True Believer

Make Lemonade #2

by Virginia Euwer Wolff

LaVaughn is fifteen now, and she's still fiercely determined to go to college. But that's the only thing she's sure about. Loyalty to her father bubbles up as her mother grows closer to a new man. The two girls she used to do everything with have chosen a path LaVaughn wants no part of. And then there's Jody. LaVaughn can't believe how gorgeous he is...or how confusing. He acts like he's in love with her, but is he?

Genres: Young Adult, Poetry, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Teen, Romance, Contemporary

264 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2001

About the author

On August 25th, Virginia Euwer Wolff was born in Portland, Oregon. Her family lived on an apple and pear orchard near Mount Hood. Her father died when she was five years old and she admits her childhood was pretty messed up, but she held things together with her violin. 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.

When Wolff was asked why she writes for kids and not grown-ups, She responded, "Because I don't think I have a handle on how to write for grown-ups. The grown-up publishing world is so fraught with one-upsmanship, scorn and snobbery. I did write an adult novel. Thank goodness it went out of print. I think we kids' authors still start out with hope every morning. We honor our audience."

Ms. 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.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/virgin...

Reviews

[Literary Sparks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intelligent and strong narrative. I always enjoy watching a sharp mind at work, but her conclusions lacked some necessary connections. Still, whether I agree or not, I enjoy giving a smart author a soapbox. What could be more entertaining than new ideas, strongly presented. Wish I could have rated this higher, but I wasn't hooked. I have to blame her writing (not her ideas).

[Doralyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate it when authors do this sort of thing: ply their liberal agenda on unsuspecting young adults. I was very disappointed by this read. I didn't appreciate the author's angst against Christianity nor the way Christianity was depicted by those who certainly do not represent the faith well at all (and if they are Christians they are obviously poor ones, not a representation of all those who believe that Christ died for our salvation). I also resented how homosexuality was snuck into the book halfway into it. This book just left me feeling icky, like the author was a judgmental and ignorant person posing as some kind of open-hearted teacher.

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a book! I admit that because of limited selection I simply picked this book from the library shelf without even looking through it. A couple of weeks before reading it, I thumbed through the book and saw the free verse style it is written in and thought, oh boy, I don’t know if I’ll like this book. But I began to read it aloud to my husband because he was curious about the style. And then I couldn’t put the book down! I really enjoyed the author’s writing and the emphasis and subtlety surrounding different ideas. LaVaughn was a very believable character and the questions she has are ones I had and even still have today! I loved the fact that neither race nor ethnicity was mentioned. It makes the story more universal. Even though the backdrop of the inner city plays a part, I think most teenage girls could find something to relate to in this character’s attempt to sort her place in the world out. I also enjoyed the strong and inspiring spirits found in LaVaughn’s mother and teacher. What great role models! I think this book would allow for much discussion and discovery among adolescents who could really dig in and discuss the issues. I only wish books that so beautifully show children that they are not alone in their worries and dreams and desires were available for the youth here in Egypt. And now I must attempt to find the prequel and the sequel to this fantastic read!

[AlisonSPomp · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff, a girl named LaVaughn who lives in a pretty dangerous neighborhood and wants to go to college and become a nurse. I found this on a shelf by looking at the title, but according to the Goodreads info, there was a first book and this is the second one. This might've been confusing if it were a different series, but I picked up the story fine from the second part.

The beginning started out as LaVaughn talking about the mandatory sex ed class, and her friends Myrtle and Annie starting a club called Cross Your Legs for Jesus. In the club, they memorized verses from the Bible and went on picnics, except LaVaughn was questioning the club concepts to herself.

In the middle, it got a little more complicated. Jody, her former best friend, moved back into her apartment building, distracting her from her (and her mom's) wish to become successful. Annie and Myrtle later abandoned her for their Jesus club, and her mother got into a relationship with another man after divorcing LaVaughn's father. Meanwhile, a bunch of students at her school called the Brain Cells joined a grammar build-up, and she gets very involved in that.

The end was sort of a blur. What ended up happening was a boy in her biology class asked her out, but she was head over heels for Jody, especially after a school dance they went to together. LaVaughn's mom kicked her boyfriend out of the house after finding out he was taking money from LaVaughn's college fund. One huge plot-changing event was when LaVaughn came into Jody's apartment and saw him kissing someone, which made her very depressed and caused her to get an extremely low biology test score, and that was pretty much the end of the book, and the third book would finish the story.

