It Doesn't Take a Genius

by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich

A hilarious and moving coming-of-age tale that explores the intersection between self and community and the complexity of Black identity as a boy if he's not who he's always thought he was, who exactly can he be?

"An exceptional novel with broad appeal." – Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

Emmett and his older brother Luke have always been "Batman and Robin," though they're quick to bicker about who's who. Spending the summer at a historic Black summer camp seems like a wonderful adventure for the two to share, but since Luke is there as a junior counselor, he seems to spend all of his time being everyone else's big brother, and ignoring Emmett.

As Luke seems to be moving on to new adventures, Emmett struggles in unexpected ways, especially in swim class and the "It Takes A Village" entrepreneurship class. Without his brother to turn to for support, Emmett works to build a new crew of "superfriends," who'll help him plan something spectacular for the end-of-camp awards night and celebration. Along the way, Emmett learns that no matter what, there can be many ways to define family.

It Doesn't Take a Genius is inspired by the feature film Boy Genius, starring Miles Brown, Rita Wilson, and Nora Dunn.

Genres: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile

327 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 13, 2021

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this delightful story about Black excellence and growing past personal flaws, readers are introduced to Emmett, a middle schooler who is used to being the gifted overachiever. When Emmett's brother Luke is accepted as a junior counselor at a Black summer camp, Emmett's plans to spend time with Luke before he goes off to a prestigious art school are slashed. Unknowingly to the rest of Emmett's family, he applies to the summer camp in order to spend more time with Luke--and gets in! What follows is a relatable and nuanced story about recognizing mistakes and growing past them.

When engaging with diverse literature (especially kid's literature), it is impossible to separate one's identity from the story of the characters. Indeed, Emmett's Blackness is important to the narrative. Throughout Emmett's time at summer camp, Emmett is asked to think critically about his culture, interests, and perspectives of the world. While Black Excellence is shining and the story is largely an optimistic and joyful one, discussions about Emmett Till and other examples of racial injustice are brought up in the narrative. These discussions are important. In order for Emmett to learn about who he is, he must also see himself in his history and culture. The story's setting at a Black summer camp was excellent for this reason, as it allows Emmett to grow naturally while also having the exposure to learn more about his culture. While the focus of the story is not racial injustice, it was great to see these topics handled so well in the story. This is undoubtedly due to Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich's own perspectives as a Black person, and I'm grateful more Own Voices literature is coming out in middle grade fiction.

The main focus of the narrative is truly Emmett himself. It is easy for many middle grade novels to create a self-centered protagonist who is played for laughs or is made incredibly sympathetic to the reader. Neither is the case here, as Rhuday-Perkovich allows the reader to sit with all of Emmett's selfish and self-centered actions, and then watch Emmett grow as a result. In a story where the character starts off as a student who rarely fails, bringing the character into a summer camp with others who are known for their gifted qualities was an excellent idea. Emmett can no longer rely on his gifted reputation, but must truly push himself and learn from new situations. What results is a messy and complicated learning curve. Emmett definitely grows from his time at the summer camp, but not in the ways the reader may predict. The narrative is not wholly about Emmett and Luke's relationship. Emmett must overcome his fear of swimming, desire to take charge always, and need to be the center of attention. All of these talking points do tie into Luke and Emmett's relationship, but they also tie into all of Emmett's relationships he makes at the camp. Emmett learns, whether he likes it or not, that he has plenty of learning to do on his own.

It Doesn't Take a Genius is a great book for its diverse perspective and central themes. Even so, there are aspects of the book which I wish were handled more delicately. Emmett is self-centered, jealous, and at times annoying. This is intentional and essential for Emmett's growth, but many scenes which could have had emotional punches instead gave waves of secondhand embarrassment to the reader. At times, it was hard to be sympathetic towards Emmett because even the consequences he does experience never quite matched up to Emmett's worst actions. He has no real consequence of forging his way into the Black summer camp or purposely sabotaging other people in the story. In addition, Emmett is shown to be a bright child, but when he goes to summer camp, he struggles to shine. I appreciate the novel's attempt to say that a child doesn't need to be smart or excellent to be a better person. I also wished that we were able to see Emmett learn more in the story, rather than his friends laugh at how little he apparently knows. At times, I definitely considered how socio-economics played a role in the different character's successes and talents--especially with the characters who considered themselves "legacy" campers. At the end of the day, I felt many of Emmett's blunders were not from a lack of intelligence, but instead experience. Having this brought up, rather than enforcing the idea that Emmett was just lucky to be there, would have been a nice touch.

