Wolff, Virginia Euwer. Make Lemonade. NY: Henry Holt & Co., 1993. ISBN: 0805-2228-7
Summary
LaVaughn answers and ad—"babysitter needed bad." Jolly is 17 years old and has two children. She lives by herself, working nights at a factory. LaVaughn is babysitting to save money for college but she also likes Jolly and her kids. LaVaughn's mother thinks Jolly is a bad influence, especially after Jolly loses her job and asks LaVaughn to babysit for free. But Jolly only lost her job because she wouldn't have sex with her boss. LaVaughn can see that Jolly's situation isn't fair and sets about to help her, starting with getting Jolly back into school.
Critical Evaluation
These two inner city girls are joined together in unpredictable ways so even the characters seem surprised at their friendship. But this unlikely juxtaposition shows the sadness of abandoned children (Jolly was a foster child) and the strength of family. Make Lemonade does a good job of not lecturing, even with its obvious title. Overall a sweet and hopeful book—for both characters.
Reader's Annotation
LaVaughn's mother is always lecturing her to go to college. Jolly, who hires LaVaughn to babysit doesn't have a mother. Instead she is a mother at 17. Although different they both find what they need to turn lemons into lemonade.
Genre and Subject
Realistic fiction, teen mothers, sexual harassment, poverty
Bibliotherapuetic Usefulness
Everyone needs reminding that it is possible to turn life's lemons into lemonade.
Why I chose this book
Unlikely friendships often have unusual consequences.
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