Overall, it was a really good book but I wish I started at the first book. This was longer than 10 sentences sorry

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

LaVaughn's life was so far average. That is, until her childhood friend moves back into her building. He's Jody, and he's changed a lot. LaVaughn doesn't see him as her old childhood friend anymore. She sees him as her possible boyfriend. Everything's going smoothly; she hangs out with Jody and takes in his scent, and he seems to be interested in her too. But then, LaVaughn's world starts to slowly crumble when her friends start to distance themselves from her and her mother finds a new boyfriend. She sees nothing wrong in her mother dating again, but this boyfriend wants to move them away to a safer neighborhood to live, without all the shootings and the killings. LaVaughn can't bear to leave behind her friends and Jody. Especially Jody. The only people there to support her through her problems are the people in her afterschool grammar help club. These people and the club are the key to getting into college. Will she succeed and keep Jody close to her at the same time?

This book is very different from most books I've read, because Virginia Wolff writes in poetry. It wasn't hard to follow along, because all the ideas were neat and not all over the place. I could almost feel LaVaughn's pain and suffering and all the emotions running through her. I don't think everyone would like this book, though, because not everyone enjoys poetry.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Believer is a fascinating young adult novel. It's the second (and only one I have read) in the "Make Lemonade Trilogy." The book is written in poetry form, though it reads like prose. The chapters are short. It was fabulously easy, perfect for teenagers who like stories but hate all the words necessary to get the story told.

The protagonist, LaVaughn, is in high school, and she wants to go to college. She is bright and determined, but she struggles in a school with regular shootings and metal detectors at the doors. Few of her peers are interested in college. Some have even died on the violent streets of her neighborhood. But she pushes through it and works hard in her classes, applying what she learns to other things in life.

Her mom, a widow, has started dating again, and naturally, that is hard for LaVaughn. Even though a new man is in the picture and threatens to alter the life LaVaughn knows, her mom is always there for her, loving her, and supporting her in one way or another.

Her best friends are into a cultish form of Christianity (some may be mad at me for saying so), and it confuses LaVaughn and pushes her away from these friends, but also causes her to think about God in new ways.

She has a crush, but things aren't going as well as she would like.

She is being pushed in school by people who see her potential. She wants to live up to it, but life sometimes gets in the way.

Wolff, the author, captures the essence of being a teenage girl. Some kids will be able to relate to the environmental issues LaVaughn faces, but I think all teenage girls will relate to the internal and social struggles- changing friendships, curiosity about God and life, boys who interfering with every other thought, and the occasional opinion or question about kissing and sex.

I look forward to reading the third book in the trilogy.

[Linda Lipko]

Well deserving of awards received, including

National Book Award Winner,
ALA Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book,
ABA Pick of the Lists

this is an amazing book! LaVaughn is 15. She is strong, intelligent, sensitive and she longs for a college education that will take her from a crime-ridden housing project and thus provide a better life.

I liked LaVaughn for her strong personality and her compassion toward others. Through LaVaughn, the author addresses very powerful subjects, including strict, judgmental religion that harms rather than heals, first love, homosexuality, abandonment of friends and the incredible positive influence that a mother and teachers can make!

The author has a gift for addressing all these issues without overwhelming the reader.

LaVaughn is confused when her childhood girlfriends embrace a strict, fundamentalistic religion. They abandon her because she is "not saved." Then, when LaVaughn's childhood friend Jody returns to the neighborhood, she is immediately drawn to him. Sadly, LaLaughn's love cannot be returned in the way in which she dreams. Trying to make sense of all the emotions and feelings is difficult.

In the end, LaVaughn realizes that a religion that judges those whom are deemed unworthy, does not equate to a "true believer!"

Highly recommended.

[Oluwatomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Believer
Read from July 3 - July 4, 2022,
Precise Review: 4/5

“This is the way it has turned out…and I think I can live with the way life is.”

This might be a long rant, I’ll try not to make it that way but I need to get some things settled.

Religion: I don’t know what version of Christianity was portrayed in that book but I don’t agree with it. One of the reviews I read mentioned a “cult” form of Christianity and I would sadly have to agree. These Christians were isolated from the world and believed that they were better than others. I don’t want to take a judgmental stance on this because I’ve been in the same rut as well. I was in this Christian bubble and I thought I did myself much good by not associating with the world. But how can I be the light if I won’t step out and shine? I also don't like what the church guy said about his belief in God. He said he “hoped” that God exists, and that is what they cling to. I used to feel like this too, but then I recognized that if I am only going to “hope” God exists and have no true confidence, what's the point of my belief anyway? If I use the question “if” to ask myself about God, then it makes it hard to actually have a place to stand firm on my faith and I question everything that’s happened since it is a coincidence. My last concern will be the topic of evolution. I’m not a master of this subject, so I won’t speak like one. But I don’t believe the entire subject of evolution should be marked off. To evolve is to change, adapt and grow. I don’t think as God’s creation we remain the same. Perhaps the actual idea of apes to humans may be false, but I don’t think everything else is. Science and the Bible can go together, they both point to God.

