Ramona Forever

Ramona is growing up. The book takes place some months after the events of Ramona Quimby, Age 8. She and Beezus manage to convince their parents to let them stay home alone together after school for one week to see how it goes. One day, they get into a fight about Beezus's newly found skin problems. The next day, they find their cat, Picky-Picky, dead in the basement. They forgive each other and handle his funeral and burial themselves, and their parents decide they are responsible enough to take care of themselves. Ramona is especially happy not to have to go to the Kemps' house after school any more because she no longer has to deal with Howie's bratty younger sister, Willa Jean, his nagging grandmother whom Ramona feels singles her out and makes her watch Willa Jean so she can watch her favorite soap opera on TV, or their house which according to Beezus "smells like old soup." She also isn't too fond of Howie's rich Uncle Hobart who has arrived from Saudi Arabia. He's the kind of man who thinks it's funny to tease kids and Ramona doesn't like him.

There are more changes coming for the Quimbys. Mr. Quimby is almost finished with college and everyone hopes he'll get a teaching job in the area. It's especially important because Mrs. Quimby is pregnant with their third child, and she plans on staying home to take care of him. Beezus thinks it will be wonderful to have a baby around to take care of, but Ramona realizes she won't be the youngest anymore. She's not sure how she feels about being the middle child.

The season of summer rolls around and something else changes: Aunt Bea and Uncle Hobart get engaged. Beezus and Ramona are to be maids of honor in their wedding. They only have two weeks to plan it, though, and by the time the day arrives everyone in the neighborhood has become involved. By the time baby Roberta arrives, Ramona realizes, along with her family, that "She was winning at growing up."