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Yolonda's Genius
Newbery Medal Honor Title (1996)
Fenner portrays, memorable characters and a vivid, authentic place in this engaging story of a bright, feisty fifth grader. Yolonda is determined to bring light to her younger brother’s extraordinary talent of transforming the world around him into the music he makes.
Fenner portrays, memorable characters and a vivid, authentic place in this engaging story of a bright, feisty fifth grader. Yolonda is determined to bring light to her younger brother’s extraordinary talent of transforming the world around him into the music he makes.
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1995
45 people are currently reading
1614 people want to read
About the author
Carol Fenner
24 books5 followersCarol Elizabeth Fenner (1929–2002) was an American children's writer.
Fenner's book Gorilla Gorilla won a Christopher Award and The Skates of Uncle Richard won honors from the Coretta Scott King Award. In addition, she was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal in 1996 for Yolonda's Genius. Just prior to her death, Yolonda's Genius was optioned by a major studio for possible production of a movie for television.
Fenner's book Gorilla Gorilla won a Christopher Award and The Skates of Uncle Richard won honors from the Coretta Scott King Award. In addition, she was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal in 1996 for Yolonda's Genius. Just prior to her death, Yolonda's Genius was optioned by a major studio for possible production of a movie for television.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
March 11, 2025
The first novel i ever read <3
This book is where it all started for me. It wasn’t just my first novel—it was the first time I felt completely seen in a story. Looking back, I think Yolonda’s Genius was more than just a book I read; it was a reflection of something I didn’t yet have words for.
Yolonda wasn’t the kind of main character who was easy to like at first. She was stubborn, sharp-edged, and carried herself with a tough reputation—like she had something to prove. And maybe that’s what drew me in. She wasn’t just a girl adjusting to a new place; she was someone learning how to trust her own instincts, how to stand firm even when no one else understood.
Then there was Andrew, her younger brother, who barely spoke but felt everything. His harmonica wasn’t just an instrument; it was his voice. He could play the sound of bacon sizzling or the hush of an early morning, translating emotions into music in a way that words never could. No one really saw his genius—not his teachers, not even their own mother. But Yolonda did. She saw it so clearly, and she fought for it.
That’s what stayed with me the most. The idea that sometimes, the world overlooks what doesn’t fit into neat little boxes. That brilliance can exist in ways we don’t always expect. And that love—real, unwavering love—is about seeing someone when no one else does.
This book wasn’t just the first one I read. It was the first one that meant something to me. And maybe that’s why I kept searching for stories that could pull me in just as deeply.
This book is where it all started for me. It wasn’t just my first novel—it was the first time I felt completely seen in a story. Looking back, I think Yolonda’s Genius was more than just a book I read; it was a reflection of something I didn’t yet have words for.
Yolonda wasn’t the kind of main character who was easy to like at first. She was stubborn, sharp-edged, and carried herself with a tough reputation—like she had something to prove. And maybe that’s what drew me in. She wasn’t just a girl adjusting to a new place; she was someone learning how to trust her own instincts, how to stand firm even when no one else understood.
Then there was Andrew, her younger brother, who barely spoke but felt everything. His harmonica wasn’t just an instrument; it was his voice. He could play the sound of bacon sizzling or the hush of an early morning, translating emotions into music in a way that words never could. No one really saw his genius—not his teachers, not even their own mother. But Yolonda did. She saw it so clearly, and she fought for it.
That’s what stayed with me the most. The idea that sometimes, the world overlooks what doesn’t fit into neat little boxes. That brilliance can exist in ways we don’t always expect. And that love—real, unwavering love—is about seeing someone when no one else does.
This book wasn’t just the first one I read. It was the first one that meant something to me. And maybe that’s why I kept searching for stories that could pull me in just as deeply.
June 9, 2008
This plot is kind of hard to describe. Yolanda and her family move to Michigan, and then Yolanda decides her brother Andrew is a genius and wants her mother to send him to a special school. Her mother doesn't understand, and Yolanda goes to great lengths to convince her of Andrew's gift.
That's what happens in the story, but it's not what this book is about. It's about Yolanda adjusting to a new city and a new school, making friends, realizing what is important to her. I LOVE that Yolanda can stick up for herself, and is very intelligent, and I love her loyalty to her little brother. She is a great example for strong, smart girl readers. I also loved how Fenner describes Andrew and how he thinks. Andrew's character comes across as borderline autistic but Fenner is able to make his strange and unusual associations make total sense, in an alternative way from how we are used to thinking. Even though I can't imagine in reality how Andrew could make the sound of bacon on his harmonica, it still makes total sense how Fenner describes it. The imagery she is able to capture is so cool.
That's what happens in the story, but it's not what this book is about. It's about Yolanda adjusting to a new city and a new school, making friends, realizing what is important to her. I LOVE that Yolanda can stick up for herself, and is very intelligent, and I love her loyalty to her little brother. She is a great example for strong, smart girl readers. I also loved how Fenner describes Andrew and how he thinks. Andrew's character comes across as borderline autistic but Fenner is able to make his strange and unusual associations make total sense, in an alternative way from how we are used to thinking. Even though I can't imagine in reality how Andrew could make the sound of bacon on his harmonica, it still makes total sense how Fenner describes it. The imagery she is able to capture is so cool.
