First, thanks to NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an unbiased review.
Eye opening! The story of a young girl, trapped in her body, unable to communicate with the world, I fell absolutely in love with our heroine and only dream of having half of her determination and wisdom. I cried for how she and the others were treated by the string of teachers. Not every child in this situation is blessed to have such a strong support system. And our author let us see how these children can just be thrown away if no one cares enough. She also reminded us that behind each of those faces is a real kid, with a real voice, with strengths and gifts beyond belief. If only we believe in them. I liked that we had some typical middle grade students, not able to see past themselves. And I loved that we had students who struggled to do the right thing, as this is real life. We try to do what’s right, sometimes we fail, sometimes we succeed, and we always learn.
A definite must read for classrooms everywhere. And maybe some grown-ups as well!

I read this book more than once, and it is one of my faves. Seeing things from the viewpoint of the main character gives readers a look at what it is like to live with a disability. Recommended highly to any reader, not just kids.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The ideas expressed here are entirely my own.

this was a wonderfully done children's book, I enjoyed getting to know the characters and going on this journey with them,

This book is the story of a young girl with cerebral palsey who cannot communicate via speech. It includes an amazing cast of characters that support her as she begins to find a way to communicate. This is a beautiful story and, if you haven't read it, pick it up now and read it so you are ready for the long-awaited sequel coming soon!

I know I'm in the minority here for not giving this a 5 star review, but Melody's voice simply did not feel authentic to me. As other reviewers pointed out, if Melody herself did not have cerebral palsy, she could very easily be considered a "mean girl" for the things she has to say about her peers and the adults in her life. Most of Melody's harsh comments are written off as "teasing" but a lot of them were just plain rude and hurtful and picking on others for their appearances. I didn't find this humanizing and it ruined Melody's character for me.

I was also shocked to find that this story was published/set in 2010 due to how adults and students alike treated Melody. The doctor suggesting Melody be abandoned at a home. The casual use of words like "retard" and "spas". The teachers not trying to be even slightly accommodating to Melody's needs. I was almost certain this book was set in the 60s or 70s until I finally saw mention of laptops/cell phones and MySpace.

Overall, I think the premise is great but how Draper wrote Melody didn't work as well as it could have. I still think this is a valuable read for most upper elementary and middle school students and will definitely read the long awaited sequel.

Out of my Mind I’d a heartfelt story about an eleven year old girl named Melody trying to communicate while born with cerebral palsy. This story had me crying, raging, and cheering along to Melody and her family and those advocating for her. The message portrayed in this story is one all ages can read and learn from. Melody is a spit fire herself and someone I’d want as a friend.

The cover of this novel has always intrigued me. I was thoroughly surprised with how much I enjoyed this novel and how much I learned. It kicked me in the butt since I hardly think of the world through the eyes of people with disabilities. This book was an awakening for me. Melody has Cerebral Palsy. She can't walk or talk. The novel is told from her frustrated, yet optimistic and wholesome point of view. We celebrate, we grieve and we live through all of Melody's highs and lows. It's beautifully haunting and eye opening. I was firmly team Melody the whole novel and I want more of her story.

I can't actually even begin to contemplate what life for Melody was like BEFORE she could communicate with more than a basic board. What a blessing technology must be for people like Melody. I don't know what I would do if I were trapped with all her words, wisdom and knowledge trapped in my head and no way to properly communicate it all with everyone I want to "speak" to. I love that she put herself out there. I am glad this class talks about inclusive classrooms. I love the lessons that this novel teaches.

I liked this book and that it was told from the perspective of Melody who has cerebral palsy. It made me re-think about what it might be like to have a disability when you are non-verbal and are not mobile without the use of a wheelchair or someone's help. The story also brings awareness to how people with disability are viewed by others and how it affects the whole family. There are a lot of important lessons brought to light in this story. I was also surprised with how the storyline ended completely different than I expected. It was a great read overall

I LOVE this book - the imminent release of the sequel caused me to reread it yet again. I have read this book multiple times, both to myself and to my students, and I get something new out of it every time. It's an eye-opener for middle school students, and even more so for their parents.

