THIS FULL HOUSE

Heather Simms does a remarkable job giving voice to the powerful conclusion to Wolff's Make Lemonade trilogy. Simms’s extraordinary rhythm fully projects the free-verse form of the book. She excels at the up-and-down emotions of 17-year-old LaVaughn, who wins placement in an after-school science program, imagines a life for herself in medicine, and then discovers a secret that may threaten her future. Simms's presentation of LaVaughn's determination to "act according to your conscience/ even when you don't want to" comes across partly because of the strength of her diverse portrayals of the story’s minor characters. Their economic and intellectual backgrounds are clearly reflected in their dialogue and attitudes. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2009]