Celebrate Beverly Cleary's 100th birthday with her 6 essential books
As J.K. Rowling said in 2011, "the stories we love best do live in us forever." She was speaking not only to her own devoted fans, but to generations of readers who have found themselves enriched by the power of literature.
And long before Rowling was published -- indeed, before she was born -- Beverly Cleary proved she deserved that legacy.
Cleary has written dozens of books for children and young adults, many of which still hold up for a modern audience (especially the ones about the mouse). On the day of Cleary's 100th birthday, we're looking back at some of our favorites.
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Beezus and Ramona (1955)
The first of many Ramona Quimby books is told from the point of view of Beatrice, A.K.A. Beezus, Ramona's older sister. The nine-year-old Beezus grows irritated with her four-year-old sister, but eventually learns to love her.
Fifteen (1956)
The titularly aged Jane Purdy finds herself navigating adolescence in the '50s, which looked a lot like it does today. She meets Stan Crandall while she's babysitting, and their relationship is full of the kind of miscommunication and analysis that one can only describe as first love. Cleary's children's books are more famous than her novels about teenagers -- but the latter certainly shouldn't be overlooked.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle (1965)
Ralph is a hotel-dwelling mouse who finds his calling through a young guest's toy motorcycle. Ralph and the boy, Keith, become secret friends, with Ralph riding the motorcycle through the hotel at night and living a life of danger and intrigue. Neither mice nor humans believe in or condone this alliance, but the adventure is one-of-a-kind.
Ramona the Pest (1968)
This sequel to Ramona and Beezus set Ramona up as the main character for the rest of the series. Beezus is one of many people who find five-year-old Ramona to be a pest, and she can't help getting into trouble -- like by pulling on Susan's curly hair. Man, kindergarten is rough.
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (1981)
Being five was hard, but being eight is a real doozy. Ramona now has to navigate school without Beezus, and without the constant presence of her father at home since he's going back to college. Ramona has a teacher who may not like her, a forced friendship with Willa Jean, a nemesis known as "Yard Ape" and perhaps most troublingly, an uncooked lunch that ends up in her hair.
Dear Mr. Henshaw (1983)
In an early tradition that would lead to books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Dear Mr. Henshaw followed the first-person story of Leigh Botts, as told by him through letters to his favorite author. Leigh and Henshaw exchange letters until Leigh eventually begins keeping a diary ("Dear Mr. Pretend Henshaw"). Throughout the story, writing letters helps Leigh cope with his own life and problems, until eventually he doesn't need his pen pal anymore.
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Proma Khosla is a Senior Entertainment Reporter writing about all things TV, from ranking Bridgerton crushes to composer interviews and leading Mashable's stateside coverage of Bollywood and South Asian representation. You might also catch her hosting video explainers or on Mashable's TikTok and Reels, or tweeting silly thoughts from @promawhatup.
