Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Now that Ramona is eight-years-old, she's doing all kinds of things she's never done before. She's in a new school with a new teacher, and best of all, she takes the school bus--all by herself! But since her mother works and her daddy's in art school, Ramona has to stay with old Mrs. Kemp every day until Beezus comes for her. And as if all that isn't bad enough, she has to be nice to four-year-old Willa Jean. Ramona knows the family is depending on her to be brave with all those changes. but sometimes it's hard. Can Ramona really handle a new school, help out at home, put up with Willa Jean, and still keep smiling? --back cover