing is warm and friendly, and it's interesting. I especially enjoyed reading about events in her life that I recognized from her books. She tells about good times without making everything rosy and perfect, and tells about her difficulties without being bitter. She had a fun childhood, but her teenage years were miserable because of the depression and her controlling mother.
One thing that More...
One thing that More...
Feb 12, 2010
Ariel
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I always wanted to read this book because I'm a huge Beverly Cleary fan (I think Ramona the Pest is one of the most perfect children's books ever written.) It was mostly about her hypercontrolling mother who, at least on the psychological plane, gave Joan Crawford a run for her money. the Depression. I loved hearing about the incidents from her childhood that fed her books and how she lived around the corner from the legendary Klikitat Street. But it ends with her escape to college in California
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May 03, 2011
Cindy
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Beverly Cleary is known and loved for her books that appeal to young readers. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and The Mouse and the Motorcycle are just two of the titles that have remained popular through multiple generations.
In her memoir, A Girl from Yamhill, Cleary talks about her early life, first on a farm in Yamhill, Oregon, then in Portland. Cleary was an only child, and her stories of small town life are punctuated by the adults she spent most of her time with—her parents, her grandparent More...
In her memoir, A Girl from Yamhill, Cleary talks about her early life, first on a farm in Yamhill, Oregon, then in Portland. Cleary was an only child, and her stories of small town life are punctuated by the adults she spent most of her time with—her parents, her grandparent More...
Jan 17, 2010
Jamie
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This book is a memoir of Beverly Cleary. She taljks about all of her childhood memories of rowing up in Oregon. She had financial problems and her family worked together to deal with them. By moving to the "Big City" she has learned how to become the writer she has become.
I can connect to Beverly because I have moved alot growing up aswell. It was quite hard for me to cope but I have made alot of friends who always helped me get through hard times.
I rate this book More...
I can connect to Beverly because I have moved alot growing up aswell. It was quite hard for me to cope but I have made alot of friends who always helped me get through hard times.
I rate this book More...
Apr 28, 2009
Beth
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I have been a Beverly Cleary fan since about the third grade. That's been 40 years. When A Girl From Yamhill came out, I rushed to buy it in hard cover. I wasn't disappointed.
Beverly's mother is like a couple of my older female relatives. Appearances were important, and they want their own way. Beverly's mother really didn't help her childhood at all, but then, she seemed pretty unhappy.
I thought it was interesting that Beverly was just an above average student. It More...
Beverly's mother is like a couple of my older female relatives. Appearances were important, and they want their own way. Beverly's mother really didn't help her childhood at all, but then, she seemed pretty unhappy.
I thought it was interesting that Beverly was just an above average student. It More...
Apr 14, 2011
Allison
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This book was very well-written, with vivid descriptions and language both child and adult can enjoy. A lot of Cleary's childhood is inspiration for her books, and it always made me smile when I read a bit that had been adapted into one of her stories. Cleary grew up during the depression, and this book covers that time until she leaves for college (where her next book picks up). For addressing a sometimes-difficult childhood, the book lacked emotion, which might be because of the distance from
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Aug 31, 2011
Rachel
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Beverly had pretty detailed memories of her childhood at the time she wrote this (in her early 70s) and I think it reflects in her ability to write children's books from a child's perspective. I recently read Ramona Quimby, Age 8 with my son and found a lot of parallels between Ramona and herself as a child.
A difference later on would be in her relationship with her mother. They didn't have a happy, comfortable relationship although she desired friendship with her mother. A lot of t More...
A difference later on would be in her relationship with her mother. They didn't have a happy, comfortable relationship although she desired friendship with her mother. A lot of t More...
Apr 16, 2011
Jennifer
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I read Cleary's books multiple times as a kid. Her books inspired my first clumsy attemtps at writing. Cleary drew many of her characters from her childhood experiences. Now, I know why Ramona named her doll "Chevrolet". :)Her relationship with her mother was one I can whole-heartedly relate to. While her parents weren't able to leave her money, they understood the importance of an education. This was a wonderful read, a glimpse into by-gone days when life was simpler and a quarter wen
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Sep 25, 2011
Carin
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I love this book! Love love love! If you are a Beverly Cleary fan - and I know you are - you must read it too!
It isn't precisely a children's book although the font does make it accessible for younger readers (and at my library it is shelved in the children's non-fiction section although very oddly, not in biography.) However there are a couple of mentions of sex (just mentions though, where Beverly would say something like "and this would have been a time for my mother to talk More...
It isn't precisely a children's book although the font does make it accessible for younger readers (and at my library it is shelved in the children's non-fiction section although very oddly, not in biography.) However there are a couple of mentions of sex (just mentions though, where Beverly would say something like "and this would have been a time for my mother to talk More...
Oct 08, 2011
Megan
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I have read this book several times, rereading now as an adult brings on a new perspective for me. I have always loved this book and reading it again makes me nostalgic for my own childhood. Beverly Cleary, beloved children's author, tells a tale not of Ramona, but of her own childhood in Oregon state.
The book follows her earliest memories as well as a little back story on her parents and finishes after she graduates high school. Beverly was born on a farm in Yamhill, Oregon, a small More...
The book follows her earliest memories as well as a little back story on her parents and finishes after she graduates high school. Beverly was born on a farm in Yamhill, Oregon, a small More...
