Yolonda's Genius is written by Carol Fenner. This is a story about an African American family living in chicago. Yolonda lives with her younger brother, Andrew, and her single mother. When the family moves to Grand Rapids, Michigan, a predominantly white community, to escape the pressures of the hard life in Chicago, Yolonda is determined to prove that her brother is not "stupid" and a slow learner, but actually a musical genius. He is a first grade student that cannot read and he hardly ever speaks. Yolonda is big for her age and has trouble making friends at her new school. She is very smart and when she reads the definition for the word genius, she knows that it describes Andrew. He can play any tune and make up new songs on his harmonica that he has with him constantly. Yolonda finally makes a new friend, Shirley, she starts to pay less attention to her younger brother. One day after school she forgets to pick him up and take him home. He ends up getting picked on and they older boys break his harmonica. Yolonda makes it her mission and to let everyone know that he is a musical genius. When the family attends a concert in the park, Yolonda makes a plan to act as lost children so they can be announced on stage. Her plan works and Andrew is given the opportunity to show off his talents on stage.
I would use this book as a read aloud in my classroom. I would read this book if we have a new student in the classroom that might have difficulty making friends. The new student would see how Yolonda adjusted to her school and made a new friend by putting in a little bit of effort. It would show the other students not to judge a person based on their appearance. Yolonda was bigger and "scary" looking but she was very nice. I could also emphasis how not all learners are the same. Andrew struggled with school but was exceptional in other areas.
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