Melody is 11 years old. She is incredibly smart and has a photographic memory - but nobody knows, because Melody also has cerebral palsy, and only has control over a very limited range of movements. The psychologist who tested her at age 5 used a non-verbal test... but she couldn't manipulate the objects, and he labeled her untestable. Placed in a class for the severely disabled, one in which the teacher changed every year, left Melody with very few skills for communicating with anyone - although her parents knew she was much more aware than most people gave her credit for. When fifth grade begins, and yet another teacher comes in, Melody resigns herself to yet another year of watching the other disabled students practice the alphabet - she can read, but since she can't turn the pages of a book or answer questions about what she read, no one knows it. But the new teacher is different - she sends Melody and her classmates into a general education class for the first time in her life, and gets Melody an aide to help her communicate - and thus begins a wonderful adventure as Melody finds the tools to let the world know all about what she can do.

This book has some serious ups and downs, and some seriously mean kids who treat Melody poorly - but it teaches some great lessons that are important for every sympathetic, empathic person to learn, and sometimes learning the hard way is the only way it can happen. Strongly recommended for fifth grade and up, and great as a read-aloud; the discussions can be incredible.

Fabulous book! Everyone over the age of 10 should read this book. You will never look at anyone with a disability in the same way.

When Sharon Draper is writing a book for kids, she will touch on subjects that might make some uncomfortable, such as abuse or death. In Out of My Mind, she writes about disabilities and the way that others perceive her. Draper has first hand knowledge of this, as her own daughter has cerebral palsy. Writing the story from Melody's POV changes the way the book hits - we aren't just witnessing the events happening to Melody, but we are experiencing her emotions, and her frustrations from her disability.

Having been a teacher, Draper writes about 5th graders that brought me back to my own school days. Some things never change - there will always be mean girls, and those that are more sensitive. We first meet Melody and get to know her and her family through her thoughts. When she is in school, she is in special education classes that do not help her learn the way she needs to. Some teachers are great, while others phone it in. Reading this information scared me to my core. I know how hard parents have to fight for their kids when they need an IEP, and then fight some more when the IEP is not being adhered to.

Melody is able to eventually get an aide, and begins to integrate with the mainstream classes. It is here where we meet the mean girls who dismiss Melody and her abilities based just on her disability. Teachers even do the same when she begins to try out for the school quiz team. But Melody perseveres and makes it on to the quiz team!

Reading through the story now that I am a mom gave me so many emotions while reading this. Seeing Melody's mom struggle to do something we see as simple, such as going to a restaurant that doesn't have ramps or eating a meal, or reading Melody's frustration when she wants to exhibit a simple emotion, such as excitement, but has to be mindful of how her body reacts to avoid others staring at her or making fun of her. It really put things into perspective that we may not think of that will hopefully make us more empathetic in the future.

I wish I had a book like this to read back when I was in 4th and 5th grade. The school I attended did not send the special education children to mainstream classes. Instead, what they would do would they would select a handful of students from each class to go to the class at designated times and sit together. We would play games, or read stories together.
I remember feeling very nervous going in the first couple of times. No one ever explained to us 30 years ago (ouch) what it meant when a child was non verbal as compared to those who could tell us their thoughts and feelings. Reading in the book about Melody's frustrations when others dismissed her and would talk about her as though she wasn't there just because she couldn't speak makes me feel ashamed that I may have done the same way back when. This is a story that I will be sharing with my children when they are a bit older!

This is a novel to tug at your heartstrings. Eleven year old Melody is imprisoned by the severity of her CP, unable to express herself to her family and the world. Her involuntary motions make her life even more difficult, particularly setting her apart from other kids. Draper reveals Melody's thoughts, and we see the pain that her inabilities cause her, and we also see the devotion of her parents and a few other adults. I found the situation somewhat unbelievable, however, because such concerned and loving parents would surely have located the adaptive equipment a lot sooner, that Melody finally demanded and her student intern helped her find. Another treatment of a similar situation is the Printz Honor book, Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman.

Out of My Mind is a book that EVERY student should read. It allows us the opportunity to see that we shouldn't take people for granted or dismiss them for their abilities. Everyone has the capability to do great things!