Jul 26, 2010
Jennifer
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Sometimes I mark a book I love "as read" but then don't write a full review. I always vow later to come back and finish it. I rarely do, so I'm happy I have the chance to do right by this book:)
I've been rereading the famous Ramona books to my kids. My oldest son has global delays and has some difficulty following verbal information. Something about Beverly Cleary's writing captures him. He retains and understands far more of the Romona books than any other books we've ev More...
I've been rereading the famous Ramona books to my kids. My oldest son has global delays and has some difficulty following verbal information. Something about Beverly Cleary's writing captures him. He retains and understands far more of the Romona books than any other books we've ev More...
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Jul 23, 2010
Jelinas
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Like many other girls my age, I grew up reading Beverly Cleary.
Her books about Ramona Quimby spoke to me like no other books did. While I always told people that my favorite book was Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (a trip to a land of chocolate? Yes, please), I was always inevitably drawn back to Ramona and Beezus and Henry Huggins. While I loved the fantasy world of Willy Wonka, it was the realism of Klickitat Street that always called me back.
It's a cred More...
Her books about Ramona Quimby spoke to me like no other books did. While I always told people that my favorite book was Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (a trip to a land of chocolate? Yes, please), I was always inevitably drawn back to Ramona and Beezus and Henry Huggins. While I loved the fantasy world of Willy Wonka, it was the realism of Klickitat Street that always called me back.
It's a cred More...
May 06, 2008
Mia
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The writing isn't great, but the story is pretty interesting. It felt to me like someone taking notes from their notes. There's a lot of parts that read like "and that Saturday, Jane invited me to her house. We had fun." Informative, yes. Interesting... not always.
BUT it is a very interesting look into the Depression era in Oregon and a child who grows up between a sort of "old way" and a "new way" of live -- from pioneer ancestors and a historic old wo More...
BUT it is a very interesting look into the Depression era in Oregon and a child who grows up between a sort of "old way" and a "new way" of live -- from pioneer ancestors and a historic old wo More...
Oct 20, 2011
Carol
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Cleary writes a very simple, honest story of her childhood. I found it doubly interesting because she is a gal who grew up in Oregon, her first few years in Yamhill and her elementary and high school years in Portland. Aside from reading her children's books, her fame in Portland during the years I lived their made her memoir's daily paths in the very district I was living like a walk in my personal park. Cleary is alive at the age of 95 and now lives in McMinnville.
Sep 11, 2009
Kate♥
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I did not like this book because as I interpreted it was only about financial problems and how Beverly Cleary's family dealt with them. I did not think that the book was that much about her and her life growing up. The beginning of the book was much better then the end of it and it had more to do about her life and exciting stories she remembered. Also at the beginning there was more humor which made it more engaging. All together this was just an average book.
Aug 29, 2009
Melissa
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I loved Beverly Cleary's books as a kid, and this one has been on my TBR list for quite a while. It details her childhood growing up in Oregon during the Depression. Some of the pictures of her as a child look just as I always imagined "Ramona" to look. Parts of her high school experience reminded me of Betsy-Tacy, and some of the episodes are similar to things in the Ramona books. A big focus of this memoir was Cleary's relationship with her mother. Some of it was normal teenage
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Oct 15, 2011
Francie
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I saw this title in the Rodman, NY library and thought "no, it couldn't be, there is only one Yamhill that I have ever heard of and that is one town north of McMinnville Oregon where I went to college". I checked it out and it turned out to be that Yamhill. There were more coincidences that I mention in my other comment on My Own Two Feet. We could have been twins except she was twenty or more years older.
Dec 03, 2010
itpdx
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This book is a real treat. Beverly Cleary applies her excellent ability to write from a child's perspective to her own life--a child's joy in exploring the world, her puzzlement at adults' ways, and her own logic that leaves adults scratching their heads. The book gives us a clear understanding of what it was like to grow up during the Depression. And for those of us who know the Portland area some fun glimpses of a by-gone era.
Feb 22, 2011
Ailah
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I am hooked when ever I read a page I must read more! I think this is a good book because I feel like im her she wants to do things nobody wants to do. When she was a child she was drawing a bird with her friend. They had a fight on who's bird was better. Beverly thought hers was better so she grabbed her friend by the leg and puled him off the chair. I couldn't stop laughing when I heard that :p. And there is a whole chapter on her moms rules (no different from mine but more present day.) I fel
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Oct 07, 2010
Holly
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Beverly Cleary is just as interesting if not more than her children's characters. I loved reading about her unique and mischieveous personality. Through her life, I saw how she grabbed themes, ideas, bits of personalities, and combined them into delightful child's prose. This was a fun companion to the Ramona books we read in our mother/daughter's book club.
Oct 14, 2011
Julie
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I read this one because my daughter was reading it for school. The relationship between the mother and daughter really made me think, especially knowing that my daughter was reading it also. There are always two sides to every story and I would love to know her mother's side of the story. I wonder also what my daughter would include in her memoirs of our relationship. What would she remember most? I hope, even with all of the craziness, that she would know more than anything how much I love
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Jan 04, 2012
Erin
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I completely adored this memoir by Beverly Cleary. I grew up reading the Ramona series and recently re-read them again with my husband. Realizing how wonderful they were, I wanted to know more about the writer and discovered stories of her real life that are just as charming as anything in the Ramona series. She brings a loving authenticity to her family struggles through life transitions from the farm to the city, and then through the depression. I loved the chapters on "Gerhard": the
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