Verna Lavaughn's Make Lemonade

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I think there could be multiple things that the author could have intended to get through to the readers. She could have wanted to teach or show young adults how hard life could get under certain circumstances. She also could have meant to reveal to kids that life isn’t always nice,easy or as pretty as you might have thought it was as a little kid. The true intent of the book could very well be something completely different from both of these things. In Make Lemonade the main focus is Verna Lavaughn’s life. That includes how she is in high school working as a babysitter for a 17 year old girl named Jolly with two little kids Jeremy and Jilly. Lavaughn talks about how she is working to earn money for college ‘’That’s why that word COLLEGE is in our house all the time, it’s why I babysit, it’s why I do all homework all the time, it’s what will get me out of here.’’ (Wolff 11). Lavaughn continues to work as a babysitter because of the love she developes for jolly’s children. Even though she didn’t get paid for a while she continued to be there for Jolly and her kids ‘’ I figure I don’t even feel bad about it. Matter of fact, shopping for shoes with Mr.Jeremy is fun. I don't need to get paid to have fun.’’ (Wolff 80). …show more content…

She loses her job she had at a factory and almost got raped by her boss. She goes without a job for a while and Lavaughn even had to miss a day of school because Jolly didn’t go home for two days. The story line could be seen as a lesson to many teenagers, especially girls. Getting pregnant at 14 or 15 could change your whole life and that could be one thing the author is trying to get across to the readers. Making big decisions like that early on in life may affect it more then some people think it might. ‘’ But I never been in such a bad mess like Jolly is. I never had 2 kids and no job and the rent due.’’ (Wolff

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