Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Feb 2009
496 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
Each discovery disturbs the arrangements of the known world, and it is our job to stay alert to all possibilities.
LaVaughn believes she is keeping alert to all possibilities. She has made it through the projects, she's gotten over heartbreak, she's grown up, and now she's been admitted to the Women in Science program that might finally be her ticket to COLLEGE. But the discoveries she makes during her senior year in high school--two girls pregnant, with very few options--disturb everything in her known world. And in an effort to bring together people who should love each other, she jeopardizes the one prize she has sought her whole life long.
When do you know whether you're doing the right thing? What happens when you can't find a way to make lemonade out of lemons? Virginia Euwer Wolff takes on the biggest questions--about life and love, certainly, but also about girls and women, sacrifice and compassion--and has something quite revelatory to say about them in this full house.
"Starred Review. Despite the book's oversimplification of religion and a conclusion that would seem pat if it were not so emotionally right, this portrayal of the dignity of poverty is quite the tearjerker. The audacity of hope, indeed. Ages 13-15." - Kirkus Reviews.
"Starred Review. The steady, sympathetic characterizations more than compensate for the unlikely plot twist ... and the trilogy closes warmly, sagely and, yes, even triumphantly. Ages 14–up." - Publishers Weekly.
"Readers who have come to care about the characters will find a fitting and optimistic end to the trilogy." - VOYA.
"The secret that anchors the plot is heavily contrived ... and an authorial tone occasionally intrudes [but] LaVaughn’s ferocious determination and intelligence will wholly captivate readers ..." - Booklist.
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Virginia Euwer Wolff was born on August 25, 1937 in Portland, Oregon. Her family lived on an apple and pear orchard near Mount Hood. She graduated from Smith College. She raised a son and daughter before going back to teaching high school English.
She was almost fifty years old when she started writing children books. Virginia thought she might have one or two good books in her before the end but that was proven wrong. Today, she is no longer teaching, but writes full-time.
Wolff has received many awards for her works, which include the Golden Kite Award for Fiction for her book Make Lemonade, the ALA Notable Book for Children for The Mozart Season and many, many others.
An accomplished violinist, she is a member of the Chamber Music Society of Oregon. She also enjoys hiking, ...
... Full Biography
Link to Virginia Euwer Wolff's Website
Name Pronunciation
Virginia Euwer Wolff: you-er wolf
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