A touching and moving book, one that stays with you long after you finish reading it. As a special education teacher, this one screamed at me, giving me all the feels. Taking this book from the perspective of the nonverbal student, my goodness, it pulls at all the heart strings.

What an amazing book! The insight into what Melody was capable of versus how she was often treated was so wise. I loved the neighbor and how she believed in Melody and was instrumental in challenging her and helping her grow. Because the writing was so good, we rejoiced when she got Elvira, and we were sad that she couldn't save her fish. Unfortunately, it was realistic, in that it depicted students who were less than kind and understanding. The ending definitely had me turning pages fast. Such a beautiful story! I encouraged my 6th grade teachers to incorporate it into their literature circles, and we read it with my Young Adult Book Club for Adults, which is full of educators.

This is a fantastic middle grade or upper elementary grade book. I purchased a class set for my sixth graders and the next book in the series.

Melody is an 11 year old girl with Cerebral Palsy. No one around her sees how smart she is because all they see is her CP. She is unable to talk, write or walk but, she remembers everything she sees, hears and reads. I read this with my granddaughter, and she was very interested in learning more about how Cerebral Palsy affects people and how to be more empathetic and understanding about friends with different abilities.

This book is written from the perspective of Melody who is growing up with cerebral palsy. It's always interesting to consider how things look from someone else's perspective, especially if it's a person who experiences life very differently from ourselves, but it can be a thin line tread. In my opinion, Draper handles this beautifully, showing that we shouldn't underestimate the differently-abled. This was a pleasure to read.

Melody is smart and has a great sense of humor. She just has such a hard time sharing it. Her cerebral palsy keeps her from talking and controlling her movements, but it can’t stop her. A touching story of family, friendship, respect, and determination.

Late to the party. It took a little while for the book to get going. The “R” word usage was a little cringy but by the end of the book, I was feeling so many emotions. It is a great book for middle grade kids to read about CP and living non verbal in 5th grade. Super descriptive. Four stars!

This book has its flaws but I'm giving it a 4.75 stars because the author transported me into Melody's life, one so unlike my own. Definitely worth reading. I listened to the audiobook for part and it was pretty well done for an 11-year old main character.

I first read this book in 2011 when it was a nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award and re-read it just as its sequel, Out of My Heart, was released. In the first book, Melody tells readers what it’s like to be bound to a wheelchair and to a voice that is limited to the few picture/word cards on a board on the tray in front of her. Inside, Melody has a phenomenal memory and soaks in information as fast as it is presented to her through music, movies, and documentaries. But information is NOT given to her at school when she is stuck in a classroom with teachers who believe that she has sub-par intelligence simply because she cannot communicate. With 5th grade comes an inclusion program and assistive technology that allows her to demonstrate the mind that has been there along. Draper’s book gives voice to many who, no doubt, are limited by others who do not see beyond the easily seen and will hopefully help middle grade readers to look further than the superficial. The ending may not be expected, but it is completely realistic and it is my hope that the shock of something that is less than perfect will further reinforce the idea that we should all seek to do better. Pair this one with Palacio’s Wonder, Graff’s Thing About Georgie Harrell’s Wink.

This is just such a wonderful book for all kids and adults! Melody is such a wonderful kid who deserves to be heard and to have her story told!

As others have mentioned this book reminded me of Wonder, too. I thought it was told well and kept me interested through the end. The dialogue did seem a bit off to me - like the author was trying too hard and missed the lingo for the era. I was hoping for a little more uproar between the mom/Melody and her teacher/class. I feel like they all got off so easily. I also feel like none of her classmates would ever admit to bailing on her like that. Kids that age just don't seem like they would be so brutally honest, so that part seemed a bit unrealistic to me. But overall I enjoyed the story and think it would be a wonderful addition to any school curriculum.

This was a book from a very important perspective that is too seldom seen in literature. I loved seeing the world through Melody's point of view and getting a small glimpse of her everyday experiences living with Cerebral Palsy. I think this book excels at empathy building, showing representation of children with various abilities and challenging stereotypes and biases of those living with differences in ability. The author, whose child was diagnosed with CP, does a great job of creating what feels like a very realistic home and family life that illustrates the difficulties and triumphs of a child with CP. Melody's parents were very patient and supportive, but they also had their moments of frustration and stress. Mrs. V was truly a lovely next door neighbor, and one of Melody's most important teachers and advocates. I did have a few issues with the book. It seemed to paint a very bleak picture of school life for Melody. There were very few teachers that seemed to actually care or support her. They did not respond appropriately to classmates that were devastatingly rude to Melody and her other classmates. There were even some teachers that resorted to bullying her themselves. I truly hope that this is not the case in the real world. I would hope that someone would take the time to try to understand Melody and her capabilities. I suppose this definitely could be wishful thinking on my part. Additionally, one of the events that happened near the end of the story felt kind of rushed and out of place with the rest of the story. I think I understand what the author was trying to do with it, but it felt kind of unnecessary and thrown into the story. I think it is also important to note that the "r" word is used several times in the book. I understand that this word is unfortunately thrown around a lot and is hurled as an insult, and that this could definitely be a reality for many people. It was just very jarring every time I saw it, and nobody every truly faced consequences for using it, nor was it really discussed how hurtful that word can be to people. Overall, I felt that this was a good book from a perspective that needs more representation in the literary world.

I read this in October and still think about it occasionally. We really don't know what is going on inside other people's minds, and some people have a much harder time letting the rest of us know than others.

