Yolonda's Genius
by Carol Fenner
Middle grade · ages 9–12 · grades 4–7 · 720L · 2002
Why we'd hand it over
A rare middle-grade novel that takes Black urban childhood and giftedness seriously—Yolonda's voice is sharp and real, her growth feels earned, and the portrayal of neurodivergence (Andrew) is both accurate and unsentimental.