The short and uneven lines in this verse novel feel like every day conversation.  The stop and go text feels like the stop and go lives of all of the characters in Make Lemonade, characters who struggle with violence, drugs, and abuse in their daily lives.   As LaVaughn's mother always says, "You've got to take hold."  Taking hold is a theme in this contemporary realisitc novel for young adults.  These kids must "take hold" simply to make it through the day.  They must take hold of each other, of their choices, of their own lives.

 

LaVaugh forms an interesting family to Jolly, Jeremy and Jilly.  She is young, but she has a devoted mother and she is planning to go to college.  As the story unravels, LaVaughn comes to see how Jolly's choices effect her current situation, yet how much of her current situation isn't because of her choices at all. . .  She didn't grow up in a good family and she doesn't have a mother, and choices seem to be made for her before she ever sees the options.

 

This novel is an excellent example of young adult literature because it represents what young adult literature is about.  It is for young people, about young people, and about issues young people face.  It also challenges and questions the norms.  Jolly is an interesting character to be faced with because of her age and her children.  A reader could be 17 and would put themselves in Jolly's place and then in LaVaughn's place.  This novel gives them an interesting viewpoint.

 

Make Lemonade offers a slice of life that a young adult may or may not be familiar with.  Since the story is seen through the eyes of LaVaughn, readers can see two very different lives intersecting in dramatic ways.  LaVaughn as a character is very mature and articulate.  Yet I think most teens see themselves in that way so LaVaugh is a character that can give them more insight into themselves by seeing how much insight she has into herself.