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An award-winning novel about growing up and making choices Viginia Euwer Wolff’s groundbreaking novel, written in free verse, tells the story of fourteen-year-old LaVaughn, who is determined to go to college—she just needs the money to get there. When she answers a babysitting ad, LaVaughn... read more

Summary edit see section history

When fourteen-year-old LaVaughn takes an after-school babysitting job to earn money for college she doesn't really know what she is getting into. All she knows is she feels a strong connection to this seventeen-year-old single mother and her two young children. LaVaughn can't hide how badly... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

When fourteen-year-old LaVaughn takes an after-school babysitting job to earn money for college she doesn't really know what she is getting into. All she knows is she feels a strong connection to this seventeen-year-old single mother and her two young children. LaVaughn can't hide how badly off Jolly, LaVaughn's employer, and her kids are from her mom or herself anymore, when Jolly comes home with her face scratched up and bleeding. LaVaughn's mother is worried that this job is not appropriate or safe for her daughter. But by now LaVaughn has already gotten Jeremy potty trained, given Jilly many baths, and formed a special friendship with Jolly. It seems as though everything goes wrong for Jolly because shortly after this she is fired from her job. Now LaVaughn must choose between her college dream or her friendship with Jolly's family. Which does she value more? Can she have both? This is a book of a girls struggle to learn what truly means most to her.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • LaVaughn: A 14 year old girl determined to go to college. She is the narrator of the story and also a girl who babysits Jolly's kids since Jolly isn't home most of them time. She is skinny.
  • Jolly: A very young mother of 2 kids; 17 years old. Not the best home life...also needs a job but then gets one and it doesn't turn out well because her boss fires her. She is very hard working.
  • Myrtle: Friend of LaVaughn
  • Annie: friend of LaVaughn
  • Jeremy: Jolly's 2 year old son.
  • Jilly: Jolly's daughter who is a baby.
  • Danny: Jolly's friend that died from an overdose.
  • Jamil: Boy in Verna's self esteem class
  • Barbara: Works for the school system.
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “It's that place-just above the leaf-a spiderweb is spun and it's got no fly or anything caught yet. It's that thready place of air. When Jilly hollered really bad and I thought I was gonna crack open with the sound of it the web would move just so you could hardly see it but it moved.”
    LaVaughn

Setting & Locations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

I am telling you this just the way it went with all the details I remember as they were, and including the parts I'm not sure about.

Glossary edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Education: Throughout this novel, education is a topic that surfaces time and time again. A point being made: without knowledge, you cannot move on. This seems to be tied into other themes in this book.
  • Identity: Describe this theme.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 3 in Make Lemonade Trilogy. (standard series)

Followed by True Believer.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Virginia Euwer Wolff (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

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Page Count: 208

Awards edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Writing is geared toward young teens. Clean and easy to read, but heavy subject matter.

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