Okay, this rant could have been more well-developed but it was immediate thoughts coming to my head.

I liked this book! But, I did not really like the ending. I don’t like Jody–period. I think he could be a bit more straightforward with how LaVaughn feels and say if he’s interested or not. I like Patrick more, and I wanted Lavaughn to do the same as well. But the whole triangle seems complicated, I think there’s more to it than meets the eye.

The romance the mom had with Lester? Whew, I’m glad that was called off. I liked LaVaughn’s mom even if she had her hard moments at times.

This is the day after my reading of the book, and I’m losing my initial feelings so this is hard writing again. But, I enjoyed this book. I liked the way LaVaughn developed.

(I liked this reader review much better: Virginia Euwer Wolff's True Believer is a telling story about growing up in a tumultuous, uncertain world. Wolff's brilliance lies in her incredibly formated text, which looks like poetry but reads like stream-of-consciousness prose. The reader gets to follow LaVaughn through her mid-adolescent experience, reliving his or her own uncertain years and feeling every ounce of LaVaughn's growing pains as she struggles through faith, friendship, love, and dreams. In a low-income, low-education community, LaVaughn struggles against the odds that tell her she shouldn't finish school and certainly shouldn't go to college. With a supportive mother and fierce determination, she victoriously pushes through setbacks to see that nothing will stop her from achieving her goals--even herself.

As someone who tutors students who are either low-income, first-generation, or at risk for not graduating, I strongly connected with this story. I personally am a first-generation college student, and my parents were determined to put me in college. However, I did not have anywhere near the setbacks LaVaughn or my students deal with. The novel helped me to see the importance of encouragement and a strong support system, and I realized I get to be that for my students. LaVaughn needed her mother, grammar teacher, and guidance counselors to push her toward her goals. I have a chance to be that for someone else. This story has given me a purpose in each interaction I have with my tutees.


While God is mentioned all over this story, it is often in a negative context with Myrtle and Annie's "Jesus club". This club drives LaVaughn crazy and she cannot understand the god they serve; she wonders how he could hate people she loves and how she could trust someone who makes so many bad things happen. These are questions all humans must deal with. While Myrtle and Annie come to conclusions that make most Christians cringe, LaVaughn's process toward faith is gradual and ongoing even as the story ends. She encounters a pastor who seems to be more loving than the ones Myrtle and Annie spend time with, and he encourages LaVaughn to see God as loving and accepting. While this god is much easier to swallow than the cult Myrtle and Annie have joined, it is not quite true to the God of the Bible. While He is loving, accepting, and forgiving, there is still an element of personal responsibility for sin that must be emphasized. But LaVaughn's searching is a testament to God's truth and grace at work in her life. (She explained my rant the best.)

Overall, I would highly recommend this book, both for students and educators. Students can easily sympathize with LaVaughn's struggles as they grow into the young men and women that they want to be. They can grow in their ability to process conflict or lifestyle choices by watching LaVaughn make mistakes or handle situations with maturity and grace but lots of humanness. Educators can remember the tumultuous and real emotions of adolescence that we often feel far removed from. It can bring sympathy and compassion on the part of the educator that helps he or she be more sensitive to the students' needs. It is well written, with good, teachable themes and experiences that are easy to relate to. Wolff has created a story that is both relevant and timeless in its portrayal of the pain of growing up.)"

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let's just say the writing style irked me. Her broken paragraphs made my reading very disjointed and confusing. The main chc was annoying due to her flexibility and naivety. She complained about everything but never actually did anything.
You should know by now that I very rarely give a book < 3 stars. This book was unfortunately, one of those atrocious candies that leave a sour after taste. It was horrid. She was let down because she let herself be enraptured in a bubble of false reality- all fantasy. I felt like shaking some sense into her. UHHHH

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did this as an audio book and I think that is the wrong way to enjoy this book
You lose the lyrical quality because the audio book is just reading. I didn't even realize it should be read/understood as poems because she just reads.....

I think this might have been a 4 star for me....except how I read it. But an audio was the only way for me to get the book so I read it that way anyway.It was cute and I like how much growing each person does as the book progresses. and I like how the secret was handled, without shame or "wronging".

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating in 2002: ****
Rating in 2022: ****

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are sugary sweet.

