Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Ramona's job is to be nice to fussy Mrs. Kemp, who watches her while her mother works. If Mrs. Quimby didn't work, Mr. Quimby couldn't return to college. On top of all that, third grade isn't turning out as Ramona expected, even though she enjoys her class's new reading program, D. E. A. R. Danny the Yard Ape teases her, and, on one horrible day, she throws up—at school. Being eight isn't easy, but it's never dull.