A Girl from Yamhill - A Memoir

Told in her own words, A Girl from Yamhill is Newbery Medal–winning author Beverly Cleary’s heartfelt and relatable memoir—now with a beautifully redesigned cover!

Generations of children have read Beverly Cleary’s books. From Ramona Quimby to Henry Huggins, Ralph S. Mouse to Ellen Tebbits, she has created an evergreen body of work based on the humorous tales and heartfelt anxieties of middle graders.

But in A Girl from Yamhill, Beverly Cleary tells a more personal story—her story—of what adolescence was like. In warm but honest detail, Beverly describes life in Oregon during the Great Depression, including her difficulties in learning to read, and offers a slew of anecdotes that were, perhaps, the inspiration for some of her beloved stories.

For everyone who has enjoyed the pranks and schemes, embarrassing moments, and all of the other poignant and colorful images of childhood brought to life in Beverly Cleary’s books, here is the fascinating true story of the remarkable woman who created them.

This moving and unforgettable memoir explores:

A Farm Childhood: A vivid portrait of growing up in Yamhill, a world of dirt roads, wood stoves, and the freedom for a girl to explore on her own. Depression-Era Resilience: An honest look at a family navigating financial hardship and uncertainty in 1930s Portland, held together by determination. An Author’s Beginning: The surprising story of how a girl who struggled in first grade grew up to become one of the world’s most beloved children’s authors. Pioneer Roots: Tales of her hardy pioneer ancestors who crossed the plains to Oregon, instilling a legacy of grit and gumption that shaped her entire life.