[Audra · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff tells the story of fifteen-year-old Verna LaVaughn as she traverses the ups and downs of high school. LaVaughn struggles with new and confusing emotions as she navigates the hardships of growing apart from friends, changing classes, and her first big crush. Through the novel, the reader is presented with many opportunities to grow with LaVaughn while reflecting on their own similar experiences.
Throughout my reading of this book, I was often torn between the instinct to roll my eyes at the protagonist as well as the urge to go through the book to help guide her along her path (she really could have benefited from an older sister). LaVaughn experiences the heavy emotions that most fifteen-year-old girls do. She misses her friends. She wants to do well in school. She is heartbroken by a boy. All the while, LaVaughn feels trapped inside the world that her circumstances have placed her in, and she longs to escape. While many of the things that LaVaughn says and does are notably cringe-worthy—such as blowing kisses to Jody’s picture and scrawling his name across all her notebooks—I was continuously surprised by how relatable the situations of the book were, and while I did not want to admit it, I remember committing many of her cringe-worthy antic myself when I was younger.
For young readers, this book will act as a source of comradery and relatability as they see many of their own struggles reflected in the novel. For readers that are beyond the years of high school, this book provides a unique look back at the universal struggles of a teenage girl while serving as a humbling reminder that we are not so far above those years of confusion and naivety.

[Jen McConnel · Rating 4 out of 5]

For years, I've intended to read these three novels in verse by Virginia Euwer Wolff, and after spending a week at the Highlights Foundation Workshop with Virginia as one of my instructors, I finally took the time to dive in.

Wow.

I wish I'd read these books when I was still teaching middle school!

True Believer picks up a year after Make Lemonade, when LaVaughn is fifteen. She's started to realize just how hard it will be to get into college, and she's committed to her classes. She hasn't been sitting for Jilly and Jeremy for awhile, but she still tries to stay in touch with the little family. But everything is changing for LaVaughn, and she's not sure she can keep up. From the tingles of her first crush to the sudden presence of a man in her mother's life to the fractured relationship with her best friends that LaVaughn doesn't know how to repair, fifteen is her hardest year. This book is deep and true, and one that all young women should read: it taps into some very powerful, universal places, and you're certain to feel everything right along with LaVaughn.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fifteen-year-old LaVaughn knows that life is difficult in her neighborhood. Drugs, teen pregnancy, and low paying jobs are normal. At school, the teachers do not have high expectations of their students, either. LaVaughn wants to change her life for the better by going to college. When LaVaughn moves up into an advanced biology class and joins the after school grammar club, she learns that other students want to improve their futures by going to college as well. LaVaughn meets up with her childhood friend, Jody, and immediately develops feelings for him. Jody wants to earn a scholarship for swimming to help him go through college and while he is still friendly to LaVaughn, he shows little romantic interest in her. LaVaughn is curious about why Jody acts so strange around her but in the process discovers a secret about him that shocks her.

LaVaughn is a believable character whose story of wanting better for herself will be able to connect to many readers. I didn't know this book was part of a trilogy, so of course I'm going to have to read the other two.

[Sanam · Rating 4 out of 5]

حکایت اضطراب و اشتیاق نوجوانی که گرچه محیط و مملکت و زبونش با ما فرق میکنه اما من رو یاد همون موقعی انداخت که با ولع درس میخوندم تا برم دانشگاه... اصلن عشق و عاشقی نوجوانی رو ما نفهمیدیم تولد شونزده سالگی برامون بی معنی بود دوست پسر آخ بود هممون مسلمون بودیم انتخاب کردن برامون وجود نداشت ولی میدونستم که اگه نرم دانشگاه تو همون چمبره موندم ما باید تو چهار سال دانشگاه همه اون چیزهایی رو تجربه میکردیم که مردم دنیا به طور عادی از چهارده پونزده سالگی شروع میکنند به فهمیدنش... راستی این قضیه حرف زدن با مادر هم خیلی جالب بود من هنوز نمیتونم به نظرم این کتاب رو بدید بچه هاتون بخونند اگه میخواهید از خودتون یه هیولا تا آخر عمر درست نکنید

[Grandpa Jud · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written saga of a 15-year old girl (LaVaughn) who comes from down-and-out surroundings and who faces typical teen-age questions: Does this boy I have a crush on love me? Is there a God? Do I want to go to college?