Overall, this is the perfect middle grade novel. There is plenty of relatable emotional beats true to middle school personas while offering plenty of learning opportunities for the readers without feeling preachy. The importance of cultural identity is discussed in a way which feels more like an encouragement to inquiry than a textbook. At the same time, the book is unapologetically Black. The characters are Black and proud to be Black. The Black characters discuss ways to celebrate both their excellence and their Blackness. It's novels which are able to perfectly acknowledge the challenges and joys of cultural identity that are truly important, and I can appreciate that this sub plot runs next to Emmett's own personal challenges. By the end of the book, Emmett hasn't quite figured out who he is, what he wants, or how he wants to be better than he is now. This is realistic and okay for a book about a twelve year old boy, especially one who has finally learned when to say he's not always in the right.

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emmett and his older brother Luke have always been close. They share a friendship with Billy and WeeDee. Luke will be going away to college on an art scholarship but plans to make extra money over the summer. Emmett has an ideal to charge for a movie marathon to help Luke with expenses. Planning has been a task since Luke is busy with his girlfriend. During a heart-to-heart, Luke tells Emmett about his plans to work at Camp DuBois for the summer. Emmett secretly applies to attend so he can spend time with his brother before he goes to college.

To Emmett’s surprise his application to the camp has been accepted and the brothers will venture to the camp together. There, Emmett is overwhelmed with all of the choices of camp activities. The focus at the camp is black history, music, inventors, swimming and more. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get to spend much time with Luke because he is too busy working. Emmett likes the black presence at the camp and starts to think about his future and identity without his brother. Will he be brave enough to find his own path and overcome the obstacles that have hendured him?

Author Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perovich has won awards for Two Naomis and 8th Grade Superzero. This book is perfect for middle grade readers no matter their backgrounds or race. Focusing on family and friendships is the true core of this story and readers can be engaged with the shinanigans and problems of growing up in the shadow of an older sibling and how growing up can be difficult. Parents and teachers can share this as a read-a-loud and open discussions about school, race, death and change.

[Hannah]

I didn't expect this to get my feelings as much as it did, but wow do I ever identify.

[Kellee Moye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good summer camp book, and It Doesn’t Take a Genius has the total camp vibe but to a different level as Emmett is immersed in Black excellence and culture at Camp DuBois. Camp DuBois, though quite fancy, intense, and education-packed, still gives off great summer camp vibes as it is filled with many of the same struggles any camp book is filled with: being away from home, being with new people, and figuring out a different culture.

Emmett’s journey of standing on his own two feet separate from his brother was so important. It showed that finding your own passions, friends, and goals is essential in your identity. The characterization of Emmett, and all of the secondary characters, is what truly raises this book to a different level. I love his mom, his brother, his friends, his crush, his teachers, and even his nemesis. They all, even though secondary, have pretty detailed character development, and you finish the book feeling like you have a bunch of new friends.

Please know, when I started It Doesn’t Take a Genius, I had not seen Boy Genius, and it doesn’t matter. Rhuday-Perkovich did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life both as an extension of the film but also as a standalone away from the film. When I was done, I did jump on Hoopla and watched it–then it take the experience to a different level. It was like reading a prequel!

As soon as I was done with the book and the movie, I had so many questions, and I was so excited that Olugbemisola was open to answering some of them. Check out my blog post (with Q&A, review, and teaching tools) to see the answers! http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=2...

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus


This has the same characters as the movie Boy Genius (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4310022/...) and starts after the events in that movie.

