Yolanda’s Genius, a Newbery Honor winner, is the story of an African-American family’s love and courage in difficult times. Yolanda is smart, tough, and big for her age. Her brother, Andrew, doesn’t talk much and has trouble reading. But Andrew can create beautiful music on his harmonica. Yolanda wonders if her brother is a musical genius. Can his talent be developed and shared with other people? One day some boys destroy the harmonica – and Andrew’s music stops. Soon Yolanda must make an important decision: whether to try to find another harmonica for Andrew, or to obey her mother’s wishes and allow Andrew to abandon his dreams.
COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY
The Center for Gifted Education (CFGE) at William & Mary University (College of William & Mary), is a research and development center providing services to educators, policy makers, graduate students, researchers, and parents in support of the needs of gifted and talented individuals.
Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, the CFGE has established an international reputation for excellence in research, curriculum development, and service. Several major grants, including funding from the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act, have provided significant support for the work of the Center. In 2012, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation awarded CFGE the funds needed for a summer residential camp for low income, high-ability children, for four consecutive years. In 2015, William & Mary alumni, Mike and Nancy Petters, through the Petters Family Foundation, provided additional financial support to the program. In 2016, the Petters Family Foundation has committed to fully fund the program for the next four years. Camp Launch is only the beginning of the Center for Gifted Education’s goal to bring educational equality to all gifted students.