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The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

Yevgeny just wants to study art, but first he has to prove to his parents that he’d make a terrible ballet dancer!
Ages 10+
Pages 208
Publisher Candlewick
Last Offered Jul 2025
Awards
Sydney Taylor Silver Medal Winner

Average Rating

68 Reviews

Featured Reviews

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If you love reading about history, you will enjoy this book!

Review by Lily

The Genius Under The Table is an interesting memoir about Russia during the Cold War written by Eugene Yelchin. It describes what life was like in Russia and how Russians barely had any freedom. Yevgeny is a boy living in Russia during the Cold War. There are spies everywhere and his mother is hiding a secret from him. His brother is a figure skater, and has the freedom to travel to other countries… his life is so much more exciting compared to Yevgeny’s. Yevgeny wants to show that he has talent too. After all, there must be something he can learn. Ballet? Poetry? Figure skating? He tries all of these, but none of them are a success. He needs to find something to be a master at, or else he will just live in his brother’s shadow. If you want to know what happens next, then you’ll have to read the book!

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The Genius Under the Table by Meira

Video review by Meira
The Genius Under the Table by Meira

Reader Reviews

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best book

Review by GwenSarah

very interesting. it really hooks the reader. I recommend this book 👍.

Oct 12, 2025 11:31 PM
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omg

Review by PurpleBird

best book ever!

Oct 09, 2025 08:10 PM
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awsome

Review by MashaH

The book is great The book has some sad parts Its about a boy who has no talent He then lies to his mom that he likes ballaet But soon his dad found out he has another talent READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT MORE ps - love the photo of his brother

Oct 09, 2025 06:18 PM
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A geinus

Review by Sportspro09

A eloquent book

Oct 02, 2025 09:01 AM
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loved it

Review by Potterfan14

Amazing book I did not really understand some of it, but some parts are just heart warming.

Sep 17, 2025 07:28 PM