Module #4 Realistic Fiction

Title: Out of My Mind

Citation:

Draper, S. (2010). Out of my mind. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young 
      Readers

Summary:

This is the story of a 5^th grade girl named Melody who is trapped in a body crippled with cerebral palsy. Because she can’t communicate it is assumed she is incapable of communicating or learning. Her family and a neighbor are convinced otherwise and advocate for Melody throughout her public school education. In 5^th grade Melody is given a computer that gives voice to her thoughts at the touch of a button and allows her bright, witty personality to come shining through

Review:

Grades 5-8. Fifth-grader Melody has cerebral palsy, a condition that affects her body but not her mind. Although she is unable to walk, talk, or feed or care for herself, she can read, think, and feel. A brilliant person is trapped inside her body, determined to make her mark in the world in spite of her physical limitations. Draper knows of what she writes; her daughter, Wendy, has cerebral palsy, too. And although Melody is not Wendy, the authenticity of the story is obvious. Told in Melody’s voice, this highly readable, compelling novel quickly establishes her determination and intelligence and the almost insurmountable challenges she faces. It also reveals her parents’ and caretakers’ courage in insisting that Melody be treated as the smart, perceptive child she is, and their perceptiveness in understanding how to help her, encourage her, and discourage self-pity from others. Thoughtless teachers, cruel classmates, Melody’s unattractive clothes (“Mom seemed to be choosing them by how easy they’d be to get on me”), and bathroom issues threaten her spirit, yet the brave Melody shines through. Uplifting and upsetting, this is a book that defies age categorization, an easy enough read for upper-elementary students yet also a story that will enlighten and resonate with teens and adults. Similar to yet the antithesis of Terry Trueman’s Stuck in Neutral (2000), this moving novel will make activists of us all.

Review Source:

Bradburn, F. (Jan 2010) Out of my mind (Books Review).  Booklist, 106(9/10),  81.

Impressions:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  The voice of the main character, Melody, really shines through. The reader really understands how trapped she feels in her own body. Her brain works fine, and yet because she can’t communicate she assumed to be dumb. It’s amazing what technology can do for disabled people.

Suggested Use(s):

1.     Use as discussion material for teaching tolerance.

2.     To really make a point students could spend a day in a wheelchair and have no way to communicate.

Additional Information:

Awards: Parents' Choice Awards - Fiction: 2010

Interest Level: 5-8

Reading Level: 4.3

Lexile Measure: 700