Out of My Mind

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

Melody is a fifth grader born with  Cerebral Palsy. She is non verbal but very bright as she absorbs all language around her. She hears it on TV, in songs, and in others around her.  She gets frustrated at her inability to warn others of dangers or tell others how silly they look talking to her as if she is a baby.  When she enters 5th grade, she begins the inclusion program at her school and gets to be around other normal abled students. She realizes how rude and unwelcoming her peers can be. It is during this year she gets a Medi-Talker. This machine allows her to communicate easier and show others how they were wrong in doubting her intelligence. She is presented with new opportunities one being qualifying to be a part of the school's trivia team. The team makes it to the finals which is a competition in Washington DC. But on the day of the trip, Melody's family is left behind. A suddent snowstorm causes their flight to be canceled and the rest of the team left earlier without even the courtesy of calling  the family.  This breaks Melody as she knew she was never really embraced by this group of kids. She is left behind literally. The next day Melody insists on going to school. Her mother is tired and its raining and get overwhelmed with preparing to leave while a rainstorm is raging. In all the chaos, Melody's mother accidentally hits her little sister Penny with the car as she backs out of the driveway. Penny survives with a broken leg and the Melody returns to school.The team apologizes for leaving her and offer their ninth place trophy as a piece offering. Melody laughs and breaks and tells them they deserve it.

This is a first person narrative account on what it is like to live with a disability. The highs and lows of wanting to be included buy realizing the limitations over and over again are very frustrating for Melody. Children should read this to gain some empathy for those that live everyday with a disability. It is more appropriate for upper elementary and middle school classrooms.  I like how the author included  Melody's perspective. It helps the reader feel as frustrated as she is. Her mind is very sharp its her body that is restrictive. Readers begin to feel like Melody. You want to do so much more than what you can. The tone in this book moves back and forth from frustration and elation. Students could come to find out that everybody has strengths, weaknesses, and faults. Some are just visible in different ways.