Out of My Mind By Sharon M Draper.
11 year old
Melody is probably the smartest girl in her school. She has a photographic
memory. Her mind is a constant video camera, recording and recording and
recording more. But no one knows, because Melody can’t talk. She can’t walk,
she can barely move. She is stuck inside her head. Her parents seem to know she
is capable of learning, but her teachers and doctors say otherwise. One school
day she and her other disabled classmates starts going to “inclusion” classes.
People thing Melody is “weird”. Even her new friend Rose seems to be embarrassed
when other kids see them talking. Melody watches her little sister and wonders
why she can’t walk, why is it so easy for that little toddler, but she can’t do
it? One day her “friend” Rose gets a new computer. Melody starts thinking about
her “perfect” computer, one that could help her talk. Her school aid helps her
do some research and she finds a computer called the “Medi-talker” her parents
get her one and suddenly Melody can talk! She can answer questions in class!
The whole world can hear the real Melody. But sometimes, people don’t WANT to
hear the real you. Melody can talk, but she still isn’t considered “normal” and
she still doesn’t feel included. Then one of her inclusion class teachers announces
a state championship quiz that the school does every year. Melody is ready to
take on the challenge. She tries out and gets on the team. Her neighbor helps
her study and study and study, her team gets past the state quiz and they are
moving onto the national quiz in Washington. Melody is so excited she could
burst. She was in the newspaper, she is the special one. But her classmates are
jealous. They don’t like that Melody is getting all the attention. As the day
at the capital comes closer, and finally gets there, Melody might not get
everything she wants. This book made me think, it made me cry and smile and
every good thing a real book SHOULD make you do. I also made me grateful for
the everyday things. To me, walking and talking are simple, but they are really
luxuries that not everyone has. This book is definitely worth the read. I give
it a 5 star rating (if this were like some kind of professional review.) I hope
that everyone sees that this book is not only great, but important too.
