"From award-winning author Sharon Draper comes Out of My Mind, the story of a brilliant girl who cannot speak or write.
"If there is one book teens and parents (and everyone else) should read this year, Out of My Mind should be it." (Denver Post).
Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom - the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged, because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she's determined to let everyone know it - somehow.
In this breakthrough story, reminiscent of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, from multiple Coretta Scott King Award-winner Sharon Draper, readers will come to know a brilliant mind and a brave spirit who will change forever how they look at anyone with a disability."
Goodreads - Out of My Mind
Awards:
- Josette Frank Award in 2011
- Buckeye Children's Book Award for 6-8 in 2011
- Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award for Grades 6-8 in 2013
- New Mexico Land of Enchantment Award for Young Adult in 2013
- Washington State Sasquatch Award in 2013
- Intermediate Nutmeg Book Award in 2014
This book was one of the most profoundly moving books I have ever read as an educator. The story follows a young girl named Melody who has cerebral palsy, wheelchair bound with the only full control of her thumbs, and is unable to speak. Everyone from the doctors to her classmates think that Melody is mentally incompetent. Melody's parents believe that she isn't and has so much to give the world and their neighbor and good friend Mrs.V believes the same. It is soon noticeable that Melody is a very gifted student who has so much to say, but is unable to. She finally receives a device that allows her to share her voice with the world in the best way possible. Melody lets her brilliance shine and we see her grow and become the beautiful flower that she is meant to be. There are various obstacles and downfalls throughout the book, but Melody learns to overcome them and not care what people think. There were more than a few events that made my mouth drop from what was happening. There is also a little twist at the end that I absolutely loved, but I'll let you read the book and discover that yourself!
This book was extraordinary. I will admit that it took a little bit for me to fall in love with Melody's character and her perspective of things, but once I did, I couldn't put the book down. Melody really tells what it is like to be a student with special needs. She shares what it is like to be in the special education class. She talks about the other kids in the room and what they are each like. She talks about the snowman that they decorate year after year at Christmas. She notices that the teacher gives them green snowflakes, which makes no sense to Melody. She even shares her love for the teacher who let her listen to books on tape throughout the school year and she shares her dislike for the teachers who teach the alphabet over and over and treat the kids like they are dumb. I think this really takes a look at what it is like to be in a special education classroom. There are people out there who are absolutely destined to work with students with special needs, and there are some who aren't. This book really shows how some people are meant for students like Melody, and some aren't. Melody's perspective also allowed us to see that most people thought she was mentally incompetent and shows how so many people treat people with disabilities. Some people don't mean to stare or act the way the do, it just happens. I understand that. But it shouldn't be happening. Just because someone is different, doesn't mean that we should judge them and deem them as stupid. We shouldn't treat anyone like they are dumb, because they may just be the brightest person in the room, like in Melody's case.
This brings me to my next point. Melody had stored so much information in her head and she has been unable to share it. When she finally gets Elvira, her talking device, she is able to communicate with others and participate as a normal student. Melody ends up making it on the Whiz Kids Team and she gets to show off her ability to retain information. She gets to be a part of a team, which is something she never thought was possible. The kids however, decided to be snobby kids and they treated Melody like an outcast. She was glad to be a part of something so important, but she didn't feel welcome with the other kids on the team. This sends such a powerful message, because so many kids judge the students who are in special education or are pulled for special classes. This book has a big anti-bullying message. At first, Melody gets so frustrated with how the kids are treating her, but she learns to overcome it at the end of the book. She learns that kids are going to be mean and she will always be the bigger person. Her teammates feel bad about what happened and someone Melody called a friend is the one who was behind the big ordeal. The kids feel awful about what the did and I think that that is progressive because so many books don't really care or finish addressing the bullying issue. Kids need to be taught that bullying is not okay and will never be okay. They need to be taught that staring at someone who is different is almost just as painful as being bullied. They need to be taught that making jokes and talking about someone is bullying. Sometimes adults are just as bad as the kids with the bullying issue, which is what we find with the Whiz Kids coach. We need to learn that no one is more superior that someone else. We are all equals. It doesn't matter if you walk with your legs, roll in a wheelchair, use a walker, or any other form of movement. It doesn't matter if you can talk or if you can't. It doesn't matter if you are short or tall. It doesn't matter if you are dumb or smart. We are equals. We have to learn to love ourselves and learn to love others.
I loved this book for so many reasons that I just can't seem to put it all into words. I loved the viewpoint of Melody and I loved the anti-bullying/love the disabilities message that was sent. I give this book 5 stars and recommend it to any and every educator. I highly recommend it to teachers who work with special needs students, because I can almost guarantee it will change the way you look at your students.
This book was extraordinary. I will admit that it took a little bit for me to fall in love with Melody's character and her perspective of things, but once I did, I couldn't put the book down. Melody really tells what it is like to be a student with special needs. She shares what it is like to be in the special education class. She talks about the other kids in the room and what they are each like. She talks about the snowman that they decorate year after year at Christmas. She notices that the teacher gives them green snowflakes, which makes no sense to Melody. She even shares her love for the teacher who let her listen to books on tape throughout the school year and she shares her dislike for the teachers who teach the alphabet over and over and treat the kids like they are dumb. I think this really takes a look at what it is like to be in a special education classroom. There are people out there who are absolutely destined to work with students with special needs, and there are some who aren't. This book really shows how some people are meant for students like Melody, and some aren't. Melody's perspective also allowed us to see that most people thought she was mentally incompetent and shows how so many people treat people with disabilities. Some people don't mean to stare or act the way the do, it just happens. I understand that. But it shouldn't be happening. Just because someone is different, doesn't mean that we should judge them and deem them as stupid. We shouldn't treat anyone like they are dumb, because they may just be the brightest person in the room, like in Melody's case.
This brings me to my next point. Melody had stored so much information in her head and she has been unable to share it. When she finally gets Elvira, her talking device, she is able to communicate with others and participate as a normal student. Melody ends up making it on the Whiz Kids Team and she gets to show off her ability to retain information. She gets to be a part of a team, which is something she never thought was possible. The kids however, decided to be snobby kids and they treated Melody like an outcast. She was glad to be a part of something so important, but she didn't feel welcome with the other kids on the team. This sends such a powerful message, because so many kids judge the students who are in special education or are pulled for special classes. This book has a big anti-bullying message. At first, Melody gets so frustrated with how the kids are treating her, but she learns to overcome it at the end of the book. She learns that kids are going to be mean and she will always be the bigger person. Her teammates feel bad about what happened and someone Melody called a friend is the one who was behind the big ordeal. The kids feel awful about what the did and I think that that is progressive because so many books don't really care or finish addressing the bullying issue. Kids need to be taught that bullying is not okay and will never be okay. They need to be taught that staring at someone who is different is almost just as painful as being bullied. They need to be taught that making jokes and talking about someone is bullying. Sometimes adults are just as bad as the kids with the bullying issue, which is what we find with the Whiz Kids coach. We need to learn that no one is more superior that someone else. We are all equals. It doesn't matter if you walk with your legs, roll in a wheelchair, use a walker, or any other form of movement. It doesn't matter if you can talk or if you can't. It doesn't matter if you are short or tall. It doesn't matter if you are dumb or smart. We are equals. We have to learn to love ourselves and learn to love others.
I loved this book for so many reasons that I just can't seem to put it all into words. I loved the viewpoint of Melody and I loved the anti-bullying/love the disabilities message that was sent. I give this book 5 stars and recommend it to any and every educator. I highly recommend it to teachers who work with special needs students, because I can almost guarantee it will change the way you look at your students.
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