Bibliography: Wolff, Virginia Euwer. 1993. MAKE LEMONADE. New York, NY: Holt. ISBN 9780805080704
Plot
Summary:
MAKE
LEMONADE
is an inspiring story about a young girl who has one goal in mind for her
future – college. LaVaughn is wise and
sees the reality of her world around her very clearly. She looks for ways to work towards her goal,
and answers an ad for a babysitting job.
This one phone call introduces her to not-much-older than her, Jolly,
and her two babies. They soon become
like family to LaVaughn as she tries to juggle her own responsibilities and
make a difference in their lives. She
notices that Jolly, a high school drop-out, cannot spell and begins to help her
reach for her goals as well.
This
heart-wrenching story will tug at your heart with every turn of the page. So much pain and struggle for such young
people. You just might find yourself
rooting for those lemons to sprout so that they can make lemonade out of them
too.
Critical
Analysis:
I
absolutely love books written in verse.
The authors use their few words so skillfully, giving the reader all the
information they need to visualize the events and melt their hearts at the pain
characters feel. This book is a perfect
example. The language is chosen
carefully to create the imagery and emotion that will make readers not want to
put this book down. There are many
inspiring themes that young adult readers will benefit from: hope, resilience, tenacity, overcoming
struggles, and overcoming shame. This is
a great book for young adult readers who have difficulties in their lives, and
can open the door to rich discussions to help them make better choices for
their tomorrows.
Weakness:
This
story lacks male role models, but is something that many young adults will
connect with as they too are lacking similar role models in their lives.
Reviews:
·
1993
School Library Journal’s Best Book of
the Year
·
1993
Bulletin for the Center for Children’s
Books Blue Ribbon Book
·
1994
YALSA Best Book for Young Adults
·
Publisher’s Weekly: “Radiant with hope.”
·
Kirkus: “Powerfully moving”
Connections:
Age Level: 10 and up
Reading
Level: 5.2
Pages: 208
Genre: Realistic Fiction / Written in Free Verse ~
Poetry
·
Journal
Prompt: Discuss a time in your life that you made
lemonade out of the lemons life dealt you.
·
Listen to Audio
book version
read by Heather Alicia Simms, who brings the characters to life.
o
School Library Journal: “Wolff’s writing leaves listeners with no
option but to root enthusiastically for both LaVaughn and Jolly…”
·
Read
additional books in this series: True
Believer (Book 2) and This Full House (Book 3) by
Virginia Euwer Wolff
o
The
series follows young LaVaughn from age 14 to her senior year as she works hard
to achieve her dreams of college and getting out of the projects.
o
Discuss
each phase of LaVaughn’s life, and how she overcomes the lemons in her life and
the effects she has on those around her.
·
Discuss
teen pregnancy and the effect it has
on the teen mom and the baby brought into this world.
o
Discuss
options available to teen moms in your community that gives them options to
better their future.
·
Discuss
illiteracy:
o
Effects
it has on one’s future and their options for jobs.
o
Options
to overcome illiteracy available in your community.
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