Muggie Maggie

Beverly Cleary (1916-2021) was born and raised in Oregon. Her mother took a keen interest in literature and worked as a librarian. In spite of Cleary’s love of books, which her mother encouraged, she struggled with her reading skills as a young child. Nevertheless, she became passionate about books and reading, and she studied library science at the University of Washington. She went on to work as a children’s librarian in Yakima, Washington, before taking a job as the post librarian in the US Army Hospital in Oakland, California.

Cleary then transitioned into her career as a writer, working as a full-time children’s novelist for over 50 years. Her first book, Henry Huggins, was published in 1950, and her final book, Ramona’s World, was published in 1999. Over the course of her writing career, Cleary created some of the most memorable and widely known characters in children’s literature, including Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Ralph the mouse. Cleary has won numerous awards for her contributions to children’s literature. These include the Laura Ingalls Wilder award from the American Library Association and the Library of Congress’s recognition as a “Living Legend.” Cleary’s famous novel Ramona Quimby, Age 8 was a Newbery Honor Book, and her subsequent book, Dear Mr. Henshaw, won the Newbery Medal in 1984. Her book Beezus and Ramona was made into a feature film in 2010.

Nearing the end of her career, Cleary also published two memoirs about her life. In her 1988 book A Girl From Yamhill, Cleary reflects on her family history and shares personal stories about her early upbringing on a farm in Yamhill, Oregon. She also reminisces about her experiences in Oregon during the 1920s and 1930s, giving readers a window into her time as a student and teenager. Cleary published her second memoir in 1996. Entitled My Own Two Feet, this book follows Cleary’s life as a young woman, beginning with her college years and ending with the advent of her writing career. Cleary passed away in 2021 at age 104.

In Cleary’s 1990 book Muggie Maggie, the author continues her trademark style by focusing on the everyday problems of the flawed, but likable, child protagonist Maggie Schultz. Like many of Cleary’s other famous characters, Maggie faces a problem that puts her at odds with the grown-ups in her life, and readers follow Maggie’s misadventures as she tries to outwit her parents and teachers to resist writing in cursive. Cleary’s realistic depiction of family life and classroom dynamics has engaged readers of all ages. The School Library Journal called Maggie a “likeable, funny heroine,” while The Horn Book complimented Cleary’s “usual perception and understanding of children” (“Muggie Maggie.” Beverly Cleary). This book was positively received by literary critics who enjoyed Cleary’s nuanced child characters and her humorous and witty presentation of Maggie’s story.