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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Yolanda do in dressing for the concert?

2. How does Yolanda try to make up her rudeness to Shirley?

3. Who does Yolanda decide is the only person who can help Andrew?

4. Why does Yolanda have to pull off her scheme without her momma's help?

5. Why does Yolanda not say goodbye to Shirley?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Yolanda not say goodbye to anyone when her family is leaving to go visit Aunt Tiny?

2. What does Yolanda do when she sees the bullies in Asphalt Hill?

3. What does Yolanda do when she sees two female security guards?

4. Why does Yolanda volunteer to reserve her family's seats for the concert that evening?

5. What disturbs Yolanda about how Aunt Tiny fixes Yolanda's mother's hair?

6. Why does Yolanda send Shirley away in a cruel manner?

7. Why doesn't there seem to be any way back stage?

8. What happens when Yolanda and Andrew visit Stellers music store?

9. How does Yolanda feel after Shirley leaves and what does she say to her aunt Tiny about Shirley?

10. What happens when Momma finally notices Andrew's new harmonica?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Yolanda is eleven throughout much of the novel. Discuss the following:

1. What are some ways that Yolanda seems like an average eleven year old? Give examples and why you say her activities are average teen activities.

2. What are some ways that Yolanda seems older than her age of 11? Give specific examples and discuss whether they seem consistent with the character of Yolanda as she is developed throughout the book.

3. Do you think most eleven year old girls would look out for their six-year-old brother in the ways Yolanda does? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Understanding the setting, both the place and time, helps the reader to enjoy a novel. Discuss the following:

1. Research Chicago and Grand River, Michigan in the early 21st century, and write an informative essay about the social and geographical aspects.

2. Research the way drug pushers lure children to use drugs and write an informative essay about the situation and offer one or more solutions.

3. Compare/contrast the life of Yolanda in Chicago, IL and then Grand River, MI to your life when you were eleven.

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Carol Fenner.

2. What in Carol Fenner's background may have helped her in writing "Yolonda's Genius"? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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