The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Williams, Alicia D. Genesis Begins Again. Atheneum Books for Young Readers paperback edition, 2020.

For the first time, Genesis is going home with popular girls who have agreed to socialize with her after school. She is mortified to find her family’s belongings on the front lawn of their Detroit home. Genesis and her parents have been evicted again and she endures the girls’ scorn. Interrupted by a neighbor, the girls leave and Genesis’s mother arrives. Night is falling when Genesis’s father finally shows up. Her parents argue because he has been drinking again. Genesis and her mother go to stay at her maternal grandmother’s house. Genesis is convinced that the cause of her peers’ and father’s rejection is her dark skin, in part because of “The List” some classmates started about her flaws. She hears of her grandmother lightening her age spots with lemons and tries to do the same with her skin. The next day, the family travels to the suburbs where Genesis’s father has rented a lovely new home in affluent Farmington Hills. While settling in, Genesis’s mother notices that cash is missing from her wallet. She confronts her husband about this, advising him to seek outside help.

Genesis spends her first day at Farmington Oaks Middle School meeting new classmates, some of whom comment on her dark skin. In chorus class, she feels an instant connection with her only black teacher, Mrs. Hill, though most of her other teachers seem more caring than she expected. Her math teacher assigns a fellow student named Troy to tutor her. Genesis befriends a white girl named Sophia in PE class. At home, Genesis spends time with her father who gives her short history lessons and cooks her a delicious meal. She is thankful that two weeks have gone by without any family turmoil. Her math skills improve and she enjoys visiting the school library with Sophia. Mrs. Hill encourages her class to draw on their deepest emotions to sing. When Genesis lets go of all her anguish, she finds herself singing alone as classmates stare. Though humiliating, this moment leads Mrs. Hill to compare Genesis to Billie Holiday and to lend her a CD of her music. That night, Genesis’s mother lovingly takes care of her daughter’s hair and shares endearing stories of her father who is also dark-skinned. Despite this, Genesis continues to wish she looked different.

Genesis’s father comes home drunk and her parents argue once again. After her father disparages her hair, she undoes it in a fit of anger. Genesis’s mother shares that she would like to attend college so she can support herself, and teaches her about Billie Holiday’s difficult life. Genesis listens to her music and relates to the singer’s heartache. Genesis and her mother return to her grandmother’s house where Genesis questions her about family history. Her grandmother recounts that her father would gauge a man’s worthiness by his skin color, equating dark skin with dishonor. Aware of her own flaw in her grandmother’s eyes, Genesis doubts her love. She tries to lighten her skin again by scrubbing it hard. Her grandmother does not even notice her wounds nor does she comfort Genesis about her overall appearance. At school, exciting events occur: Mrs. Hill announces the date of the talent show auditions and Sophia asks Genesis to her house for dinner. Genesis finds a note on the family’s front door reminding them of unpaid rent. Distraught, she hides the note and discards her father’s liquor.

Genesis’s father has been missing for several days when he suddenly reappears drunk, mocking her as she acts out a fantasy concert in her room. Genesis’s mother heads to her mother’s house again, Tired of listening to her preaching, Genesis and her mother only stay there briefly. When they return to their own home, Genesis shares her misgivings about her grandmother’s stories with her mother. Genesis learns about her parents’ experiences with bullying, all because of their skin tones. At school, Genesis cannot focus on the talent show auditions despite Mrs. Hill’s encouragements because she is nervous for her first math test. She is relieved that her father has been absent and astonished to obtain a passing grade. Genesis goes to Sophia’s house for dinner and is impressed by their gorgeous home and welcoming demeanor. To seal their friendship, the two girls each share a secret: while Genesis admits she hates her appearance, Sophia reveals her obsessive-compulsive disorder. Though Genesis has not signed up for the talent show auditions, she decides on impulse to participate. She sings so well that she is selected and two popular girls, Yvette and Belinda, notice her.

Genesis finds a new note on the family’s front door, this time threatening eviction. She takes a public bus to her father’s workplace only to find that he is no longer employed. At school, Genesis receives a note from a popular boy named Jason asking her to sing with him. Determined to look better, she orders bleach cream online. Yvette and Belinda ask Genesis to join their group for the talent show. Genesis’s parents find out about her escapade and are furious. When she spills all her secrets, her father walks out once more. The only motivation that Genesis has in class the next day is to accept Yvette’s invitation despite Sophia’s objections. Genesis’s mother apologizes for all the hardships she has imposed on her daughter. When her father returns as if nothing had happened, Genesis asks him if he drinks because he hates her but he remains silent. Her dismal mood improves when she receives the bleach cream purchased with her mother’s credit card. Though she finds out that Yvette only plans to have her sing backup, Genesis prefers not to ruin their moment together. Troy disapprovingly notices the lighter spots on Genesis’s skin. Jason admits that he only plans to use Genesis’s voice on a backup track. A new CD from Mrs. Hill, with music by Etta James, comforts Genesis.

Genesis finds out that Yvette bullied Sophia about her OCD. She confesses to Sophia her use of bleach cream and apologizes to Troy for it. She also admits it to her mother, which makes her so angry that she forbids Genesis to sing in the talent show. Genesis walks out of Yvette’s group but decides to perform in the talent show anyway. She stands up to Yvette’s insults, watches her peers perform, and when it is her turn, she sings beautifully, Thanks to Genesis’s suggestion to play a pop song instead of classical music, Troy wins the competition while Yvette and Belinda come in second. Genesis’s mother is proud of her despite her defiance. Genesis’s father returns home, apologizing and sharing his secret guilt about his mother’s accusations towards him about his younger brother’s death. Genesis understands his pain and joins in his sorrow. The next day, Genesis’s mother comes to her with “The List” asking if she would like to start a new, positive one. Genesis declines, tearing up “The List” and vowing to begin again on her own.