This Full House (Make Lemonade)

This book is the third in the trilogy that began with Make Lemonade and True Believer. It took years (about 7 or something) between True Believer and This Full House, and there was a lot about the plot and characters that I didn't remember, but after reading a few pages of This Full House I was completely immersed in that world again. It's a realistic story set in a poor urban community about teenagers trying to succeed in various ways despite the many hardships that seem to be burying them. The writing is pretty simple but the characters are not. The story is both tragic and hopeful and full of complicated relationships. I'll admit that I cried, and I'm not usually very sappy. I love how perspectives from different generations are show more portrayed so beautifully, and the focus on the struggles that females face in academics, the medical world, and as lovers and mothers was really moving. I would highly recommend this whole series to everybody. show less

Third in the trilogy, This Full House continues the story of LaVaughn, an inner city teen who is now 17 years old and beginning to think about the possibility of college. In this installment, the book explores ethics and choices, as well as motherhood and/or the absence of a mother.

All of the books in this series are written in verse, although as a reader of the audiobook version in this and the previous book, I really could not tell. I felt that book #3 was on par with the previous two -- presenting a good glimpse of some of the issues that an inner city teen might have to deal with. However, written for a tween audience, these were a much scaled-down version of what would likely be happening in reality. The language is very innocent, show more as are most of the characters. I could see these as being educational & appealing for ages 10-12, or possibly an older teen 20 years ago, but anyone older in this day and age might scoff at the seeming innocence of these novels. show less

I'm emotionally invested in LaVaughn & Jolly. I wanted to love this book, but I only like it. It's achingly contrived in parts, although it retains the emotional immediacy of the earlier books. I just couldn't suspend my disbelief enough to buy the central plot point, and I'm sad about that.

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

THIS FULL HOUSE is the conclusion to the MAKE LEMONADE trilogy by Virginia Euwer Wolff. It will be on store shelves in January of 2009. It has been fifteen years since the first book about LaVaughn and Jolly. Having just finished the Advanced Reader's Copy of THIS FULL HOUSE, I can say it was worth the wait.

High school student LaVaughn and single mother Jolly first met in MAKE LEMONADE. LaVaughn reluctantly took on the job of babysitter to Jolly's two young children. Watching Jolly struggle as a single, teen mother makes LaVaughn realize the importance of getting an education and making something of herself. What followed was TRUE BELIEVER and even more experience watching show more and helping Jolly make ends meet for her little family.

THIS FULL HOUSE provides a satisfying conclusion and a hopeful future for both LaVaughn and Jolly.

An interest in science and medicine along with a determination to attend college gives LaVaughn the encouragement to apply for a program designed to give girls like her a unique opportunity. The program, WIMS - Women in Medical Science - is run by Dr. Moore. She has dedicated her life to medicine and wants to offer other girls the chance to thrive and succeed, as well. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, LaVaughn has the privilege of attending lectures and working in labs to study and learn the science that has always fascinated her.

LaVaughn's life is filled with the WIMS classes, her own final high school classes, a job in the hospital laundry, watching Jolly's two kids while Jolly studies for her G.E.D., and juggling anything else that comes her way. With the encouragement of those around her, LaVaughn is beginning to think college might actually be in her future.

However, the constant desire to help her friend Jolly find the answers to her mysterious past are about to possibly derail the future she has fought so hard to plan. LaVaughn thinks she might have found the long-missing mother Jolly so desperately needs and wants in her life.

Those readers who have yet to discover this remarkable trilogy should stop by the library or bookstore and get their hands on a copy of MAKE LEMONADE. Meeting LaVaughn and Jolly in that first book will bring readers back until they reach the conclusion in THIS FULL HOUSE.

It was definitely a story worth waiting for. show less

Narrated by Heather Alicia Simms. The prospect of LaVaughn reuniting her WIMS teacher Dr. Moore with friend Jolly and the process she goes through to assure their blood connection was intriguing but in the end I lost interest in the story. There seemed to be too much going on here: the WIMS program, Annie's pregnancy, LaVaughn's deception. And the screaming in the shower was too performance-art for me...weird!

LaVaughn has had one goal on her mind for years now: escape her poor inner-city neighborhood and go to college. Now she's a senior in high school and she's in a Women in Medical Science group... she's finally on her way. But life gets complicated when one of her friends gets pregnant and LaVaughn will struggle to find the meaning of the word 'family'.

I've been waiting for this book to come out for a long time and I was so happy to live in LaVaughn's world for awhile! Sure, a big plot point was a little over the top and a mite hard to believe, but I love LaVaughn so much that I don't care! Definitely check out Make Lemonade and True Believer before you read this book. It's a very satisfying conclusion to the Make Lemonade trilogy.

Full show more review on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2009/02/book-review-this-full-house.html show less

The conclusion of the Make Lemonade Trilogy, LaVaughn finally makes it to her senior year as the complications of right and wrong lead her to figure out what that means.