OUT OF MY MIND By Sharon M. Draper

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.

NOTES: 

There is another review of this book on this blog, posted in December 2012, at http://webberfamilybookshelf.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-01-26T22:26:00-06:00&max-results=7&start=54&by-date=false.

There is an interview with the author of this book and a brief video of the author discussing the book at http://sharondraper.com/bookdetail.asp?id=35. A study guide for teachers is also available.

OUT OF MY MIND by Sharon Draper

Sharon Draper, Out of My Mind (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2012).

Also on Kindle and Nook.

(NON-FICTION FOR YOUTH)
 

Reviewed by Emma Proehl, age 9

Out of My Mind is about a girl named Melody, who is not able to walk or talk, because she was born with a disability. She is very smart, but no one knows it until she learns to communicate in a brand new way. In Melody’s school, there are two mean girls named Claire and Molly, who go to the general education classes. Melody goes to a special class for kids who have disabilities. She is very smart and has a photographic memory. The girls are mean to Melody by calling her names and trying to get her in trouble on purpose. Later in the book they learn about having empathy and respecting people who are different. That is a good lesson for the readers to learn. 

I recommend this book because Melody has some interesting adventures and the reader learns a lot about people with disabilities. I also learned a lot about friendship. There is a lot more…but you have to read it for yourself!