The girl's feelings, actions, and emotions are spot-on with what can be expected in real life. The story is recorded through LaVaughn's eyes as she experiences various events. The writing style seems unique - short sentences - sometimes half-sentences, and often the thought is fully revealed although only half-expressed. This is an interesting and easy-to-read book.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love LaVaughn's voice. Things aren't easy for her, but she has goals. Unlike other books, she isn't perfect. She makes mistakes and there are consequences. One of the things that I don't like about these books is that I feel detached from what's happening. Like I'm above the book when I want to be in it. I don't usually like books in verse, but this series is one of my exceptions.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read. Strong and believable characters make this novel in verse stand out. There's a strong undercurrent of love which redeems the grimmer moments. I liked the subplot about LaVaughn's friends being drawn into a Christian chastity movement, and I found the rest of it right on.

[Dalton Dachelet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like it I would recommend it to anyone who likes suspense and plot twists.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

One aspect of the novel that significantly stood out to me was the different pictures it painted of religion. Similar to many young people, LaVaughn is on a quest for truth. She questions the idea of God and religion, but nobody is there to accurately answer the questions she has. She asks why prayer is significant, why bad things happen, why God let her father die, and various others. This stood out to me in the novel because how people struggle with these kind of questions, but have nobody to look up to for biblical truth? I struggled reading about Myrtle and Annie and the religious club that they were apart of., specifically the part where they are telling her they are limited to how much time they can spend with non-christians. This was very difficult for me to read, because it is the opposite of what Jesus did. As christians, we are called to make disciples. How can this happen if we only spend time with other Christians, especially when their views are directly contradicting Christianity itself? It is not until the end of the novel where LaVaughn visits the church on the way home from the hospital where she finally receives a non-condemning view of what it means to follow Jesus.
The idea of coping with loss is a reoccurring theme throughout the novel. LaVaughn subtly references her father’s death on many occasions, and it is very evident that his death is a burden she still carries around with her. She not only thinks about her father and attempts to live out his legacy, but she clearly recognizes the void in both her and her mother’s life since he was killed. In chapter 32, LaVaughn states, “I am loyal in loving my dad my whole life long” (103). Her father was killed when she was a small child, yet she is still so impacted by his absence in her life. Fortunately, I have never experienced the loss of a parent, but I lost both of my grandparents by the time I was seven years old. My grandmother passed away from breast cancer before I was born and my grandfather unexpectedly died from a heart attack when I was only in first grade. At that age, I had a difficult time wrapping my head around the concept of death, similar to any child. I miss my grandparents every day and do my best to live out their legacy, but it is in life’s most transitional, exciting seasons where their absence is most clear and painful. LaVaughn is unquestionably in a transitional time in her life.
As the novel progresses, I believe that she begins to cope with her father’s death in a healthier way. In the midst of the pain of missing her father, the pressure to go to do well in school, dealing with the news about Jody, and the violence she is surrounded by, peace and hope prevail at the end of the novel. In chapter 74, the pastor of the church LaVaughn visits tells her to “go in peace” when she leaves, and she responds by stating that nobody has ever said that to her before. I know from personal experience that when my life becomes chaotic and stressful, I long for consistency and comfort. It feels like LaVaughn is also searching for consistency and comfort throughout the novel, but she does not find glimpses of it until the end. Towards the end of the novel when she is working through the news with Jody, he mom consoles her and says:
“LaVaughn, I tell you. I don’t know
how it feels
down there in your heart
I never had that kind.
But you just sit here
and you cry
and I won’t go away” (232).
This is a beautiful example of a loving parent, and the comfort every child wants to hear in times when they are experiencing pain.
While the novel does not end with all loose ends tied up, it does provide a sense of hope. The last lines in the novel are giving tribute to her father, asking him what he thinks about his daughter being sixteen. These last lines acknowledge her father, but do not feel like she is weighed down by the burden of his death; hope and peace prevail in the midst of chaos.

[katyjanereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. I'm completely obsessed with Make Lemonade and True Believer. I can't wait to read the third one. On the back of this book Kirkus Reviews said, "When Wolff writes a book, it's an event." No truer words have ever been spoken.
2. I feel like every teenager has had to figure out life the way LaVaughn had to. It's so difficult to navigate your belief system, while crushing on a boy, while trying to maintain grades, while trying to keep friendships afloat, while trying to welcome new people into your family. Isn't this the story of every teenage girl? I know that I was right there with LaVaughn.
3. I'm an English teacher and I loved the way LaVaughn's grammar teacher explained this: "Nouns name the world. Adjectives qualify it. Verbs are the meager attempt to record the vast motion of all life, prepositions connote the relationships among phenomena."
4. Most inspiring teacher award goes to: Dr Rose.
"Some of you will invent excuses not to come to this after-school elective class. You will find other endeavors that are more immediately gratifying. The rest of you will struggle and be exalted in your learning. And, by the way, you will become taller, should you choose to remain. In this room are fewer than one percent of the students in this school. Be aware that you are the one percent. Good day."

