Sharon M. Draper, Out of My Mind (Atheneum, 2010).
Available in hardcover, paperback, Kindle,
Audible, and Nook.
Reviewed by Elaine (Lainey) Klepinger, age
10
The Denver Post said “If there’s one book
teens, parents, and everyone else should read Out of My Mind should be it”.
Sharon has a creative mind. She went “ out of her mind “ writing this story.
Melody was a girl who had limited capabilities. I feel Melody, she is a really
smart girl. But she couldn’t tell anyone, because she had Cerebral Palsy and
was unable to communicate. It’s where you can’t talk, walk, or write. You’re
probably wondering do I have Cerebral Palsy, no I don’t. I get her because when
I read books I like go into the world. Like the characters talk to me. When she
was little, she listened to her parents words and I quote “Words, I’m
surrounded by thousands, maybe millions”. It was really sad to read, no one
understood her when she tried to tell them she could do work too they were mean
to her, they treated her like she was mental, dumb, and stupid. In her words
she said they treated her like she was retarded and she didn’t like that word.
When she went to the mental doctor the stuff was too easy for her so she
pretended to not know. And once again, she was judged. It’s just painful, to
see people treat others badly and discriminating. She listens to everyone talk
and talk and talk all day, wishing she could talk too. But all of that changed when
she got her very own robot to talk for her! She was so happy when she got it,
she ended up on the “whiz kids” team for extra smart kids in her class and had
a lot of fun, she also got an automatic wheelchair! But, when they were going
to the finals as a team she got left behind. She wasn’t that happy about it.
The next morning, she didn’t have a good morning either. When they got in the
car her little sister snuck out and played in the driveway. Melody started
kicking and wiggling and trying to warn her mom that Penny was in the driveway.
Her mom got mad at her and couldn’t see Penny the little one and ran over her
arm. The ambulance came the mom screamed louder than the sirens. Melody worried
that her sister would die. But, Penny was okay. She went to school the next
day. Her friends apologized to her for leaving her behind. So Melody got her
wish to talk. Overall, this book taught me to not judge. 5 out of 5 stars I
would give this book, this is truly amazing.
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