I really felt for Melody and was so happy when she found a way to communicate with the people around her. She wanted so desperately to be like other kids, but then found out that other kids aren't always the best people - even when they act like your friend sometimes.

The book was encouraging and heartbreaking all in one.

This is a fantastic class read/ read aloud for older elementary students, teaching that disability doesn’t define abilities, that kids with disabilities want the same things all kids do; it’s also just a well-written, fun to read book. Looking forward to its sequel.

I received this e-book in anticipation of the publication of the sequel Out of My Heart. I actually owned a copy so I went back and forth between the two formats, mostly reading the e-book out of convenience. I was surprised to even find out what it was about. And in these times of #ownvoices (are we done using that now?), I know Draper does not have cerebral palsy but I was wondering if she has first-hand experience with a child or relative with the neurological disorder. I don't want this book to be an inspiration porn novel and I'm just not sure if it is or not. I did adore 12-year-old Melody and her spunk. There were trials and tribulations in this book and Melody had a positive outlook no matter what. And as more people with cerebral palsy get those speaking and typing devices, I hope we can learn more about their actual thoughts, feelings, and experiences and not what we happy go lucky want to think their experiences are.

A fun, empowering book about a girl with cerebral palsy. Would’ve loved an author’s note to contextualize author’s lived experience or connection to cerebral palsy—I googled and found a brief note that the author’s daughter has a similar condition, but I think there’s an opportunity to delve into this more in the back matter. If this is getting re-released, I would also encourage updating the technology references, like myspace/tiivo/etc. The narrative sometimes lacks focus and lingers on details that don’t really propel the story forward. The pacing of the beats is really off—the lowest of low is way too late and really rushed, and the set up is like, the first half of the book. I sometimes put the book down and wasn’t sure if I’d come back. I do think it could use a little tightening and focusing to be even stronger. I love how the allies in her life encourage her to not feel sorry for herself, and to do her best. I do appreciate that the kids don’t ever turn to love her, and that she ends by not taking the cheap tokens of their fake approval. The message is refreshing: that we need to keep our eyes on our own papers and focus less on comparing ourselves and the fairness/unfairness of our lives to others, and more on being our very best selves, and what we CAN do instead of what we can’t.

This book was awesome for people who want to read an adventure but you are not venturing out to far. When Melody a fifth grader with disabilities can not talk she finds what can help her and has a talent her piers are yet to discover.. Heartfelt and sweet, I found myself completely emotionally invested in the characters!

This has been on my To Be Read list for years. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to read this fabulous book! I immediately fell in love with Melody! Her thoughtful, strong, funny narration was so delightful to read. Having a nephew with mild cerebral palsy gave me a little bit of insight into some of the struggles kids with this challenge face. Melody has a severe case of cerebral palsy that made me appreciate even more all I take for granted. She’s confined to a wheelchair and has difficultly with basic functions like going to the bathroom, eating, talking, etc. However, she is highly intelligent and the first part of the book shows how frustratingly hard it is for Melody to communicate with others or have others assume she is “unintelligent” or “mentally challenged” just because she can’t speak. My nephew experiences similar discrimination because people assume that if you have a physical disability you have an intellectual disability as well.

Doctors, teachers, and other students treat Melody according to their own biases. Some are positive influences who help Melody try to achieve her great potential, while others are superficial and actively hinder her by not bothering to get to know her personally or her abilities. I particularly loved Mrs. V and Catherine who treat Melody like a real person. When she finally gets a computer system she lovingly names Elvira to help her communicate, a whole new world is opened up to her.

There were several surprises in the story that threw me for a loop. I liked the way the author kept this realistic. She didn’t shy away from the hardships and the fact that there are mean kids and even some well meaning kids who struggle with doing what’s right.

This book is appropriate for anyone ages 10 and up, but I would especially recommend it for middle grade readers because they are entering that time when appearances and peer pressure become so important. Keep some Kleenex handy as there are some sad as well as touching moments. I’m so excited that Melody’s story is continued in a brand new book because I really enjoyed reading her story. I gave this 4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.

This was the first book I've ever read staring an eleven-year-old with cerebral palsy who is nonverbal, and although I can't speak to the authenticity of this lived experience, I empathized with her story and intensely felt Melody's frustrations. The beginning read like a day-in-the-life account and seamlessly switched over to the main storyline of Melody being integrated with the "normal" kids. It pained me beyond belief when several teachers treated her as "less than," but this is nicely off-set with other adults in her life that treat her with the respect every human deserves. I was taken out of the story near the end with an unexpected event, however it doesn't change the fact that OUT OF MY MIND is a beautiful and heartwarming must-read.

I loved this opportunity to revisit one of my favorite childhood books through a new, perhaps more critical lens.

I found myself enjoying this book almost as much as I first had when I read it in elementary school, and I think this book would hold up as an opening to wider (older) audiences. Theres plenty for general audiences to love and resonate with in this book despite it targeting young kids.

I did find myself being a bit ore critical to characterizations this time around; perhaps I shouldn't hold children books to the same standard as YA/adult fiction titles as the audiences are vastly different, but I found myself wanting more depth from the side characters, as well as some clean up around the main character. She says rude things that I don't think a kid would get away with in a classroom setting, and I wish that would've been explored a bit more.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, I think it's a great book for kids to be reading to widen their world perspectives on how we all don't have the same bodies and abilities.