"Ours is a dangerous world, it goes without saying. What we need to believe in-to believe in thoroughly-is that you and you and you can stand up tall, shatter those statistics about students in the 'poorer schools,' as they call us, and make a difference in the vast and terrifying and magnificent world."

"We will rise to the occasion, which is life."

5. Maybe if all of us had this mindset, the world would be a better place, "I fold the laundry and stack it and distribute it where is had to go. And there is always the thought of those little children laying on those sheets so I fold them very nice, very, very nice. And I feel like I am doing some good. Folding sheets is not the biggest good in the world. But it is some."
6. Doesn't everyone have this thought even if you are a devout Christian? "But I don't get it. If God's will gets done anyway because it is God's will, what's to pray for? And is all the horribleness of the world God's will? How come?"
7. When Lester turns out to be an idiot the mom goes into a cleaning frenzy.
"Mom, what are you doing?"
"I am ironing," she said.

Hahahah. Love her.

8. Heart.break.ing.
"On the bus home I thought how there had to be nurses in Emergency when my father died of a gunshot. Those nurses saw him last of all. To them he was a patient that died. One more heart that stopped.

Did they even know he had a little girl?"

9. Can Patrick get any more romantic by writing the botany names on the flowers that he got LaVaughn for her birthday?? I mean come on!!
10. The handprint gift that Ricky and Jolly made from Jolly and Jeremy's handprints. (Heartstrings pulled)
11. It is truly possible to love a sequel as much as the first book but for different reasons. I feel like Virginia Euwer Wolff understands humanity to its core.
12. Didn't see the Jody plot coming at all.
13. New favorite author. Hands down.

[Carolyn Garber · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Believer is a charming novel that definitely surprised me with both the writing style and the plot twists. The novel is written in such a way that is easy to read and is enjoyable. I really enjoyed seeing how the writer made LaVaughn’s writing change as LaVaughn changed. LaVaughn starts the novel with poor grammar and a rather naïve attitude. As the novel progresses and as LaVaughn experiences challenges and also grows in knowledge, her grammar improves, and she begins to question the things that had never been a question, such as her friendship with Myrtle and Annie or even beginning to look into faith. The writer allows for LaVaughn to express emotion as a normal fifteen year old girl would. She is not always rational, and sometimes her emotions take precedence over the truly important matters in life, such as school or family. This was incredibly relatable because I remember how much this was true for me at the age of fifteen. I love how much support LaVaughn ends up receiving from her friends, family, and teachers. She is truly being supported by the end of the novel, and as a reader, I truly want to see her succeed after traveling with her throughout the novel. Some parts of the novel I felt were perhaps a little strange. I think the writing style at the beginning of the book took some time for me to adjust to because it is so different from the norm. I did appreciate, though, how the book did not shy away from issues that truly face so many young people today like safety issues at school, not receiving proper education as college prep, the challenges of getting out of tough environments, and violence. Through these issues, the characters showed incredible strength. LaVaughn’s mother was a hardworking and fierce woman who was determined to make a better life for her daughter. LaVaughn was determined to go to college despite challenges that arose and the statistics she had against her. Truly, I found the courage and the hope these characters had to be inspiring. I really did enjoy this novel because of its honesty and simplicity. It is not a terribly difficult novel to read, and yet it contains some heavier topics. I would read True Believer again simply because I found the characters so relatable and charming.

[Jillian Findlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was truly a joy to read. I loved the poetic style in which it was written, which allowed me to flow through this book so easily I did not want to put it down. I appreciated that the author wrote in a style that reflected how a teenage girl's mind works; in short, quick bursts. Along with the style, the author certainly included numerous events and themes in this novel that allow young adults to relate fully to this book. In "True Believer," these themes include a first crush, the struggle of change, the search for who you are as a person, and finding religion. This was another main contribution to my enjoyment of this novel, the relate-ability. LaVaughn endures an abundance of challenges through the duration of this book, struggles with her friends, her mom, and of course, Jody. I felt connected to LaVaughn because I too have encountered a crush on a boy who seemed to peek an interest in me back, but always ends up picking someone else. I could also relate to LaVaughn's heartbreak as she slowly got pushed farther and farther away from her friends, Myrtle and Annie. However, in my case it was flipped. My friends who were once the average middle school girls that I had grown up with since Elementary school were turning into the average high school girls that wanted to party and be boy crazy, while I went to church and hung out with my youth group friends. I felt LaVaughn's pain, her anxiety, her loneliness. Myrtle and Annie were two characters that were very curious to me. Their "Jesus" club, in the way that it constantly moved to different churches made me hope that LaVaughn would give in and go to one of the meetings. I wondered what really went on because Myrtle and Annie's actions seemed so backwards from the Christianity that I know. However, I believe that the evidence of God's truth was hidden amongst these two girls. Their pestering of LaVaughn to join them caused for curiosity and questioning of LaVaughn's other friends and mother that led her to want to pray, and that is a glimpse of God working on LaVaughn's heart. Overall, I enjoyed this story about a young girl in search of how to navigate her dreams and desires.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though not quite as gut-wrenching as the previous book, this shines light on other ways poverty affects families, namely what trying to get an education is like in low-income schools. I haven't read too many books set in this kind of school system that weren't also written at a lower reading level, unless they were focusing on an Issue like drugs or teen pregnancy. A smart girl succeeding in spite of her circumstances, capitalizing on every limited opportunity put her way, is refreshing.