I loved this book!!! I looked forward to reading it every morning and kept wanting to go back to it. I immediately felt connected to Melody. She's such a well-developed character from the start, and I felt for her and liked her right away. Draper does such a great job of showing me what Melody's everyday life is like, her relationship with her parents and Mrs. V and Penny and her friends in M5 and just her thoughts about her everyday life. There isn't much of a plot when it boils down to it--really, most of the story happens at the end--but I really enjoyed going on this journey and getting to know Melody.
Draper made me feel for Melody so much that I LOATHED Claire and Molly and Mr. Dimming!!! Reading this book made me so mad at the people who make comments about differently abled people. I couldn't take it. I've never understood people who make means comments just to be mean or people who talk about people with disabilities as if they weren't RIGHT THERE, and reading these characters' words made me (yes, forced me) to respond aloud to the book as if the characters were real people right in front of me. I also cheered for Melody's mother and Melody's college-age aide Catherine when they stood up for Melody against bullies, prejudiced people, and haters.
I rated this book four stars and not five because I do feel like the main plot could have started sooner, and I also feel like the end is very abrupt; I wish Draper plotted differently to give more attention to the bigger events in the novel and less to the details.
I strongly recommend this book if you like middle grade, contemporary fiction. It reminded me of Stoner and Spaz by Ron Koertge with its careful and respectful portrayal of a kid with cerebral palsy (though at a different extreme) and its humor and the creative way the main character gets to demonstrate to people who she really is. I definitely want to read book 2 in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book.

This is such an amazing book. I read it a few times as a kid, but couldn't resist picking it back up again this year, especially after news broke out about the sequel!

While I don't have cerebral palsy, I am autistic, and found that I could relate to Melody on such a deep and personal level. While bittersweet, the book is also highly inspirational, and I urge you all to check it out for yourselves! Five stars easily :)

This book is written from the perspective of a young girl with cerebral palsy. It s very well written and you really feel for the young girl. She is very likeable and smart, but the way she is treated in a lot of instances is sad. I feel this is an important book to read as there are still people today who think the way some of the students and teachers and aids act in the book.

Thanks to NetGalley for supplying me with this e-book. Its a must read for everyone.

This author clearly has the background to be writing for teens. She has received a number of awards already. In addition, she is a high school English teacher so is exposed to her intended audience regularly. She has also been a teacher of the year.

This deeply moving novel for preteens and teens tells the story of Melody. What a beautiful name for a bright girl who, among other things, cannot speak. But Melody hears and absorbs and has a deep inner life that is not diminished by her physical limitations. She narrates the story and in doing so demonstrates a gorgeous ability to express herself. Early on, Melody lets readers know that music is important to her. She comments on lullabies, harmonies and a “painted musical sound track play background to my life.” Melody know that her Mom likes classical music while her father enjoys jazz. Melody, herself, likes country music. Her musical sense also seems influenced by synesthesisa. So, readers know early on that there is a sound track to Melody’s life.

Right from the start of the story, readers know that there will be a kind of disconnect between Melody’s inner world and what those around her perceive about her. Her inability to make herself known makes Melody so real. She is not always happy, can be frustrated and is in no way a martyr.

Spend time in her world, readers. You will see those around you differently by the time that you finish this luminous book. And, watch to see how Melody’s life changes by the end of the story. (no spoilers)

This title seems perfect for a book club for adults and children, for school discussion or just for a perfect read. The lessons of the story are not too heavy handed but they seem so important. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book to read from NetGalley- in advance of the sequel being released (and I'm super excited about that!!). This book was utterly adorable. It was a very quick junior read with an easy pace and a lovable and fascinating main character. I recommend it to everyone, including my 8 year old daughter. I can't way to check out the sequel and see what's been going on in Melody's life.

Absolutely amazing book about an incredibly intelligent young lady of eleven who is nonverbal and born with cerebral palsy. A must read!

Pub Date 01 Aug 2013
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a powerful book and one that I'm glad I decided to read. I would have never guessed from the cover what it was really about. Given the similarity to other covers that are in the business and self-help genres, realizing that this was a middle-grade book was a bit of a surprise.

But don't let the cover fool you! This story is told from the point of view of a ten-year-old girl named Melody, who is navigating fifth grade while living with the constraints of cerebral palsy. Trapped within her own body, she's never been able to walk, talk, or even eat on her own.

Yet this year, she finally is given a way to communicate. A talking computer becomes her constant aid and she starts to turn heads when her schoolmates and teachers all realize they've been underestimating her for a very long time.

As human beings, we can never really know what's in the heart or mind of another, yet "Out of My Mind" seeks to give readers insight into the struggles and challenges of this other-abled girl. And while we might not always like what she shows us, I think readers of this story will come away with a greater desire to be compassionate and understanding of those whose lives involve so much more challenge than our own.