A Girl From Yamhill, by Beverly Cleary

This biography by the author of many, many wonderful children's books (Ramona Quimby, Dear Mr. Henshaw) was published in the late 1980s, and has been an OBOB book in the past, but for some reason it never made it into my reading pile until now. It finally made it thanks to rave reviews from Mr. Morton, who is reading it out loud to his 6th graders this month - thanks, Mr. Morton!

Beverly Cleary, now 103 years old, was born in McMinnville, grew up in Yamhill and then Portland, in the 1920s and 1930s. This book is her story as she navigates life through high school living in Oregon, a descendant of several prominent people in Oregon history and, of course, herself being one of Oregon's most recognizable names in children's literature. In addition to being a very interesting romp through Depression-era Oregon, this book is like a long conversation with a really good friend. Cleary's writing is easy, direct, insightful without being too introspective or personal...a great blend of who she is, who she was, and her relationship with her parents, school, friends, adolescence, and the world as she knew it, which was very small and simple in sometimes painful ways. I'm sorry I waited so long to read this, but I'm very happy to have read it now. I recommend it! 5 paws!