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Review: The Genius Under the Table by Eugene Yelchin

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The Genius Under the Table by Eugene Yelchin

The Genius Under the Table
Eugene Yelchin
Candlewick Press
Published October 5, 2021

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About The Genius Under the Table

An Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Honor Winner

With a masterful mix of comic timing and disarming poignancy, Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin offers a memoir of growing up in Cold War Russia.

Drama, family secrets, and a KGB spy in his own kitchen! How will Yevgeny ever fulfill his parents’ dream that he become a national hero when he doesn’t even have his own room? He’s not a star athlete or a legendary ballet dancer. In the tiny apartment he shares with his Baryshnikov-obsessed mother, poetry-loving father, continually outraged grandmother, and safely talented brother, all Yevgeny has is his little pencil, the underside of a massive table, and the doodles that could change everything. With equal amounts charm and solemnity, award-winning author and artist Eugene Yelchin recounts in hilarious detail his childhood in Cold War Russia as a young boy desperate to understand his place in his family.

My Review

I read I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This by Eugene Yelchin last year, and then had the unexpected and amazing opportunity to interview him earlier this year. I’d wanted to read this book before the interview, and couldn’t make that happen, but I bought a copy to read at my earliest opportunity, and now, here we are.

It’s interesting to see the difference between the way that I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This, which is for an older audience, is written versus The Genius Under the Table. Each story has an underlying current of humor and playfulness. The young adult memoir brings some of the frightening aspects of living in Soviet Russia to the forefront, whereas they’re kept a little more in the background in the middle grade memoir, though they’re still present.

As a former ballet dancer, I found the descriptions of Yevgeny’s mom’s work and her connection to Baryshnikov really interesting. I felt deeply for Yevgeny, who internalized pressure from his parents to find his artistic talent in an artistic family at a time when that could mean a huge difference to a family. I loved how that talent made itself known.

It was cool to see Yevgeny’s mom and grandmother and the similarities and differences in their characters in both books. His grandmother is probably my favorite character.

All in all, I am really glad I read this book. I loved the pairing of the text and illustrations, and the narrative’s inquisitive tone.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Yevgeny and his family are Jewish.

Violent Content
References to persecution against Jewish people in Russia.

Drug Content
One character smokes cigarettes.

Spoiler (highlight the text below to reveal the spoiler.

Death of a parent. Yevgeny’s dad dies in a chapter late in the book.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I purchased a copy of this book for my collection. All opinions are my own.

Review: Both Sides Now: A Story About Young Joni Mitchell Story by Lydia Corry

Biography, Book Review and Content, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Middle Grade 8-12, Nonfiction, , , , ,

Both Sides Now: A Story About Young Joni Mitchell (Inspiring Women Artists #2)
Lydia Corry
Godwin Books
Published May 19, 2026

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About Both Sides Now: A Story About Young Joni Mitchell

Dive into the childhood of the legendary singer, songwriter, and performer Joni Mitchell.

Joni Mitchell is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer whose music has touched generation after generation. Her millions of fans are accustomed to seeing her with a guitar in hand, mesmerizing crowds of festival-goers and music-lovers alike. But now it’s time to introduce readers to a new side of Joni, from before the fame and widespread adoration.

Get ready to explore Joni’s childhood, growing up in small towns on the vast Canadian prairie. As a young girl she fell seriously ill with polio. However, like all great artists, this setback was unable to extinguish the creative flame in Joni’s spirit. With unmatched determination and stubborn perseverance, Joni not only gets back on her feet but finds new passions to pursue. From painter to poet to songwriter―this is Joni Mitchell’s story as a young girl and the childhood experiences that shaped her.

My Review

This sweet, graphic biography of Joni Mitchell honors not only her musical contributions but also recognizes her as a painter. I love that many of the illustrations were inspired by art that Joni Mitchell herself created. The story mainly focuses on Mitchell’s early life, with chapters showing her childhood and teen years, followed by a few highlights of her adult life.

This is part of the “Inspiring Women Artists” series that began with a graphic biography of poet Emily Dickinson. Both books offer a lovely introduction to iconic artists and are unusual in that they include so many of the artists’ own words. I love that Corry used quotes from interviews and songs throughout the book.

The pages show some light humor, especially as Joni’s parents try to determine what to make of Joni’s artistic expression. In a more somber chapter, the story also includes Joni’s battle with polio.

Give this book to young aspiring artists, readers who enjoy biographies, or readers who prefer lighter graphic novels. It’s an easy read and an absolute delight.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 7 to 11.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters by Yevgenia Nayberg

Book Review and Content, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Memoir, Middle Grade 8-12, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,

Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters
Yevgenia Nayberg
Holiday House
Published April 14, 2026

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About Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters

Strong-willed Genya sets her mind to attending art school in 1980s Ukraine, amidst the turmoil of Soviet control, the Cold War, and the unfolding Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Genya—the nickname of the book’s author and story’s protagonist, Yevgenia—knows from age five that she wants to be an artist. When she turns eleven, she’ll apply to the same prestigious art school that her mother attended. But making the cut won’t be easy, especially with the school’s open-secret rule that no more than 1% of the student body can be Jewish.

