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Description edit
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
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
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)
Characters/People edit
- 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.
Quotes edit
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“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
First Sentence edit
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.
Themes & Symbolism edit
- 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
This is book 1 of 3 in Make Lemonade Trilogy. (standard series)
Followed by True Believer.
This book is in Enjoyable Reads for High Schoolers from Montgomery County (MD) Public Library. (authoritative list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Virginia Euwer Wolff (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: Add the language.
Publisher: Add the publisher.
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ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: Add the publication date.
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: 208
Awards edit
- Golden Kite Award (1994: Fiction)
Notes for Parents edit
Reading Level: Young AdultsWriting is geared toward young teens. Clean and easy to read, but heavy subject matter.
Subjects edit
- Books › Children's Books › People & Places › Social Situations › Friendship › Fiction
- Books › Teens › Authors, A-Z › ( W ) › Wolff, Virginia Euwer
- Books › Teens › Social Issues › Being a Teen
- Books › Children's Books › Issues › Babysitting
- Books › Children's Books › Ages 9-12
- Books › Teens › Literature & Fiction
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