Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Wolff, Virginia Euwer. 1993. MAKE LEMONADE. New York: H. Holt. ISBN 9780805022285

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This novel in free verse, tells the story of 14-year-old inner-city African-American LaVaughn who takes a part-time job sitting for 17-year-old Jolly's two children, Jilly and Jeremy. LaVaughn develops a caring relationship with the children realizing around the same time that Jolly isn't going to make it on her own without assistance. Although she is 3 years younger than Jolly, LaVaughn shows great maturity in helping the single mother get herself together and on the right track for her and her kids.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Make Lemonade naturally tells a story of some social problems, such as having child before marriage, single-parent family, the living conditions of poor people and the abuse of weapons. From the eyes of La Vaughn, we see the life of ordinary people and their different attitudes toward life.

The format of the book is written from LaVaughn’s point of view and arranged in a diary format, with short chapters of verse. The discussions between LaVaughn and Jolly are compatible to their ages. “LaVaughn's narrative--brief, sometimes ungrammatical sentences in uneven lines, like verse--is in a credible teenage voice suited to readers like Jolly herself; yet it has the economy and subtlety of poetry” Kirkus Review stated (1993).

Along with the verse-like narrative, symbolism plays a large role in this novel and sucks the reader into the story. The book’s first line, “I am telling you this just the way it went...Other people would maybe tell it different, but I was there” causes the reader to keep reading, wanting to know what it is that LaVaughn finds so pertinent to share.  The rhythm of the story leads the reader through a story of struggle, hope, and independence. The reader develops a view that the world in neither black nor white, right or wrong to LaVaughn as she is pulled by two different forces: her strict, college minded mother

My mom sunk her teeth into this one,

This college idea. Every time I look like I’m forgetting college

She reminds me some way.

My mom has an attention span that goes on for years.

Or Jolly’s immature self in a mature situation.

and Jolly, a teenage parent with no guidance who is often quoted in the book as saying “no one TOLD me”.

Physical signs of symbolism show up in the form of lemon seeds as LaVaughn plants them to show Jeremy, Jolly’s son, how things grow. Just like life, disappointment occurs when the seeds fail to grow. LaVaughn brings in new seeds, she and Jolly argue about whether to tell Jeremy the truth or to plant the new seeds and not tell Jeremy. Jolly is attempting to shelter him from the disappointment she so often feels, and LaVaughn believes this is a good teaching opportunity, one about truth. Keeping in mind that as the story continues, LaVaughn begins to break away from Jolly as she begins pulling her life together. Jolly stops LaVaughn in the hall one day and tells her, "Hey, you wouldn't guess what come up out of that dirt. We got a little green thing, a little lemon thing comin' up".  It’s obvious the lemon seeds are a metaphor for the growth of both girls.

The story is unforgettable and the rhythm of each passage depicts the ups and downs of the story.  Poetic devices such as repetition, line length, and the use of all capitalization are used to simulate strong feeling. In the passage below you can see how these elements are artfully constructed.

And in comes Jeremy. "Looky," he says, holding up his hand
and from her bed has already come
a scream that the world is ending.
In Jeremy's hand like the Statue of Liberty
is a bunch of hair, clean sheared,
I quick look around his head -
How did he get scissors at his age,
what has he cut,
and where's the blood,
and will I be calling 911, all these things I'm thinking at once.

But underneath I think I knew the instant I saw his face
the same time with her screaming I absolutely think I knew.
“Jeremy, I canNOT beLIEVE what you've DONE/to your SISter,”

Make Lemonade is a book full of style and reflects the work of a true poet. The first book in a trilogy documenting LaVaughn’s coming of age, this novel would be a literary circle or book club selection. This book is not an ideal read-aloud since it is written in a stream of conscious style and may be difficult to follow, orally. The light Make Lemonade sheds on the struggles people endure to provide for their families is valuable for students of varied socio-economic backgrounds.

4.  AWARDS/REVIEWS

Oregon Book Award

The Golden Kite Award for Fiction.

American Library Association (ALA) Notable Children's Book

American Library Association (ALA) Best Book for Young Adults

Booklist Top of the List winner

SLJ STARRED review: "The poetic form emphasizes the flow of the teenager's language and thought. The form invites readers to drop some preconceptions about novels, and they will find the plot and characters riveting. MAKE LEMONADE is a triumphant, outstanding story."

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review: "Radiant with hope, this keenly observed and poignant novel is a stellar addition to YA literature.

5.  CONNECTIONS

http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/parenting/finances.htm This link is a helpful resource for single moms who will need financial assistance. It easily describes the resources available and how to find them locally:

http://www.ed.gov/programs/campisp/index.html Information about the Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools Program.

 
http://www.ed.gov/programs/trioupbound/index.html Upward Bound main page. Upward Bound is a TRIO program that is designed to make first generation college students successful.