And of course, it's wholly enjoyable to see more of LaVaughn's life. Since she's no longer babysitting regularly, some of the focus turns to her interest in A Boy (boring, though for once I was actually kind of pleased when he turned out Secretly Gay, so I didn't have to sit through some dumb Is The Enormously Negative Risk : Reward Ratio Of Teenage Sex Worth Potentially Derailing My Plans plot), as well as the widening gulf between her and her two best friends, who've been sucked into an overzealous church youth group and started evangelizing and blathering on about how the Earth is only 5000 years old and there were dinosaurs on the Ark.

I really think Virginia Euwer Wolff is the only author who can successfully write novels in verse. Normally this format feels like a wall between me and true enjoyment of the story -- at best, I like the plot in SPITE of it -- but the minute I start reading these books, the lines glide across my mind, warm and accessible, like I'm listening to a story from a friend. A couple of them really stand out in particular as far as visualizing the setting:

In their house there was only poor food,
flaky sugar cereal and mac & cheese in boxes.
They don't have much choice at the City Food Pantry
where they get free food once a week.
=====
Then comes a bang and the streetlight went out.
Somebody out there with a gun again. I jump every time.
Like always, my mom is in my room
before the sirens start.
She checks if I'm OK, she puts her arms around me.
It is so scary if I let myself think about it.
So I think about getting out of here instead.

[Hannah Sedlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff told the story of a fifteen-year-old girl who goes by the name of Verna LaVaughn. We follow her through her life with a single mom, being in love with her best friend, and being rejected by other friends. Jody has been her friend since they were kids until he moved away because his mom did not think their home was safe for them anymore. When they moved back, LaVaughn was surprised by how she felt when she saw him or thought about him. She was convinced that he was the love of her life, and she just had to make him realize it. At school, her friends Myrtle and Annie were a part of a very strict and exclusive religious group. They slowly grow apart from LaVaughn because they need to “know their limits”, meaning they cannot spend too much time with people who aren’t Christians. Another character, Patrick, is Lavaughns lab partner in her advanced science class. Patrick makes it clear to her that he cares for her and wants to be more than friends. Each time he does something for her, however, she automatically shuts him down because she believes she belongs with Jody, and she doesn’t like that Patrick wears the same two shirts. Lastly is LaVaughn's mom. LaVaughn's father was shot and killed when she was young, leaving her mom to take care of her on her own. I enjoyed the reality of LaVaughn's feelings throughout this story. We follow her thoughts as she develops feelings for a boy and then gets disappointed, as she slowly loses her longtime friends, while her mom gets a new relationship and then is alone again, and as she finds out something she doesn’t want to believe. I found it interesting how we could follow her thoughts and know how she felt in each of these situations, but she how she chose to react in reality. This is something I can connect with in my own life because often what I think is not what I say at the moment. The author accurately depicted her character’s train of thought by writing in prose. LaVaughn's thoughts seem unorganized and raw.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I have not read the first book in this series, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed True Believer. I honestly could not put it down. The narration, the writing style, and the plot were all intriguing. It is rare for me to find a book that I continue thinking about after I have finished it, but True Believer is now one of those books.
This YA novel is about 15-year-old LaVaughn, a girl who despite growing up in poverty, is determined to go to college and leave her old life behind. She deals with confusing friendships, a heart-aching crush, and a pressure to do well in all of her classes so she can, indeed, get into college.
The biggest reason as to why I think I love this novel is how relatable it is. Everyone does things as a teenager that they now regret, and this is no different for LaVaughn. She makes decisions that sometimes hurt others or herself, but she always learns more about life in the process. Her infatuation with her neighbor causes her to be constantly filled with a myriad of emotions and thoughts. The scene where she goes to his apartment, sneaks into his room, and sniffs his pillow made me laugh because what 15-year-old girl wouldn't get a kick out of smelling the place where their "true love" sleeps at night?
There were parts that seemed like tropes of the YA genre. However, my enjoyment of the book made it worth it despite the over-used aspects. Each chapter is very short and makes you want to just continue to the next one, even if it means staying up past midnight to finish it. Overall, it is a pretty quick read because of Wolff's poetic writing style. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a relatable coming-of-age story with beautiful writing.