Emmett is disappointed that his older brother Luke won't be able to spend time with him during the summer in their rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. Even though Luke has gotten a scholarship to go to a fancy art prep school in the fall, he is planning to spend the entire summer away from home at Camp DuBois, a camp for Black children that has an amazing array of programs, from history to baking to dance. Emmett will miss his brother, and his mother is in med school, so very busy. The family doesn't talk about his father, who died when Emmett was five. While Luke keeps talking up the camp, Emmett puts in an online application without his mother's permission, and gets accepted with a scholarship! His mother is a bit angry at first, but relents when she realizes what a great opportunity the camp is for Emmett. The brothers travel to the camp, but Luke quickly abandons his brother because he has to work. Emmett has a helpful, if somewhat odd, roommate, Charles, and the two quickly navigate the ins and outs of camp. There are a lot of options for classes to take. Everyone takes Black to the Future and Superhero Secrets, and Emmett tries to decide what interests he has. Is he preppy, artsy, a skater, or a Blerd? Given his love of debate, he decides he must be a Blerd, but he also tries out for the Street Style dance class and makes it. The teacher is very exacting, and challenges Emmett to study different dancers. Emmett also takes an interest in film, and asks some of the girls in the class to work with him on a promotional video for the camp. He does struggle with swimming, wants to spend more time with Luke (who instead is spending more time with Derek, who gives Emmett a hard time), and wishes that his mother and Luke would share more about his father. Camp is not only educational, but gives Emmett lots of time to think about how his background informs the way he views his future.
Strengths: Like Watson's Some Places More Than Others, this had a lot of great information about Black cultural icons. From Blaxplotation films to Soul Train to hip hop and music stars, Emmett investigates not only a lot of Black artists, but Black scientists, thinkers, and historical figures. Even though the camp is "bougie", he enjoys being around a lot of academically gifted Black kids, and learns to really embrace his identity. I also enjoyed the information about his relationship with his brother and mother, his worries about his mother in school and possibly dating, and his concerns about growing apart from his brother when his brother goes away to school. This is a middle grade concern that I don't see in a lot of books. The camp, while a LOT fancier than any camp I ever went to, was fascinating, and sounds like a lot of fun. Even with his struggles, Emmett enjoys himself. This is a great book to add to lists of titles that showcase Black joy!
Weaknesses: Just a little confusion on my part: Early covers seemed to indicate that this book was related to the movie Boy Genius, but the plots seem completely different. I found it hard to believe that Emmett could have faked his mother's information on the camp application and gotten in so quickly with a scholarship, but that's the sort of plot device that middle grade readers love.
What I really think: Summer camp books are always popular, and I loved all of the information about Black culture and history. There are a few serious issues, but this is primarily a humorous, fun book.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I don’t even like debate, to be honest. But I’m good at it, and I learned early on that’s what matters. People love a winner. When you win, everyone sees you. And if people don’t see you, maybe you’re not really there.” (8)

Thirteen-year-old Emmett Charles is a winner, or at least at his school where his vocabulary, three debate trophies, science fair award, and Spelling Bee record have him feeling he might even be a genius.

And when his social skills and small size fail him, his older brother Luke is always there to bail him out, especially with Mac, his bully. “Luke has come out of nowhere. Like a superhero. He’s even taller than Mac, wears his shirts a little small so girls can peep his muscles, and his fade is tight and gleaming.” (6-7)

Emmett depends on Luke. “Sometimes it feels like I’m in a river, and the current’s real strong. And I have a choice between clinging to a rock and getting left behind, or letting myself get swept up in it and carried along without any control. Luke’s my rock.” (138)
But when Luke is given an art scholarship to a private school in Maine for his last year of high school, summer is all Emmett, or E as he wants to be called, will have for Luke to turn him back into a winner after he passed on competing in this year’s debate championship. “We’re a team. Batman and Robin.” (29)

But when he discovers that Luke has gotten a job as a junior counselor at Camp DuBois, a historic Black summer camp in New York, Emmett schemes to get himself a scholarship to attend as a camper.

When he arrives, he discovers that
1) his brother will be too busy to spend any time with him;
2) the camp is filled with “geniuses” and nerds——who become new friends who have his back;
3) he will be learning more of his culture and history through classes like “Black to the Future,” and the camp focuses on community, not individual success. He finally realizes that “DuBois is preparing me for something more than bubble tests, more than I’d ever thought it would.” (190);
4) even though he is a great dancer, he is an even better choreographer;
5) although he sees himself as a winner, without maximum effort and by spreading himself too thin, he can lose, more than he thought;
6) and finally, he will be required to take swimming lessons and pass the swimming test, an activity he has so far avoided and plans to avoid.
“What my friends, and my family for that matter, don’t seem to understand is that I don’t swim. I guess they get the fact that I can’t. But they keep thinking that I will, one day. That I even want to. And they’re WRONG. Dad was supposed to teach me, and he’s not here.” (19) Emmett’s father died when he was 5, and Luke and his mother don’t discuss his father with him which saddens him. Swimming was something they were to do together.

