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ajobeau's review against another edition
4.0
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.
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.
nathanstrem's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
triscuit807's review
4.0
This is the sequel to Make Lemonade and LaVaughn is now 15. She is still dedicated about going to college, but is a bit sad not to have contact with Jolly and her kids but somewhat glad as well. School has begun and she finds herself moved away from the kids she's always been with when she's placed in a more advanced science class. Then there is the Grammar build up tutorial after school and still more new kids, she has a new job in the laundry at a Children's Hospital, and her mother is dating. Meanwhile her aspirations are putting her above the girls who have always been her friends; then they get religion of a very fundamentalist variety. And to complicate her life even more, Jody who moved away has now moved back and he is CUTE. It's no wonder she's stressed and confused. This book is also written in free verse. I read this for my 2017 Reading Challenge "read an award winner" (Full House Book Bingo) and for my National Book Award challenge.
satyridae's review
4.0
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.
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