 First edition | |
| Author | Carol Fenner |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Aladdin Paperbacks |
Publication date | 1995 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 211 pp |
| ISBN | 0689821727 |
| OCLC | 704446749 |
Yolonda's Genius is a Newbery Honor [1] book written by Carol Fenner and published in 1995 by Aladdin Paperbacks. It was also a Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee in 1998. [2]
The book begins with the main character Yolonda and her family living in Chicago. She is big and tough for her age, which makes it easy for her to look after her little brother Andrew. [3] The prevalence of drugs in the city result in Andrew coming home one day with a pocket full of cocaine. This drives their mother to move the family to a new town in Grand River, Michigan. Yolonda adjusts well in school while Andrew ends up struggling. However, despite their academic differences, Yolonda is convinced that Andrew is a true musical genius. No one believes her claims though so she plans to prove all the naysayers wrong. So while they visit their Aunt Tiny back in Chicago, Yolonda sneaks Andrew onstage a Blues Concert where he finally shows his talent. [4]
Publishers Weekly says that this "heartwarming story merits acclaim for its fresh premise and forceful characterizations." [5] Horn Book Magazine says that the novel is "suffused with humor and spirit" [6]
The John Newbery Medal, frequently shortened to the Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of "the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children". The Newbery and the Caldecott Medal are considered the two most prestigious awards for children's literature in the United States. Books selected are widely carried by bookstores and libraries, the authors are interviewed on television, and master's theses and doctoral dissertations are written on them. Named for John Newbery, an 18th-century English publisher of juvenile books, the winner of the Newbery is selected at the ALA's Midwinter Conference by a fifteen-person committee. The Newbery was proposed by Frederic G. Melcher in 1921, making it the first children's book award in the world. The physical bronze medal was designed by Rene Paul Chambellan and is given to the winning author at the next ALA annual conference. Since its founding there have been several changes to the composition of the selection committee, while the physical medal remains the same.
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