August 31, 2012
Yolanda can see things about her brother, Andrew, that others can't. She can see past the fact that he can't read and struggles in school. She knows that he is not just making noise on the harmonica that he carries; he is making music. Andrew takes everyday noises and sights and creates music to match them on his harmonica. Yolanda believes he is a prodigy, a genius. But she can't get anyone else to see it too. When the family visits her aunt in Chicago, they attend the great Blues music festival. There, Yolanda sees a chance for Andrew to be discovered. Maybe then others will see his worth.
I enjoyed Andrew as a character and could really feel his struggles with reading. How many kids are out there just like Andrew that can't understand the black squiggles on a paper as writing, but when something like music is put in front of them, it all becomes clear. The parts about Andrew and the skate park with the drug dealers held my interest and made me anxious for him. But then they dropped out of sight and that part felt unresolved.
Yolanda's character was bossy and annoying. There were very few qualities about her that were enjoyable to read about. The only part that interested me with Yolanda was her interest in the boy at the skate park, but that was dropped in the middle of the book. That almost made her likable. I really only kept reading the whole book to find out what happens to Andrew.
This was a Newbery honor book, but, as is the case with many of the Newbery selections, it was not a book that will interest most average kids. It really felt like a book that was written so that teachers could push it onto kids as have to read, not enjoy reading.
I enjoyed Andrew as a character and could really feel his struggles with reading. How many kids are out there just like Andrew that can't understand the black squiggles on a paper as writing, but when something like music is put in front of them, it all becomes clear. The parts about Andrew and the skate park with the drug dealers held my interest and made me anxious for him. But then they dropped out of sight and that part felt unresolved.
Yolanda's character was bossy and annoying. There were very few qualities about her that were enjoyable to read about. The only part that interested me with Yolanda was her interest in the boy at the skate park, but that was dropped in the middle of the book. That almost made her likable. I really only kept reading the whole book to find out what happens to Andrew.
This was a Newbery honor book, but, as is the case with many of the Newbery selections, it was not a book that will interest most average kids. It really felt like a book that was written so that teachers could push it onto kids as have to read, not enjoy reading.
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April 10, 2010Different can be good and special can mean amazing never judge a book by its cover and never judge a person by their apperance.
October 11, 2019
Yolanda is big for her age, but she knows how to handle herself when the 'whale' jokes happen. She's smart but surly, and she doesn't really have any friends. Her little brother is quiet and has trouble reading, but Yolanda becomes convinced that he is a genius with their father's old harmonica, so she sets out to create a scheme that will convince her mother he needs special schooling to foster his gift.
There were things I really appreciated about this book, but then there were others that I really didn't. From the start, I didn't at all like Yolanda's character; I assumed that the story was traveling along the 'closed-off and prone-to-roughness kid learns to open up and empathize' theme so prevalent in Newbery Honor books, but Yolanda remains fairly selfish, unsympathizing, and unsympathetic throughout. The ending was abrupt and too pat, with a last-minute attempt to make Yolanda seem as if she has changed (although not done well enough for me to buy it). There are also a few threads to the story that fail to connect by the end, which leaves the whole thing feeling incomplete. And then the narrator made some strange choices in the character-voice department, making one fifth-grade girl sound like an old diner waitress with a decades-long smoking habit. Strange.
All this is too bad, really, because of the good things here: Yolanda's little brother and his musical abilities are nicely painted, especially in contrast to his struggles with reading and speaking. It seems clear that he's on the autism scale, and although his mother doesn't seem to want to admit that, he finds a strong ally in a speech therapist at school, and that relationship (although not completely fleshed out) is nicely portrayed. Also, Yolanda's family is made up of her mother and her aunt, who are self-made black women from Chicago and are easily members of the upper-middle class there. What I love about this is that it's presented as no big deal, as in clearly achievable to the point that it's not something to make the focus of the story. Most Middle Grade books featuring black families seem to revolve around those families living in poor neighborhoods and struggling financially, and those stories are important, yes, but it's also important to show other possibilities and other realities to young readers of color. I want them to live in a world in which successful women of color are so commonplace that that idea takes a far back seat to the rest of the story in the books those young readers read. So I'd like to see more of this, but I'd also like this particular story to live up to this background setting.
There were things I really appreciated about this book, but then there were others that I really didn't. From the start, I didn't at all like Yolanda's character; I assumed that the story was traveling along the 'closed-off and prone-to-roughness kid learns to open up and empathize' theme so prevalent in Newbery Honor books, but Yolanda remains fairly selfish, unsympathizing, and unsympathetic throughout. The ending was abrupt and too pat, with a last-minute attempt to make Yolanda seem as if she has changed (although not done well enough for me to buy it). There are also a few threads to the story that fail to connect by the end, which leaves the whole thing feeling incomplete. And then the narrator made some strange choices in the character-voice department, making one fifth-grade girl sound like an old diner waitress with a decades-long smoking habit. Strange.
All this is too bad, really, because of the good things here: Yolanda's little brother and his musical abilities are nicely painted, especially in contrast to his struggles with reading and speaking. It seems clear that he's on the autism scale, and although his mother doesn't seem to want to admit that, he finds a strong ally in a speech therapist at school, and that relationship (although not completely fleshed out) is nicely portrayed. Also, Yolanda's family is made up of her mother and her aunt, who are self-made black women from Chicago and are easily members of the upper-middle class there. What I love about this is that it's presented as no big deal, as in clearly achievable to the point that it's not something to make the focus of the story. Most Middle Grade books featuring black families seem to revolve around those families living in poor neighborhoods and struggling financially, and those stories are important, yes, but it's also important to show other possibilities and other realities to young readers of color. I want them to live in a world in which successful women of color are so commonplace that that idea takes a far back seat to the rest of the story in the books those young readers read. So I'd like to see more of this, but I'd also like this particular story to live up to this background setting.
March 18, 2024
This is another Newbery Honor book. It is the story of Yolonda and how she watches out for her brother (a musical genius). She does great in school, her bother not so much. The fictional story is crafted around a real world musical festival in Chicago where Yolonda wants her brother to get recognized.
November 24, 2022
Another childhood favorite. Needed this.
September 25, 2013
I love the protective older sibling component of this story. I was surprised to see in the bio that Carol Fenner doesn't have a strong musical background. Fooled me! She does a nice job of describing how little Andrew understands the world through sound.
We lost our daughter Holly in March to Tay-Sachs Disease. She was almost three years old. This description of waking with sadness is true for me so many mornings since we lost our little girl:
"...she lay there and waited for it to settle or go away. And while she waited, eyes closed, plump hands curved gently near her cheek, two comforting sounds filled the light spaces in the air. One was her ample stomach growling for breakfast. The other was the sweet sound of her little brother, Andrew, playing on his wooden pipe. He was piping his special waking-up music, a song he'd invented all by himself. Yolonda's sadness began to ease away. She opened her eyes. It used to be her habit to sleep until she heard Andrew's music. The bright, clear notes had always been her alarm clock back home in Chicago. But ever since they'd moved away, months and months ago, it was her sadness that woke her first--that and the quiet."
This next passage describing Andrew could have been written of my experience with Holly. Our world with her existed in a special place and time. It went its own speed, and we were unconcerned with what she couldn't do. The older she got and the more advanced her neurological problems became, the more difficult every day things became for her. Every thing she did was incredibly special given how hard she worked. She was a remarkable child and the sweetest and gentlest of souls. I miss you, my baby.
"She stood there for a long time, her finger on genius. She was so accustomed to the things Andrew could do that she never really noticed them. Everyone was always more concerned about what Andrew couldn't do--like taking forever to learn to talk. And Yolonda remembered the fuss over why baby Andrew wasn't walking. Other kids his age were toddling bowlegged from chair to chair, and Andrew sat sontentedly blowing sounds from his harmonica. It had never mattered to Yolonda that Andrew didn't learn regular things quickly. He was an angel-faced, serious little boy and the only person Yolonda felt great tenderness toward."
We lost our daughter Holly in March to Tay-Sachs Disease. She was almost three years old. This description of waking with sadness is true for me so many mornings since we lost our little girl:
"...she lay there and waited for it to settle or go away. And while she waited, eyes closed, plump hands curved gently near her cheek, two comforting sounds filled the light spaces in the air. One was her ample stomach growling for breakfast. The other was the sweet sound of her little brother, Andrew, playing on his wooden pipe. He was piping his special waking-up music, a song he'd invented all by himself. Yolonda's sadness began to ease away. She opened her eyes. It used to be her habit to sleep until she heard Andrew's music. The bright, clear notes had always been her alarm clock back home in Chicago. But ever since they'd moved away, months and months ago, it was her sadness that woke her first--that and the quiet."
This next passage describing Andrew could have been written of my experience with Holly. Our world with her existed in a special place and time. It went its own speed, and we were unconcerned with what she couldn't do. The older she got and the more advanced her neurological problems became, the more difficult every day things became for her. Every thing she did was incredibly special given how hard she worked. She was a remarkable child and the sweetest and gentlest of souls. I miss you, my baby.
"She stood there for a long time, her finger on genius. She was so accustomed to the things Andrew could do that she never really noticed them. Everyone was always more concerned about what Andrew couldn't do--like taking forever to learn to talk. And Yolonda remembered the fuss over why baby Andrew wasn't walking. Other kids his age were toddling bowlegged from chair to chair, and Andrew sat sontentedly blowing sounds from his harmonica. It had never mattered to Yolonda that Andrew didn't learn regular things quickly. He was an angel-faced, serious little boy and the only person Yolonda felt great tenderness toward."
March 6, 2009
This is a great little book. Yolanda, is convinced that her brother is a musical genius and will not rest until her mother realizes this. Yolanda is such a great character. She is large, smart, and confidant. One of my favorite scenes is when, after Yolanda is teased on the bus about being as large as a whale, she confronts the bully, by telling him reasons why a whale is beautiful, while she smashes his foot painfully with her own. The author also does a wonderful job describing how Yolanda's brother, Andrew, converts his view of the world into music he plays on his harmonica. This is a great read for every age. It was a good reminder to me to take time out of my adult world and worries to really try to ask about and listen to what my children need me to understand about them.
October 26, 2011
Quick read. I wasn't crazy about this. I didn't find it all that believable. Yolonda is a spunky, determined girl who loves her little brother. That's good. What's not good is her annoying habits of lying and of overeating/eating lots of sweets. It was distracting because the author insisted on mentioning every malted milk ball, every chocolate bar, every food cart item, every extra serving of pancakes that Yolonda would eat. The skinny mother never seems that concerned, and she never seriously addresses Yolonda's poor behaviors (either the lying or the overeating).
I did like at the end in the author's note how she shares the scenario that she witnessed which inspired this story. So, maybe it's not that unbelievable after all?
I did like at the end in the author's note how she shares the scenario that she witnessed which inspired this story. So, maybe it's not that unbelievable after all?
December 21, 2009
Yolonda's mom is concerned with the increasing violence and drugs in their Chicago neighborhood, so she moves her family to the much smaller town of Grand River, Michigan. Yolonda's street smarts don't help her much in Grand River, and she has to learn an entirely new set of strategies for survival - especially when she realizes that her little brother, Andrew, is a musical genius and she can't get anyone else to believe her. This was so well written that I felt like I completely knew and understood these characters, even though their lives are very different from mine. This definitely deserved its Newbery honor!
November 2, 2013
It's been awhile since I gave a 4 star or higher rating to a kids book (other than Cat Valente's stuff). This, however, was just so perfect and full of splendid descriptions of food and music. I loved Yolanda's fierceness and flaws... and the ability of her musical prodigy little brother to turn things into music...my favorite of which was when he played the sound of bacon on his harmonica.
I can see why this was a Newberry Honoree ("The award is given to the author of "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children")
I can see why this was a Newberry Honoree ("The award is given to the author of "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children")
October 20, 2011
For being a Newberry this book didn't seem as good as it should have to me. I didn't love the story line. But, about halfway through I realized that his author is very powerful in her descriptions. I felt like I was very much aware of every little detail of Yoloda's life and could imagine it vividly because of the description, so for that I really enjoyed it.
August 3, 2014
I can't get myself to like this book. It's supposed to be about a girl finding her confidence and learning to be herself, but I feel like she is abrasive and obnoxious. Yolanda's parts were too exaggerated - she can't pass by food without eating it, or listen to something without comment. I loved Andrew's character and wish he had been more prominent.
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February 23, 2016this was a good book and the characters were great. Through out the book you'll see some characters change and not change. I will say that Yolonda is a dynamic characters and some of the bullies are also dynamic.
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May 16, 2015hi
February 20, 2018
Yolanda's Genius is an amazing book about a hefty, young African-American girl named, Yolanda, and her experience moving from the city of Chicago to the suburbs of Grand River, Michigan. Her mother decided to move her and her little brother, Andrew, out of Chicago due to the high crime rate in Chicago. There were gangs and drugs and other dangers all around Yolanda and, so, her mother wanted something different for their family. Yolanda's father died as a police officer when she was 4 years old and left his Marine Band harmonica for Andrew to play with. Andrew loves playing the harmonica. They both really hate being in Michigan and get bullied still. Yolanda is actually super fearless and proves herself to be able to take care of herself and her little brother. She takes care of him more than just defending him from others, but in other things like getting him ready for bed and for school while their mother is working. Even though a lot of other kids are scared of Yolanda because she is bigger than many of the other boys and sassy too, she is actually really kind and a natural protector. Getting made fun of for her weight is a constant for her, but she does gain a friend named, Shirley. Her brother, Andrew, has a reading and writing problem and gets picked on for it everywhere. Sadly enough, even his mother doesn't think he is really smart. Yolanda only sees the best in him and is always encouraging and calls him a genius because she feels he has unique talent in being able to play the harmonica. He plays back sentences and sounds that he hears using his harmonica and Yolanda wants the whole world to know how great he really is. Even in Michigan, Yolanda and Andrew can't escape drug dealers and their gangs. One day, Andrew was playing his beautiful music and the drug dealers actually beat him up and destroy his harmonica because they felt that his playing would keep other kids away from purchasing drugs. Yolanda sees how this situation crushes Andrew and how now he feels like he can't do anything good. She is goes to buy another matching harmonica for him and tries to convince the shop keeper that Andrew is a genius, but no one is convinced. Finally, she and Andrew visit their Aunt Tiny in Chicago and Yolanda sneaks Andrew into the Chicago Blues Festival show in the park. While onstage, the other musicians hear Andrew and think he is great too. Andrew even gets into the news and a reporter want to keep in contact with them to track his talent. In the end, everyone sees that Andrew is a musical genius and Andrew and Yolanda go back to Michigan in hopes of better possibilities in life.
I really like this book because it presents real problems from a different perspective. I feel that it helps the reader realize what life actually feels like as an African-American. Maybe not in fullness, but in a perspective that comes from a young African-American girl. I feel like Yolanda's experience of being around gangs and of getting teased was very real. Even though the setting was in Michigan and Illinois and the African-American people that I am most familiar with are those in Georgia, I found a lot of similarities in personality and culture. This makes me feel that it was more realistic and I could relate better to who she was and how she felt. It's interesting because the author is actually Caucasian. She reminded me a lot of my older sister who was also a little chubby growing up and would take care of me like a baby. She and Yolanda both have this undying spirit of being natural protectors. I would want my students to read this book because it will open up their minds to different realities people can experience, whether it is related to ethnicity or not. This book is also very inspiring and is a great way to invite readers to really shoot for their dreams despite lack of support at home or from those you would think should give the most support. It is very relate-able.
Warnings: Gang, drug, and violence references. Struggles single parenting described.
I really like this book because it presents real problems from a different perspective. I feel that it helps the reader realize what life actually feels like as an African-American. Maybe not in fullness, but in a perspective that comes from a young African-American girl. I feel like Yolanda's experience of being around gangs and of getting teased was very real. Even though the setting was in Michigan and Illinois and the African-American people that I am most familiar with are those in Georgia, I found a lot of similarities in personality and culture. This makes me feel that it was more realistic and I could relate better to who she was and how she felt. It's interesting because the author is actually Caucasian. She reminded me a lot of my older sister who was also a little chubby growing up and would take care of me like a baby. She and Yolanda both have this undying spirit of being natural protectors. I would want my students to read this book because it will open up their minds to different realities people can experience, whether it is related to ethnicity or not. This book is also very inspiring and is a great way to invite readers to really shoot for their dreams despite lack of support at home or from those you would think should give the most support. It is very relate-able.
Warnings: Gang, drug, and violence references. Struggles single parenting described.
October 30, 2024
Genius can be so fragile. How are you supposed to protect its flickering flame in someone else, or in yourself? There's no handbook for nurturing a genius mind, since it can be impossible to predict what a genius is going to do next. A brilliant mind doesn't equip a person to handle their own extraordinary talent.
When Yolonda, age eleven, and her mother and brother move from the dangerous part of Chicago to a safer neighborhood in suburban Michigan, life as Yolonda knows it is shaken up in a big way. It may have been dangerous where she used to live, her school populated with too many drug pushers and hard kids capable of destruction and violence, but it was the place she saw as home, and she knew the drill back in Chicago. In Grand River, Michigan, the other kids don't understand her, and the gruff, unfriendly way that she has of putting a shield up against people she doesn't know prevents her from making any real friends at her new school. But as Yolonda is trying to adjust to the paradigm of her new life, she begins to see the harmonica (or "mouth harp") playing of her younger brother, Andrew, as more than just a six-year-old playing around with a toy instrument. Andrew has a unique way of capturing with his harmonica the flavor, the sound, the texture, the essential substance of the people and events that unfold around him every day. With a wheezing sigh, he can urge forth plaintive tones of forlornness from the instrument; with a bolder, fuller concentration of breath, he can musically replicate the personal confidence and power of Yolonda herself, tough girl from Chicago that she is, not going to let anybody push around her or her little brother. Andrew's hasn't just been fooling around with the harmonica that their father gave them when he was still around, Yolonda is starting to realize. He has a way with that little mouth harp that goes beyond the ordinary skill of a well-practiced music pupil. As far as Yolonda can see, Andrew is an example of true genius in its nascent state, and if life for her in the new city is going to be so tough, well...why not concentrate her energy on getting Andrew the notice that he deserves?
Convincing the world—or even her own mother, for that matter—won't be an easy proposition, though. His entire life, Andrew has taken his time learning to do things that other kids his age already had down cold: walking, reading and writing are just a few of the major areas in which Andrew has lagged behind his peers. He never talks much, either, and has been assigned to work with a speech therapist at his new school as a way to address several of his apparent developmental deficiencies. Yolonda isn't buying that her brother isn't intelligent, though; she's experienced the dancing images that he's capable of conjuring up on a whim with his beloved harmonica, and Yolonda knows that type of ability doesn't just invent itself out of thin air. If other people aren't going to pause their lives for long enough to take note of Andrew's accomplishments, then Yolonda will make sure that they have to pause.
Above all else, I give credit to Yolonda for the way that she's willing to step up to the plate for her younger brother because of how much she loves him. Somehow, instinctively, she understands the fragility of an extraordinary ability, probably more because of how deep her understanding of her brother runs than for any special personal insight that she has into the realm of genius. Yolonda sees beyond the natural artist that Andrew can be when he's at his most comfortable and riffing on his mouth harp without a care in the world as to who hears; she sees, just as well, the butterfly with a crushed wing that Andrew is when he's not feeling the music, when external pressures and expectations and demands and bullying cause him to lose hold of the fragile thread of his own natural artistic knowledge, and he suddenly becomes insecure in the art form that he normally has down as easy as breathing. It's when that overthinking pries its way inside and won't get out that the totally natural artist loses his way, because people weren't content to leave well enough alone and let him have his special skill just the way it was. But Yolonda won't give up on her brother. She knows that for a genius like Andrew, losing his way doesn't have to be a forever thing; if he can have known all that good stuff just by his own intuition, then whose to say that he doesn't know the way back to it, apart from anybody's interference? Yolonda still believes that her brother is a genius. She can help him fight his way past all of the negative barriers...can't she?
In a book featuring plenty of memorable scenes, the most outstanding have to be those during the Chicago Music Festival. Yolonda's Genius captures the excitement of the gigantic audiences and the mesmerizing rhythm of the blues music perfectly, giving an accurate feel to the reader of what it's like to be up there on the biggest stage in the center of all the celebration. It's a heightened reality, several notches more intense than normal real life, and once you've earned success on the stage it's a narcotic that will keep you coming back for more. The stress may be high and the tension crackling with pure nervous electricity, but it's worth it all for the chance to thrill the crowds and hear them roar back their appreciation. If you're like Andrew, it means something even more. It's the chance to finally prove to the world that you really do have a special talent, and there's no telling how far you can take it if you're given full opportunity.
Do I agree with Yolonda's Genius being named a Newbery Honor book for 1996? So far, I'm undecided on that. It was a very strong year for the genre, with eligible titles including Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park (without question, my choice as deserving winner of the Newbery Medal that year), The Rifle by Gary Paulsen, The New Nick Kramer or My Life as a Baby-sitter by James Howe, What Jamie Saw by Carolyn Coman and The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman. I'm not sure if I would have given Yolonda's Genius a Newbery Honor that year or not, but at the very least I can see it as being right in the thick of the race, a book of excellent, solid characters and a story that makes people think about their own preconceptions regarding genius, and how far they would go to help it along if they recognized it in a loved one. Yolonda is a consistent, determined figure, surly at times but still very likable because she really only wants what's rightfully hers, and she's willing to sacrifice so much to allow her brother to become everything that she's sure he can be. Yolonda's Genius is an impressive literary work that I believe accomplishes everything that the author meant for it to accomplish, and will be remembered by readers for a long time after they've finished. I know that I'll never forget it.
When Yolonda, age eleven, and her mother and brother move from the dangerous part of Chicago to a safer neighborhood in suburban Michigan, life as Yolonda knows it is shaken up in a big way. It may have been dangerous where she used to live, her school populated with too many drug pushers and hard kids capable of destruction and violence, but it was the place she saw as home, and she knew the drill back in Chicago. In Grand River, Michigan, the other kids don't understand her, and the gruff, unfriendly way that she has of putting a shield up against people she doesn't know prevents her from making any real friends at her new school. But as Yolonda is trying to adjust to the paradigm of her new life, she begins to see the harmonica (or "mouth harp") playing of her younger brother, Andrew, as more than just a six-year-old playing around with a toy instrument. Andrew has a unique way of capturing with his harmonica the flavor, the sound, the texture, the essential substance of the people and events that unfold around him every day. With a wheezing sigh, he can urge forth plaintive tones of forlornness from the instrument; with a bolder, fuller concentration of breath, he can musically replicate the personal confidence and power of Yolonda herself, tough girl from Chicago that she is, not going to let anybody push around her or her little brother. Andrew's hasn't just been fooling around with the harmonica that their father gave them when he was still around, Yolonda is starting to realize. He has a way with that little mouth harp that goes beyond the ordinary skill of a well-practiced music pupil. As far as Yolonda can see, Andrew is an example of true genius in its nascent state, and if life for her in the new city is going to be so tough, well...why not concentrate her energy on getting Andrew the notice that he deserves?
Convincing the world—or even her own mother, for that matter—won't be an easy proposition, though. His entire life, Andrew has taken his time learning to do things that other kids his age already had down cold: walking, reading and writing are just a few of the major areas in which Andrew has lagged behind his peers. He never talks much, either, and has been assigned to work with a speech therapist at his new school as a way to address several of his apparent developmental deficiencies. Yolonda isn't buying that her brother isn't intelligent, though; she's experienced the dancing images that he's capable of conjuring up on a whim with his beloved harmonica, and Yolonda knows that type of ability doesn't just invent itself out of thin air. If other people aren't going to pause their lives for long enough to take note of Andrew's accomplishments, then Yolonda will make sure that they have to pause.
Above all else, I give credit to Yolonda for the way that she's willing to step up to the plate for her younger brother because of how much she loves him. Somehow, instinctively, she understands the fragility of an extraordinary ability, probably more because of how deep her understanding of her brother runs than for any special personal insight that she has into the realm of genius. Yolonda sees beyond the natural artist that Andrew can be when he's at his most comfortable and riffing on his mouth harp without a care in the world as to who hears; she sees, just as well, the butterfly with a crushed wing that Andrew is when he's not feeling the music, when external pressures and expectations and demands and bullying cause him to lose hold of the fragile thread of his own natural artistic knowledge, and he suddenly becomes insecure in the art form that he normally has down as easy as breathing. It's when that overthinking pries its way inside and won't get out that the totally natural artist loses his way, because people weren't content to leave well enough alone and let him have his special skill just the way it was. But Yolonda won't give up on her brother. She knows that for a genius like Andrew, losing his way doesn't have to be a forever thing; if he can have known all that good stuff just by his own intuition, then whose to say that he doesn't know the way back to it, apart from anybody's interference? Yolonda still believes that her brother is a genius. She can help him fight his way past all of the negative barriers...can't she?
In a book featuring plenty of memorable scenes, the most outstanding have to be those during the Chicago Music Festival. Yolonda's Genius captures the excitement of the gigantic audiences and the mesmerizing rhythm of the blues music perfectly, giving an accurate feel to the reader of what it's like to be up there on the biggest stage in the center of all the celebration. It's a heightened reality, several notches more intense than normal real life, and once you've earned success on the stage it's a narcotic that will keep you coming back for more. The stress may be high and the tension crackling with pure nervous electricity, but it's worth it all for the chance to thrill the crowds and hear them roar back their appreciation. If you're like Andrew, it means something even more. It's the chance to finally prove to the world that you really do have a special talent, and there's no telling how far you can take it if you're given full opportunity.
Do I agree with Yolonda's Genius being named a Newbery Honor book for 1996? So far, I'm undecided on that. It was a very strong year for the genre, with eligible titles including Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park (without question, my choice as deserving winner of the Newbery Medal that year), The Rifle by Gary Paulsen, The New Nick Kramer or My Life as a Baby-sitter by James Howe, What Jamie Saw by Carolyn Coman and The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman. I'm not sure if I would have given Yolonda's Genius a Newbery Honor that year or not, but at the very least I can see it as being right in the thick of the race, a book of excellent, solid characters and a story that makes people think about their own preconceptions regarding genius, and how far they would go to help it along if they recognized it in a loved one. Yolonda is a consistent, determined figure, surly at times but still very likable because she really only wants what's rightfully hers, and she's willing to sacrifice so much to allow her brother to become everything that she's sure he can be. Yolonda's Genius is an impressive literary work that I believe accomplishes everything that the author meant for it to accomplish, and will be remembered by readers for a long time after they've finished. I know that I'll never forget it.
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October 26, 2020This is the story of Yolanda, a fifth-grader who just moved to a new town with her mother and little brother, Andrew. Her brother does not say much but he has a skill for creating sounds with his harmonica. One day while Yolanda is looking at the library dictionary, she discovers the word "genius" and decides that it describes Andrew. She is determined to convince her mother and everyone that Andrew is a genius with his harmonica skills, but it seems like no one believes her. When some bullies end up breaking Andrew's harmonica, Yolanda has to devise a plan to get him a new one in order to convince her mother. With her help, Andrew ends up playing his harmonica for a crowd of people in Chicago and gets discovered for his talent.
This book would be a fun addition to my classroom library. The devotion Yolanda has for her brother is admirable, and I think that Yolanda is a strong female character for kids to read about as well.
This book would be a fun addition to my classroom library. The devotion Yolanda has for her brother is admirable, and I think that Yolanda is a strong female character for kids to read about as well.
October 21, 2018
TITLE: Yolanda's Genius
WHY I CHOSE THIS BOOK: It is a Newbery Honor book; it fit my reading challenge criteria being connected to the book before it, The House with a Clock in its Walls, both being Newbery Honor Books
REVIEW: This was a wonderful story. About a family trying to find a safe place to live and grow up. A brother and sister who look out for each other, especially the sister Yolanda, looking out for her little brother, Andrew. Andrew has a felicity around music, not only can he play extremely well but he has a way to talk with music, to capture the essence of people with music. It was a way of looking at music I had not seen. Yolanda goes to extremes in order to get other to recognize his genius. Yolanda also learns to recognize her own genius and value. I liked this family so much I would read more about them.
WHY I CHOSE THIS BOOK: It is a Newbery Honor book; it fit my reading challenge criteria being connected to the book before it, The House with a Clock in its Walls, both being Newbery Honor Books
REVIEW: This was a wonderful story. About a family trying to find a safe place to live and grow up. A brother and sister who look out for each other, especially the sister Yolanda, looking out for her little brother, Andrew. Andrew has a felicity around music, not only can he play extremely well but he has a way to talk with music, to capture the essence of people with music. It was a way of looking at music I had not seen. Yolanda goes to extremes in order to get other to recognize his genius. Yolanda also learns to recognize her own genius and value. I liked this family so much I would read more about them.
September 13, 2023
I'm grateful to openlibrary.org for archiving a copy of this so I can read it for the Newbery Club.
I'm a little uncomfortable because it was written by a white person, but she seems to have insights and respect. Mom is widowed, yes, but also a paralegal. Yolonda helps a lot at home and is expected to get good grades, but is loved, not burdened. And Andrew's reader has a nod to diversity, but even he sees that the two brown kids are just white kids colored brown. (I remember those pictures in school. :sigh:)
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Ok done. Quite the fairy tale. But artful, too. I definitely can see why it was honored by the Newbery committee. I don't know why it's not more popular, except if people have trouble with Yolonda being a lioness. She reminds me of women like Queen Latifah. I admire her and believe in her. And I believe in Andrew and his teacher, too.
Good book.
I'm a little uncomfortable because it was written by a white person, but she seems to have insights and respect. Mom is widowed, yes, but also a paralegal. Yolonda helps a lot at home and is expected to get good grades, but is loved, not burdened. And Andrew's reader has a nod to diversity, but even he sees that the two brown kids are just white kids colored brown. (I remember those pictures in school. :sigh:)
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Ok done. Quite the fairy tale. But artful, too. I definitely can see why it was honored by the Newbery committee. I don't know why it's not more popular, except if people have trouble with Yolonda being a lioness. She reminds me of women like Queen Latifah. I admire her and believe in her. And I believe in Andrew and his teacher, too.
Good book.
April 2, 2019
My friend actually gave me an advice to read this book. I saw the title and it felt like that was very attention grabbing. I felt like it was very unique and different from the other books. I predicted it to be boring or some parts of it to be different from the things I assumed. I was actually very surprised. The overall book is very good and based on an inspirational story. The writing style is third person. I think the dialogues are in a beautiful manner. The strength is that it is based totally on the main plot and the theme. One weakness would be that they have no father because of the difficulties her mother goes through.
July 12, 2019
I read this book as a child (middle school I think) and I loved it. It was one of my favorite childhood books. I can understand some of the complaints about the book (namely Yolanda's unhealthy eating habits) but when I read this as a child I wasn't concerned about that. I actually loved the descriptions of the food and music and everything else. I think that's one of the best things going for this story... it's extremely descriptive and I love that. I also loved that the main character was so strong, intelligent, fiesty, etc. All of her character traits were things I wanted to be. It's the perfect book for a young reader who is captivated by words and descriptive language.
April 27, 2024
Yolanda is big for her age and is the butt of many "fat" jokes. She grows a thick skin and takes care of herself. She wraps herself up in her younger brother, Andrew's, life. He is small for his age and doesn't talk much, but he expresses himself by playing his harmonica. After looking up the definition of "genius" in the library's adult dictionary, she is sure that Andrew is a genius.
Yolanda finally makes a friend with a little girl, but she doesn't know how to treat a friend, since she's always been without one. She learns that she has to be nicer and possibly apologize for being rude and mean.
She wants to show the world that Andrew is a genius. Will she find a way?
Yolanda finally makes a friend with a little girl, but she doesn't know how to treat a friend, since she's always been without one. She learns that she has to be nicer and possibly apologize for being rude and mean.
She wants to show the world that Andrew is a genius. Will she find a way?
June 27, 2018
I am always trying to read not only Newbery Medal winners, but also books that were nominated. I've had this one for a year or two, and I finally got around to picking it up last night! This was a wonderful little book, exploring the ideas of what it means to be a genius and how, sometimes, we overlook those around us who are truly brilliant because they're a little bit different. Yolanda was a wonderful character who grew throughout the story, and I adored her relationship with her little brother. Kudos to Carol Fenner for this lovely story!
January 3, 2019
I enjoyed this, although I felt some parts at the end went too fast for me and I wanted more closure and questions answered...but I’m sure that was the author’s intent. If recommending to kids to read, just be aware of the mention of drug use and pushers (true to the setting), and the main character reading some racy books in the library. I loved how the author described the sounds of music in this book as we see Andrew’s talent develop, and I love the tough big sister, Yolanda and her bravery.
February 11, 2017
I LOVE Yolonda! I love that she's a big girl, with a big heart and a brain. I love that she loves her little brother so much, and is so proud and protective of her little brother.
I want to read this book to my kids, however, I think I'll wait a few years because of the drug talk. I know it's important to be honest about the dangers of drugs with kids, and that was such a small part of the book, however, I don't think Ella, at 6, is ready to have those discussions.
I want to read this book to my kids, however, I think I'll wait a few years because of the drug talk. I know it's important to be honest about the dangers of drugs with kids, and that was such a small part of the book, however, I don't think Ella, at 6, is ready to have those discussions.
December 5, 2018
Yolanda is a smart girl who has recently stopped living in Chicago with her family. She is a big, African American young lady (5th grade) with a little brother that plays the harmonica beautifully. Yolanda learns what the definition of "genius" is by looking up the word. It is an individual that makes something that has never existed before out of what is around him or her. Her brother is a genius with the harmonica. Yolanda takes care of her brother and loves her family in this book.
August 4, 2017
Great story with meticulous descriptions of the characters and their actions. Rarely is the protagonist the "fat girl." Several times she questions her own behavior against the values she's been taught. After over twenty years I hope this is still popular to assign in 4th or 5th grade - lots of relevant topics to discuss and debate.
September 26, 2020
Life Lessons and Mental Health Awareness
A powerful story of an autistic, musical genius whose ingenuity is unrecognized save by his older sister. A text that deals with race, feminism, and mental health, Yolonda’s Genius is an entertaining and moving narrative about finding success and meaning despite personal and societal obstacles.
A powerful story of an autistic, musical genius whose ingenuity is unrecognized save by his older sister. A text that deals with race, feminism, and mental health, Yolonda’s Genius is an entertaining and moving narrative about finding success and meaning despite personal and societal obstacles.
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