I was drawn to the cover of this book at a recent book fair. There's something intriguing about its simplicity that made me do a double take. And, then, I read the first page and I was hooked. Out of My Mind is a beautifully written book.
In the book the main character, Melody, draws us into her world... she can't talk, walk, or write. Although she can't speak, she has a photographic memory and her brain works like a video camera. Her doctors and teachers think she's incapable of learning, only because they don't know what's actually going on inside her head... until she finds her "voice" using a communication device and is transitioned into a regular education classroom.
Sharon Draper says, "All great stories emerge from deep truths that rest within us. But the real truth of a story often can be found in places that not even the author has dared to explore." In Out of My Mind she creates a character who is powerful, intelligent, and intriguing and sometimes makes us forget that she struggles with a disability. Without patronizing, Draper invites the reader to understand Melody and her cerebral palsy and from page one you're drawn into the story. This is a good upper elementary read, dealing with some tough issues. You can read more about the author on her website.
This is possibly one of my favorite books of the year. I thought it was realistic and thought provoking-from a teacher perspective it made me really think about the message I send my students and reminded me of the huge impact a teacher has on a student's life.
ReplyDeleteI love Draper, looks like another good one! Have you read Stuck In Neutral by Terry Trueman? It's main character also has cerebral palsy. Very interesting and thought-provoking book!
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