81 pages • 2 hours read
Virginia Euwer WolffMake Lemonade
Fiction | Novel/Book in Verse | YA | Published in 1993A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff, first published in 1993, follows 14-year-old LaVaughn, who aims to earn money for college by babysitting for Jolly, a 17-year-old single mother of two, in a lower-class urban setting. Sensitive topics such as sexual harassment, poverty, and homelessness are addressed. Despite challenges, LaVaughn's bond with Jolly and her children grows, embodying themes of perseverance and hope.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff has received acclaim for its poignant portrayal of teenage struggles and resilience. Readers praise the compelling, verse-based narrative and strong character development. Some critique its limited plot complexity but appreciate its emotional depth and realism. Overall, it is celebrated as a powerful, uplifting story that resonates with young adults.
Who Should Read Make Lemonade?
A reader who would enjoy Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff is likely an adolescent to young adult interested in realistic fiction that addresses socio-economic challenges, young motherhood, and personal growth. Fans of books like The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell will find its raw, poetic prose and compelling characters engaging.
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