7) And most important Emmett discovers, as Natasha says, “It doesn’t take a genius to be a friend.” (291)

E’s story is filled with memorable characters: the socially-awkward Charles who can “do you” the best I have seen; Charles’ love interest and budding playwright Michelle; Emmett’s crush Natasha who does win at everything but is just as happy when the camp director decides there will be no final competitions; the alleged-bully Derek who is able to spend more time with Luke than Emmett does, but, as is often the case, is more complex than presumed; and the assortment of other campers, counselors, and group leaders. Readers will learn not only a lot of Black history but the importance of studying one’s cultural roots.

[Farrah WJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up ‘It Doesn’t Take a Genius’ by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich because the front cover looked like a good old-fashioned summer camp story in addition to showing Black boy joy. And that’s exactly what this book is!

Synopsis: It’s the end of the school year and Emmett is super excited to be spending the summer with his big brother! After all, Luke is going away to a private boarding school next year. He soon finds out that Luke has plans of his own, but Emmett has his ways. He manages to secretly get a place at the summer camp (think Camp Atwater) where Luke is a junior counsellor. The trouble he’s always so busy! Join Emmett as he tries to negotiate his relationship with his brother, defines his dreams and works through his understanding of his own identity.

Thoughts: This book is well balanced. Although it talks about struggles such as gentrification and living in a single parent family, it also provides enriching examples of of Black joy and excellence. I particularly like that notable artists and thinkers are referenced throughout the book and social justice issues are briefly introduced. A thread that runs throughout is the exploration into what it means to be Black when taking into account the entire diaspora. There’s no specific class or political party being bolstered and these conversations do not feel forced or out of place.

Verdict: This middle grade novel is excellent and is filled with all the classics such as a group of core friends, self discovery, relevant references and even your not-so friendly local bully. I would wholeheartedly recommend this not only to students 10 and over, but also to adults who want a starting point for looking into contributions of key Black figures. Last but not least, I would say this book is particularly relevant for the current American context and I would go as far as to say it should be considered for required reading at the middle school level.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC*

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emmett (or E, as he wishes to be called) is a 12-year-old big fish in a little pond who idolizes and depends on his older brother. His primary aim for the summer is to spend as much time with his brother as possible, before his brother leaves for an elite boarding school. His brother throws a wrench in those plans by accepting a counselor position at an academic camp for gifted youth, but E is undeterred - he secretly applies for a scholarship to attend the camp and is accepted. At camp, he finds himself to be a little fish in a big pond and his brother unavailable. Trying to prove himself, he takes on responsibility after responsibility, each of which he lets fall by the wayside in his attempt to secure time with his brother.

At a certain point, I could see everything was going to come crashing down around E's ears and that there was no stopping it; I'm pretty sure my heart rate was accelerated for the entire second half. Aside from the tension, I particularly enjoyed watching E grow into himself and develop friendships unrelated to his brother. At home amongst like-minded peers, E was able to embrace his "Blerd" self (Blerd means "Black nerd"), which he had been unable to do at home in his mostly-white school where the academic competition was close to nil. Rhuday-Perkovich perfectly conveys the uncertainty and contradictions of adolescence, the need to conform and the desire to be esteemed. E's experience will ring true to young readers who similarly are learning who they are and finding their place in the world. I would have loved to share It Doesn't Take a Genius with my students, and I'm eager to read with T when he is a bit older and better able to understand the passions of the characters (he'll need to know what a bassoon is, for starters).

It Doesn't Take a Genuis is a timely book for readers as we approach summer.

Note: A review copy was provided upon request for the purpose of this honest review.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this cover!
I thought this was a little long, and there were numerous formatting and punctuation errors (esp. involving quotes)--a shame.

