Out of My Mind

Draper, S. M. (2010). Out of My Mind. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 

Melody is a very special young girl. She was born cerebral palsy and cannot speak or walk. As Melody was missing her milestones, her parents began to feel worried. Her parents faced a very low time in their lives when Melody’s doctor advised them to leave her a family facility because she was very retarted and would have a lot of limitations. Thankfully her parents disregarded his advice and decided to keep her. It was a very tough journey for her parents and Melody. She struggled in school because her parents would be able to understand her at home. She had an incredible photographic memory and was a very bright girl. Sadly, many people couldn’t realize that since she couldn’t verbalize what thought. As she grew, it became more tiring for her parents because they had to carry her. Mom stopped carrying her when she found she was pregnant. She became very worried through out the pregnancy, because she thought she would be like Melody. It was very heart breaking reading what went through Melody’s brain. Penny was a young, happy, and was right on que meeting her milestones. The inclusion program really gave Melody an opportunity to socialize with the “regular” students.

The author portrays the Melody’s struggles and showcases her character traits. Though it lacks illustrations, I could create mental pictures throughout the novel.  Excellent imagery and usage of point of view of a person with cerebral palsy.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvMh4l0_9jU

Additional Resources: http://www.storyboardthat.com/teacher-guide/out-of-my-mind-by-sharon-draper