#2 Make Lemonade

Wolff, Virginia Euwer. Make Lemonade. New York: Scholastic, 1993.

Annotation:
When life hands you lemons, make lemonade; you don't really have any other choice. This statement cannot hold more true than it does for Jolly and LaVaughn. Forced into an early adulthood with two children at 17, Jolly takes life as it comes to her, in less than desirable circumstances. LaVaughn, her much younger and immature nanny, only 14, shows her and her children compassion like no one else ever has and teaches her to take her lemons and turn them into lemonade.

Justification for Nomination:
Although this verse novel was coming of age and fit many of the categories and expectations of young adult literature (emotional, teens are in control, finding yourself, fast paced, variety of subjects), I did not find it to be very entertaining. It was easy to read and follow along with, the pages and text were short, for a quicker read, but my adult eye was having a hard time adjusting to accept this particular style of writing. Not to mention that the story was very sad and depressing. Although the emotions were easy to identify with, I don't feel that there was enough description of the characters or the setting. I guess a strategic look to this, is letting your audience think for themselves and create their own visual of the story. Two teenage girls, one a mother, the other her nanny, take life as it comes, trying to make each other better people and figure life out. It's the struggle of life for all young adults, except one is forced to become an adult much quicker. When she does, she does not except herself for what she is worth, and her nanny takes the time, effort and compassion no one else has shown her. Jolly's faith in people is not easily restored, but with the help from LaVaughn, they will get there.

To be honest, although it fit most of the requirements of young adult literature, I was not a huge fan of this novel or style of writing.

Genre Category: Verse Novel, Coming of Age, Realistic/ Edgy

#1 Looking for Alaska

Green, John. Looking for Alaska. New York: Dutton Books, 2005.


Annotation:

Unable to find the Great Perhaps in public school in Florida, Miles Halter, decides to attend preparatory school in Alabama. During his stay, he learns the importance of friends, fun and pulling pranks. While he searches for the Great Perhaps, he searches for the answers to life, love, death and most importantly who he is.

Justification for Nomination:

Author John Green, exemplifies literary quality in this novel. Throughout the novel, he is a 16 year old boy, and it is believable with the language and tone. He never talks down to the audience and believes in using language that is thought provoking and descriptive. The setting and the characters are deeply examined, easy to relate to and have genuine feelings for (whether it's like or dislike).

All of the developmental needs of adolescence is acknowledged and embraced within the novel.
-Point of view: The point of view is a 16 year old boy, he is searching to find and understand himself, all while trying to make friends, and adapt to a new place in boarding school
-Teens are in charge: The opening of the book is Miles Halter with his parents, and how he is moving away. It's his first time away from home, and he is on his own, responsible for his own actions and sometimes the actions of others. Parental figures are mostly distant, he only speaks with his parents once a week, when he promised he would call. The "head master" of the school is present, but easily tricked and manipulated by the teens.
-Literature is fast paced: I feel that novel was paced well. It was hard for me to put down because it was suspenseful and as the plot developed, it took unforeseeable turns and continued to build suspense.
-Variety of genres and subjects: I think there were a few topics that were addressed in the novel. It was a coming of age story, and it included love and heartbreak, friendship and loneliness, life and death, etc.
-Inclusion of ethnic and cultural groups: There is a lack of representation of different groups because only Caucasian and Japanese are represented here.
-Optimistic, making noteworthy accomplishments: Throughout the book, when something negative happens, the answer and solution brings much knowledge and a brighter future than the characters thought there could be.
-Emotional, with regard to young adults: All adolescents are emotional, and it's important that the literature they are reading helps them to identify what they are feeling, and Looking for Alaska, seems to identify a lot of emotions that made me remember how I felt when I was 16.

I recommend Looking for Alaska because it identifies with all of the characteristics of adolescent literature, is authentic in it's writing and language, making it easy for people to identify, whether they are teens while reading, but it helps older readers to remember their feelings of love, friendship and mischief from when they were 16.

Genre Categorie: Printz