There’s an old saying — “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

That’s the advice at least one member of a family has decided to follow as they support a teacher who is the target of parent complaints about a book she used in her 8th grade classroom in Ellsworth.

Because he believes the issue is bigger than his “little sister,” Scott Lanter told the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter this past week he plans to donate books and $1,000 in cash to libraries at Wilson, Ellsworth and Kanopolis.

Lanter, a respiratory therapist, expects his donation to total about $4,000.

“I want to do something in honor of the kids,” said Lanter, who described himself as a “book nerd” starting with his growing up years at Wilson.

Several students at Ellsworth Junior-Senior High School more than a week ago started a petition aimed at saving the job of third year teacher Jenna Lanter. The original goal was 200 signatures. As of this weekend, the petitions contained 872 names.

The plan is to present the petition to members of the Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo School District at their March 7 monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at district headquarters in Ellsworth.

The petition follows a complaint from the fathers of two 8th graders about “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” a coming of age novel that contains explicit language. The fathers said the book was “age inappropriate” for 8th graders. They also voiced their belief that Ms. Lanter should forfeit her job over the book flap.

However, a number of her students believe she is a dedicated, effective teacher who is being treated unfairly.

Ms. Lanter has not spoken with the I-R; however, Scott Lanter talked to the newspaper, saying he wants something positive to come out of the book debate.

In addition to the monetary donation, he expects to give each library about 10 books, several of which have meant something to him, including:

• “Looking for Alaska” by John Green, about a high school junior who divides his life into time before and after a life changing event.

• “The Book Thief ” about a girl growing up in Germany during World War II who steals books.

• “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson, which chronicles the struggles of a 13-year-old after she is raped by another student before her freshman year in high school.

• “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros, a series of vignettes that covers a year in the life of a Mexican-American girl.

“I want these kids to know that ultimately, at the end of the day, love beats hate,” Scott Lanter said.