Title: Out of My Mind
Author: Draper, Sharon M.
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1416971702
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Reading Level: 700 Lexile
Interest Level: 10+
Readers Annotation: She has a photographic memory. She remembers everything and yet she cannot let anyone know.
Plot:
Melody is gifted with a photographic memory. Everything she has ever read or experienced plays like a video in her mind and yet she is stuck learning the alphabet over and over again at age 11. Melody has Cerebral Palsy and her body does not function on its own at all. She needs help eating, using the restroom, bathing and moving around in her wheelchair. The world thinks that because of her severe physical disability and nonverbal nature, she is mentally disabled as well. When she finally finds a device to help her speak, Melody shocks the world with her knowledge. Change is hard for people, will they be able to handle Melody's new voice?
Review:
I could not put this book down. The story is written from the perspective of Melody which adds a different perspective. Melody goes through many emotions starting with sadness and frustration to determination to learn to speak. When the children react to her, the reader feels connected to Melody. The theme of tolerance and acceptance is clear from the beginning of this book and carries through the whole novel. I would recommend this book to anyone who has felt alone at some point in their life. This powerful book could help anyone see the blessings in their life.
Similar Materials:
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson and Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm
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