The years before Genya’s eleventh birthday bring plenty to distract her. Nothing in Soviet Ukraine is quite as it seems; adults mock the government, but only in private; and her classmates are terrified of American bomb strikes. And that’s all before April 26, 1986, when Genya’s police officer neighbor gets called to an emergency in a town she’s never heard of: Chernobyl.

A graphic memoir account of creator Yevgenia Nayberg’s childhood, Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters is both deeply personal and a glimpse into broader Soviet intelligentsia experiences. Young readers curious about life elsewhere, particularly in the face of disaster, will find ample details to devour, while those dreaming of a creative life will take inspiration from Genya’s perseverance. Salient and yet often slyly funny, this is a must-read for any graphic memoir fan.

My Review

Genya wants to go to art school, but while she’s preparing, a reactor at Chernobyl explodes, upending her life. I really appreciate that, though her memories about the Chernobyl disaster are striking, the story is framed by her larger childhood goals and experiences.

In some ways, this story made me think of what it must have been like for children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The news was often shocking and riddled with more questions than answers. In the absence of information, people tried to protect themselves however they could (microwaving their groceries before putting them away, for example).

Though it’s a completely different situation, I suspect that some readers will identify with Genya’s experience. She tries to live her normal life and balks at the strange requests that adults make, even when those turn out to be decisions that keep her safer.

The writing and illustrations pair in very clever ways, playfully examining how children interpret what’s happening around them and discover hard truths about life.

This book was a lot of fun to read. Fans of Eugene Yelchin‘s work will not want to miss this.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
One panel shows a friend telling Genya that parents have sex to make a baby. Later, Genya reads a human biology book, and is horrified to discover that menstruation is actually a thing that many women experience every month.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Fear and rumors about potential American bomb strikes. References to prejudice against Jewish people. References to the oppressive government regime. References to deaths caused by radiation exposure and fears about spreading contamination.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: In Time with You by Kristin Dwyer

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,

In Time with You
Kristin Dwyer
Wednesday Books
Published March 3, 2026

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About In Time with You

A gripping speculative romance about one girl saving her first love’s life by falling for the last person she ever should – his best friend.

Nieve Monroe is devastated after her boyfriend Carter dies saving her from drowning. Even worse she blames herself for his death… and so does his best friend, Max. He was there with them on that fateful day, and he’s never liked Nieve.

Unable to pull herself from her grief and wanting to hide from the accusation in his eyes, Nieve goes to stay with her grandmother, who has always had strange stories to tell of uncanny happenings, of magic and make believe. The next morning, Nieve wakes up on the first day of college, the year before.

This time she plans to make sure Carter never follows her into that river. She’ll do everything in her power to keep him safe, even if it means losing him in other ways. But the more distance she puts between her and Carter, the closer she gets to Max, drawn to him in ways she never expected.

But is she betraying Carter if the only way she can save him is to move on? And can she ever forget her past to embrace her future?

Kristin Dwyer’s In Time With You is a heartbreaking story of first love, loss, and one chance to change everything.

My Review

In Time With You is the first book by Kristin Dwyer that I’ve read. One of her earlier novels, The Atlas of Us, was on my radar the year it came out, but I haven’t read it yet. Both that one (hiking romance) and this one (enemies to lovers) have elements that appeal to me, so I feel like it was inevitable that I’d read one of her books eventually. I’m glad it was this one.

I liked the way that the story used the time travel elements to reveal parts of the relationship with Carter that Nieve hadn’t been ready to face. Her task was never really as simple as leaping backward in time to prevent her boyfriend’s drowning and save their relationship.

It’s almost like she needs a do-over to actually examine what was happening and what led her to the river that day. She needs to see her friend group from a more removed position in order to sift through her feelings and evaluate what was really going on. Those elements drew me into the story as much as the romantic plot.

I also liked the focus on art and the back-and-forth between Nieve and Max about their artwork. The family connection between Nieve, her grandmother, and her cousin was also really sweet. I thought the part about the sheep was nicely done, too. All in all, a pretty engrossing college time-travel romance.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. A couple of scenes include brief descriptions of sex.

Spiritual Content
Nieve’s family celebrates holidays like Samhain and the Winter Solstice. She and her cousin follow different rituals and customs shaped by their grandmother’s beliefs.

Violent Content
References to an accidental drowning.

Drug Content
Several scenes show teens (college students) drinking alcohol.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart

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We Fell Apart
E. Lockhart
Delacorte Press
Published November 4, 2025

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About We Fell Apart

This gorgeous edition of We Fell Apart will feature stunning sprayed edges, unique printed endpapers, and an exclusive foil-stamped case!

#1 New York Times bestselling author E. Lockhart returns to the world of her TikTok sensation We Were Liars with all her signature beachy gothic atmosphere, family intrigue, and high-stakes romance.

The invitation arrives out of the blue.

In it, Matilda discovers a father she’s never met. Kingsley Cello is a visionary, a reclusive artist. And when he asks her to spend the summer at his seaside home, Hidden Beach, Matilda expects to find a part of herself she’s never fully understood.

