"I called this babysitting number
and her voice answered
like we could be friends,
right away."
Make Lemonade chronicles the challenging friendship of LaVaughn and Jolly. LaVaughn is a fourteen year old college bound girl who takes a job babysitting to save money for tuition. Jolly is the seventeen year old mother of Jeremy and Jilly. Both girls strive for a better life and an escape from poverty. When Jolly is fired from her job and no longer able to pay LaVaughn for her services, the opportunity arises for the girls to "make lemonade" out of the situation. With LaVaughn's help, Jolly enrolls in a high school program for teen mothers and LaVaughn's grades begin to once again soar improving her chances of getting into college. The ending uncovers the true powers of determination and friendship.
Through LaVaughn's narration, readers are presented with gripping details of the realities faced by some inner city youth. From teen pregnancy to poverty, Wolff's portrayal of her character's circumstances is realistic, raw, and unglamorized. The free verse poetic style gives this novel a unique and inviting appearance. Readers will appreciate the honest approach of the novel, and it is ideal for teen girls!