[Kendra Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

“True Believer” is a complex, emotional telling of the struggles 15-year-old LaVaughn faces during one, quite pivotal year. It is written in free verse, which may present a challenge when one first begins reading it. Once the reader is fully immersed in the style though, it ceases to be a distraction and instead becomes one of Virginia Euwer Wolff’s most poignant tools in helping her audience understand LaVaughn’s emotions. The telling is in first person, and the verse serves to make the narrative sincere and realistic, as if one is simply reading someone’s train of thought.
Besides the beauty in the unique writing style, this book is a lesson in compassion, diversity, and the beauty of the struggle. LaVaughn’s life is anything but easy. The lives of those around her are either just as difficult, or worse. There is a constant fear of pregnancy, the pressure of poverty, and a the growing desire to know what one believes (as often happens with adolescents). Still, amidst a lot of graffiti stained elevators and gun-fight-littered streets, there is real beauty: people.
This book is especially good to read if you have a limited (or dare I say prejudiced) view of those who live in inner cities. It exposes the vibrant, fruitful, passionate lives lived by those whose inherent culture is not to speak with proper grammar or plan to attend college. Through the diverse collection of people, situations, and desires, the audience comes to appreciate and understand people who want a “better” life, and those who are content with what they already have. I personally hope that anyone who reads this comes to the conclusion that while sometimes the best thing to do is to fix the crack in the ceiling, it can be even more wonderful to turn it into a tree.

[Mickey Veach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished it in one long sitting. An easy and simple read but one that isn't shallow in the slightest. The verse format was a bit jarring at first but I grew to appreciate it. The book is a genuine and honest story about self-respect, angsty adolescence, independence, and poverty. Themes that usually are associated with a YA novel but I find it done well here in a more mundane setting than the fantasy/dystopian novels the genre has come to be known for. I had no idea that this was part 2 of a trilogy. I think that shows how excellent it is at being a simple story first, never feeling like it is a part of an ongoing arch. It makes me curious on how the trilogy wraps up.
LaVaughn (if that's her last name I'm curious to whys he goes by it) is a 15 year old girl who's starting to really enter the trenches of the teenage years. The author excellently captures the convoluted thoughts a teen has during this awkward phase. Everything about her feels genuine and heartfelt, never feeling hamfisted, melodramatic, or campy. Even when the situation she finds herself in is melodramatic, the story acknowledges it as such. Teenagers tend to blow things out of proportion and I'm glad to find that here. I really felt for this girl and was rooting for her every step of the way. Being a 1st person story, she doesn't paint herself as some victim flower child, she has flaws and makes mistakes in the story and her journey to overcome her hurtles is aspiring to watch (or read). The book tackles themes of religion and science but doesn't ever really pick a side and never disrespects either approach when it comes to belief. All in all, a solid read.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff is spectacular. The reader is allowed to see into the life of 15-year-old LaVaughn, a girl who lives in a struggling community and yearns to go to college. LaVaughn is easygoing, likable, and has a strong determination to excel in everything she sets her mind too. I will say, this book is beyond beautiful. It is written in in a unique style of verse that sets a strong, poetic atmosphere for the entire piece. Some parts of the writing did seem a bit odd at times, but this is because the story is told from the perspective of LaVaughn, who uses many colloquialisms.
LaVaughn’s world seems to shift when her childhood friend, Jody, moves back into town. She finds herself thinking about him everywhere she goes and soon wonders how he feels about her. LaVaughn’s childhood friends, Annie and Myrtle, seem to drift in and out of her life. LaVaughn wants to continue her friendship with them, but she soon realizes they have become much different than herself. In her efforts to succeed and go to college, LaVaughn finds herself taking new classes and even acquiring a part-time job, making her once quiet and normal life seem new and strange.
The book overall was very good coming of age piece. LaVaughn discovers more about herself and what’s most important to her in the novel and learns to press onwards during times of trial. The author does an excellent job of capturing the essence of what it means to be a teenager living with complex emotions and unstable environments. Many teens will easily be able to relate to the main character. However, even those who don’t necessarily relate with LaVaughn will still find the novel an enjoyable read.