Make Lemonade

Make Lemonade

It took Virginia Euwer Wolff sixteen years to get a very
worthwhile trilogy published. Make Lemonade (1993), True Believer
(2001), and This Full House (2009) chronicle in sparse and eloquent
free form poetry the journey of a high school student, LaVaughn,
striving desperately to get admitted to college to achieve a career
that will get her out of her dangerous low income neighborhood. These
three books are unfortunately even more relevant today that when they
were written. You'd better believe we'll get back to that.
When we meet LaVaughn in Make Lemonade she's a newly minted
freshperson. She and her mom are determined for her to make it to
college, just not sure, beyond hard work, how this will be achieved,
especially in a school very lacking in even the basics. When she
answers a babysitting ad, seeking a job to help her save tuition
money, she discovers a whole other world of hurt. Jolly, mother of a
toddler and a baby, has been victimized by a haphazard ward of the
state childhood, homeless teen years, and two baby daddies who up and
left.
In True Believer LaVaughn's guidance counselor is getting her
sophomore self on a college bound track. She's been moved to advanced
biology with pressure on to do well. A very focussed grammar elective
is giving her a new grasp on language and all its possibilities. But
her two best friends are growing further and further away. And a
former friend has come back to her building, looking distractingly
much too good.
LaVaughn is a senior in This Full House. She has decided on
nursing as a vocation and won a place in an advanced science program
for girls. She is presented with a number of troubling decisions
including one that would probably be difficult for most adults.
These books were very much relevant when they were hot off the
press. Dangerous neighborhoods and poorly equipped schools put too
many kids at a distinct disadvantage college wise. Then there are the
subtle things. Kids in families and neighborhoods where no one has
gone to college don't have the insider information of their more
advantaged peers or often the confidence that they will belong on a
campus. Now with the push for the "non deserving" (not elderly or
handicapped) poor to be self sufficient able bodied but severely
disadvantaged Jolly would be thrown to the wolves.
These three volumes give us today a lot to think on.
On a personal note, I've been involved in raising money for a benefit
dance marathon that will take place from 6:00 in the evening til 6:00
the next morning up to the University. Last week I was tabling
(selling cookies and raffle tickets). As the event gets closer I'm
just a tad apprehensive. Will I be able to keep up with all the
students young enough to be my kids? Lord have mercy.
A great big shout out to everyone else involved. If all goes well
some serious change will be raised to help with young people's medical
expenses.
Julia Emily Hathaway


Sent from my iPod