It took FOREVER for Emmett (who wants to be known as "E") to realize that his focus on his own goals was selfish. But the trouble he causes by trying to force his older brother Lucas to pay attention to him (while he's trying to work as a counselor) forces E's family to realize how badly he needed to talk about their dad and his death, and also how dependent on his brother he had (understandably) become. His stumbling block about learning to swim--because his dad had promised to teach him-- was poignant, and added a lot of tension.

The concept and description of the camp and the exploration of Black excellence was outstanding. The characters discuss the pressure caused by trying to be the best (people expect more of Black kids), and modeling excellence for others ("Lifting as we climb" and the "talented tenth"). Along with E., the reader gets lots of exposure to Black artists, writers and thinkers. Emmett's growth as a choreographer, and learning to scale back his activities and take responsibility for his screwups, ring true and seem realistic. His friendship with word-nerdy, musical Charles ("Blerds"!!) is terrific and adds a lot of warmth and humor.

I also really appreciated that, though the characters have discussions about race and identity, the book isn't about a specific racial incident, either past or present.

The book also gets into the idea of someone being used to being the best, and then meeting lots of other kids who are also the best. In fact, E had ditched the end-of-year debate competition because he knew his opponent, Mac, had a very good chance of beating him. But then he played it as if he'd wanted to give Mac a chance to win. Once at camp, he struggles with feeling like an imposter (he did embellish his essay a little), and the unfamiliar feeling of being a "genius". If it doesn't take a genius, what does it take? He's finding that out.

I could see a sequel to this, as Emmett (and his doctor-aspiring mom) deal with the school year with Lucas at boarding school. Emmett's wheeler-dealer persona reminded me of the Great Brain. I think kids will enjoy getting to know him, once they accept his flaws--I was eager to have him grow.
[Loosely based on the 2019 film "Boy Genius"--though that is not set at a camp!]

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Family dynamics are always complicated and readers see this family through Emmett's thirteen year old eyes. In many ways, he is a typical self focused young teen. He adores his older brother, Luke, and relies on him to always be there for him. However, their family dynamics are changing. His mom is studying for med school; his brother has been accepted at a boarding school out of state for his senior high school year, and Luke is going to be gone for the summer as a Junior Counselor at a camp. Emmett is struggling to keep up with the changes and with learning about himself. His dad died when he was five and neither his mother or brother talk about this. Hints are provided throughout the story about how his dad died but it is never spelled out. Those glimpses show how this family is coping with the aftermath of his dad's depression and allusions to his manner of death.
The book begins painfully slowly and Emmett is not a terribly likeable character. Readers do see him grow and figure out portions of his world. Middle graders will relate to his inner battles and interactions with others as they connect to their own lives. Love how the historical figures are interwoven at camp.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character of this story is a 13 year old Black boy named Emmett who always looked up to his older brother Luke and befriends Luke's white friends. Emmett is a smart young man who doesn't have friends his age. When his brother Luke becomes a junior counselor at a Black Summer Camp, he enrolls in the camp to be near his brother and hope to spend time with him. In 4 weeks, Emmett found his tribe making a few Black friends his age, exploring his talents, and learning new skills; he gains a new appreciation in being part of the Black community, learning more about Black history and embrace his identity. This book is good for middle school readers especially Black boys.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This is an excellent choice to put in the hands of readers as they head into summer break. Emmett unexpectedly joins his older brother at a summer camp, where he learns a lot about himself, friendships, and growing up. There are humorous parts along with some serious learning at this camp, and Emmett's experiences will leave readers with "food for thought".

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emmett is planning his summer, leaving Mom alone to study. Emmett ends up at a prestigious summer camp with new friends, new experiences, new ideas. Loved watching “E” grow, ask and learn about his culture. Great book to pair with Nic Stone’s Clean Getaway.

[SamIAm · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely story, a coming of age for multiple characters. great exposure into a life experience different from my own. i would reread this one.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that Olugbemisola embedded alot of culture and black history into this text. It helps others understand bias. I also liked that every character was portrayed on a positive path in life, instead of a path of devastation and destruction. It gave such a positive vibe throughout the book even though there was definitely tragedy.

I also learned that this book was a continuation of the movie Boy Genius! How fun!

[Two BookWorms Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is tender and touching and has just the right touch of humor to keep it from getting soggy. And it takes place (mostly) in a camp – great summer reading!

For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...