Make Lemonade

• Genre: Fiction; young adult realistic; novel in verse
• Originally Published: 1993
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 890L; grades 7-12
• Structure/Length: 66 chapters; approximately 200 pages; approximately 3 hours, 33 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: LaVaughn, a high school student, takes on a part-time job babysitting for Jolly, a single mother of two currently without employment who refuses welfare assistance. As LaVaughn becomes intimately involved in Jolly’s life, she grapples with complex issues such as injustice, teenage motherhood, and the pursuit of a better future. The novel explores resilience, friendship, and the challenges faced by marginalized communities.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Socioeconomic impacts on families; references to teenage motherhood; sexual assault; gun violence; death of a parent; characters who are unhoused 

Virginia Euwer Wolff, Author

• Bio: Born 1937; American author of young adult literature; known for her unique writing style, often employing verse; has received multiple awards for her contributions to young adult literature; addresses important social issues in her works, including socioeconomic impacts and teen pregnancy
• Other Works: The Mozart Season (1991); Bat 6 (1998); Probably Still Nick Swansen (1998); True Believer (2001); This Full House (2009);
• Awards: School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (1993); YALSA Best Book for Young Adults (1994)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide: