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Yolanda's Genius |  | Author: Carol Fenner
Creator: Novella Nelson
Publisher: Listening Library
Category: Book
List Price: $26.00
Buy Used: $3.58
as of 11/27/2009 07:09 CST details
You Save: $22.42 (86%)
New (2) Used (11) from $3.58
Seller: treasureshopper
Rating:  36 reviews
Sales Rank: 1987087
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Media: Audio Cassette
Edition: Unabridged
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Number Of Items: 4
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 4.2 x 1.2
ISBN: 0553478214
EAN: 9780553478211
ASIN: 0553478214
Publication Date: February 10, 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Yolanda is a great big girl and strong for her age, bigger and stronger and smarter than anyone else in the fifth grade. She is cool and streetwise, too, and afraid of no one. It's easy for her to watch out for her little, first-grade brother, Andrew. But their mother, a legal professional and a widow, is concerned about crime and drugs in her children's Chicago school. She moves them all to a smaller and, she hopes, smaller town.Yolanda, at first, is scornful of her new town. And Andrew, who never talks much, is having trouble learning to read. What he loves to do is play on the old harmonica given to him as a baby by his father to teethe on and which he's kept blowing ever since. He can imitate any sound he hears, like bacon sizzling, or express any mood he feels, like the freshness of an early morning. Yolanda understands that that's the way he "talks." She is convinced Andrew is a true genius with a great musical gift. But no one else believes it--not her mother, nor Andrew's teachers, not even wonderful Aunt Tiny in Chicago. Yolanda sets out to open up adult eyes, a task whose strategies will call on far more than her physical toughness. Her plans crystallize on a visit back to Chicago to enjoy the great annual blues festival with Aunt Tiny. Carol Fenner, whose previous book Randall's Wall has reached a wide audience throughout the country, has created a daring heroine in Yolanda and a warm portrayal of an African-American family in a story that moves with mounting intensity to a dramatic, believable, and a wholly satisfying conclusion.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 36
 If Only..... September 23, 2009
VW Smith (Eastern Idaho USA)
I discovered Yolonda's Genius as I was going through my "box of books to read in a blizzard" collection. When I noticed the Newberry Medal on the front I couldn't resist reading it while I had the time (in between canning projects).
I was impressed with the flavor of this book; the contrast between the city full of violence, excitement and the small town Yolonda and her family move to after the trials of the city come too close to home. I love that there are so many successful black characters, especially women; lawyer, entrepreneur, student, musicians,etc. The flaws and strengths of the main characters weaver together a story full of real life in a modern world.
I appreciate the author not including real swear words- the closest she comes is "effing" I liked that the speech teacher stuttered but had such insights into helping little Andrew. Great detail, descriptive but upbeat despite life's darkness.
Great book May 13, 2009
C. Furman
One of my favorite childhood books, one for the ages. Yolanda, a good student and a formidable presence (though not always well-liked by her peers), decides that her younger brother Andrew is a musical genius. Andrew's playful music is beautifully described and seems to leap off the pages into ones ears. Yolanda is a strong and unique character, flawed but always likable. I first read this book as a child and keep coming back to it for its simple yet lovely prose and the depth of understanding brought to the characters' relationships. I have maybe read it 3 or 4 times now, and expect I will return to it yet again in the future.
Yolanda's Genius April 5, 2009
Emily Haelterman (Midland, MI)
Yolanda's Genius is about a young girl that has just moved from Chicago to Great River, Michigan after her dad's death. The strong willed Yolanda tries to convince her mother that he is a musical genius because of the amazing music he is able to make with the harmonica that was from his father when he was two. Nobody believes her because her brother is not very good in school and after first grade is not able to read. That is not all that the book is about because it also follows Yolanda though her trials and coping with the move, new friends, new neighborhood, and new friends. This book is a great read for the age group, especially for the females. I enjoyed seeing the story told from her perspective because she is such a strong and bold girl that can serve as a great role model. Yolanda's Genius makes the reader really think and about the true meaning of genius.
Yolanda's Genius June 12, 2007
Vickie Davis (Willamette Valley)
Yolanda's Genius is the story of an African-American family (mother, older sister Yolanda and younger brother Andrew) who move from a rough neighborhood in Chicago to a quieter town in Michigan. The focus of the story is Yolanda's relationship with her brother. Both children are gifted, but in different ways. Yolanda is a big, tough fearless girl while Andrew is a quite child who expresses his feelings and the world around him with his harmonica. The characters' race is an ever present factor, but not the primary issue that the children deal with in the story. Within the context of an African American family, Carol Fenner looks at giftedness, and the story suggests that Andrew may be a highly functioning autistic child.
The stereotypes that the author takes on have more to do with gender roles than race. Yolanda gets in physical fights, and verbally confronts some older kids who have been harrassing her younger brother. By the end of the story she convinces her mother that Andrew is the one who needs music lessons, while Yolanda dreams of being a policeman like her deceased father.
The primary characters are females, and they definitely achieve success through their own initiative and hard work. Andrew's success is due to the dedication of Yolanda. Yolanda's mother moves her children away from a neighborhood she considers unsafe to a smaller town. Yolanda's aunt is a flamboyant woman, full of life, who has a successful business.
Yolanda makes friends with a white girl who is physically unattractive like Yolanda. She wants to be Yolanda's friend, and when Yolanda doesn't treat Shirley fairly, Shirley holds Yolanda accountable.
Yolanda is a terrific heroine. She takes risks, stands up for herself and her desires, and is devoted to her younger brother. She even manages to get Andrew on stage with B.B. King at a Chicago Blues Festival. Yolanda is also physically large, and she gets teased for it. She also uses it to her advantage.
Carol Fenner brings she brings her understanding of jazz and blues to this story. When she talks about Andrew's harmonica playing, she is able to characterize it stylistically and emotionally. She spent many years in Chicago, and her bringing a Blues Festival into this story is absolutely authentic. I would highly recommend it for high third grade readers through middle school.
 Yolanda's So So February 6, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Our book group at our middle school just read this book. Just like the other reviewers, some of us liked it and some of us didn't.
Here are the good comments. Yolanda was a very intelligent girl. She thought of many ways to come up with a plan for Andrew. These plans made it fun to read. The book was realistic since Yolanda usually followed the rules but like real teenagers, she broke the rules when she thought it was justified. This realism was a positive point. Yolanda really cared about her brother. This also was admirable.
Here are some bad points. The ending was too sudden, leaving the reader feeling desserted. The meaning behind the title was never made clear.
Overall, most of the students aren't really glad they read this book.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 36
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