Instead, she finds Meer, her long-lost, openhearted brother; Brock, a former child star battling demons; and brooding, wild Tatum, who just wants her to leave their crumbling sanctuary.

With Kingsley nowhere to be seen, Matilda must delve into the twisted heart of Hidden Beach to uncover the answers she’s desperately craving. But secrets run thicker than blood, and blood runs like seawater.

And everyone here is lying.

My Review

I was so excited to return to the We Were Liars story world, which is weird, because it’s a trauma-filled landscape. I love the characters and the way that everything feels a bit distorted, like looking at a story through funhouse mirrors. While this isn’t a Halloween-themed story, and it has an eerie quality that makes it feel like the perfect October read.

Matilda is great. She’s vulnerable because of her abandonment issues and desperate search for identity and permanence. But she’s fierce and practical and not easily pushed aside or silenced.

When she arrives at her father’s house, she finds a community of people who seem adrift in their own ways. It’s a strange group, and I felt driven to keep reading as much because I wanted to understand why everyone was behaving so strangely as wanting to know whether Matilda would finally meet her father.

At first, the secrets unravel slowly, and they seem fairly innocuous. Okay, so her brother isn’t great at cleaning up after himself. Not too serious. Then, things start to unravel more quickly, and Matilda starts to wonder how deep the treachery goes.

Once I hit the 60% mark, I read straight through to the end of the book. I remember really being enamored with We Were Liars when it came out, but I think I like this book just as much.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 13 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used a few times.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. At one point someone holds a pair of scissors to another person’s throat, threatening them. Someone injects another person with a sedative without their consent. This happens a second time, off-scene. References to a fire that killed several teenagers. (Happens before Matilda reaches the town where it occurred.) References to a car accident that killed two people. A dog kills several young birds. Characters discover the body of someone who has died.

Drug Content
References to addiction and recovery. Matilda and some friends drink alcohol together one night. They wind up sick and faced with terrible hangovers the next day.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This by Eugene Yelchin

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Memoir, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This
Eugene Yelchin
Candlewick Press
Published September 16, 2025

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About I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This

In a stunning sequel to The Genius Under the Table, Eugene Yelchin’s graphic memoir depicts his harrowing journey from Leningrad’s underground art scene to a state-run Siberian asylum—and to eventual safety in the US.

No longer the creative little boy under his grandmother’s table, Yevgeny is now a young adult, pursuing his artistic dreams under the constant threat of the KGB’s stranglehold on Russia’s creative scene. When a chance encounter with an American woman opens him up to a world of romance and possibility, Yevgeny believes he has found his path to the future—and freedom overseas.

But the threat of being drafted into the military and sent to fight in Afghanistan changes everything in a terrible instant, and he takes drastic measures to decide his fate, leading to unthinkable consequences in a mental hospital.

With bold art bringing a vivid reality to life, National Book Award Finalist and Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin’s sequel to the acclaimed memoir The Genius Under the Table returns to Yevgeny’s saga, balancing the terror and oppression of Soviet Russia with the author’s signature charm and dark wit. I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This shines a stark spotlight on history while offering a poignant, nuanced, and powerfully resonant look at growing up in—and ultimately leaving—Cold War Russia in the early 1980s.

My Review

I have not read The Genius Under the Table, so if there are references to that book in I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This, then I missed them. Despite that, I followed the story just fine as I read this memoir. I don’t know that I realized it was a sequel as I was reading it.

The story can be grim, which won’t surprise anyone familiar with Russian history in the early 1980s. Yelchin does a wonderful job incorporating art, joy, and humor into the story, though. Yevgeny’s relationship with Libby is halting and sweet. I loved watching them figure out how to communicate with each other and the jokes they developed. For instance, they would ask each other if the other was “mixed up” about them, meaning did they have romantic feelings for one another.

It was easy to feel the tension Yevgeny felt as an artist. He knew he could be imprisoned, or worse, for making art. Late in the book, he is confined to a mental institution. At one point, a scene sort of fades to black, with Yevgeny in pretty dire straits. When the narrative resumes, we learn that he still carries the trauma of his experience, but has been freed.

Throughout the story, the narrative stays appropriate to the audience. The illustrations don’t show gratuitous violence, though the characters reference a murder that happens off-scene. The story also notes Russia’s invasion of Afganistan, and the high cost to human life the war creates.

At 432 pages, this graphic memoir is a little longer than other similar books, but it’s so worth reading. I loved the expressions on the characters’ faces. The illustrations are brilliant. Readers interested in European or Russian history will not want to miss this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Yevgeny’s grandmother inquires that he and his wife will not have privacy while they sleep if she moves in with the family.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to political assassination and bullying. References to antisemitism. At one point, Yevgeny is in a medical facility, and the scene sort of fades to black with a vague reference to torture and mistreatment.

Drug Content
Yevgeny goes to a party and possibly gets drunk? He falls down dancing and then walks home alone. It’s hard to tell if there was alcohol involved. If so, it’s not pictured. Characters smoke cigarettes in some scenes. Someone injects medication into a person’s arm without their consent.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.