From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026

Out of My Mind
by
Start date
July 1, 2010
Finish date
July 31, 2010
Why we're reading this
We had a tie for the book this month. Choose one to read or both if you like.

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What Members Thought

Carol Royce Owen
Jan 22, 2011 rated it it was amazing
I'm surprised I did not review this book the first time I read it, as this is such an incredible book. Out of My Mind is about a girl named Melody who has cerebral palsy. She also has a photographic memory. Only problem (well, beside the CP) is that she has no ability to communicate all that she knows to those around her. She is non-verbal, and unable to control her basic functions. When her mother insists on putting her in school, she, of course, is put in a class with other "like" students, an ...more
Caitlin
Dec 05, 2010 rated it really liked it
Heartbreaking and triumphant all at the same time. Melody is an eleven year old girl with smarts and sass; she also has cerebral palsy. The book chronicles her struggles to fit in at a normal school and show the world what she really knows and is capable of. I thought the beginning was a bit uneven and hard to get into, but around page 50, the story picks up. I loved Melody--strong and resilient in the face of the idiots at her school, but still a kid in her voice telling the story. A former stu ...more
Sps
Jan 22, 2013 rated it it was ok
Shelves: story, elem
Eh. Schools assign this, and maybe it's a useful compassion-builder. Maybe. And you know I love a side of didacticism with my reading. But I cannot understand the starred reviews. Characters are flat and boring and cookie-cutter. Plot is roll-your-eyes predictable. Language, especially the dialogue, is stilted and her use of slang seems both overeager and already dated though it's only three years old. ("That would be so tight!" "That's what's up!") It's beginning to make me think of The Rainbow ...more
Caren
Jan 23, 2011 rated it really liked it
Sad story about an 11 year old girl with cerebal palsey. She has no way to commu6nicate until they get her a special computer, which opens up her world. She competes on a knowledge team.
Good for 5-6. Just will need to get the right excited kid to read it and get others excited about it. In Peggy Sharp's top 10 list.
...more
Holly Foley (Procida)
I had an itsy bitsy disagreement with a stranger who rated this book a 1 and had many horrible things to say about it. My need to defend the book is simmering, but to be fair, some of the depictions are not so realistically based. With that being said, there is still so much value to 9-12 year olds, and those who work with them, to read this book. The very fact that it is written from the perspective of someone with disabilities opens up your mind to make sure you put yourself in someone else's ...more
Lorelie
Jul 29, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Great book! A fantastic reminder to look beyond what you see with kids! What a great story. Loved the cover too.
Debbie Tanner
Feb 19, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Great story! Such an interesting main character...
Michele
Dec 30, 2010 rated it liked it
Marie
Jan 15, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Kristi
Feb 28, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Angie
Mar 24, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Doret
Apr 05, 2011 rated it really liked it
Vicki
May 30, 2011 rated it really liked it
Chris
Sep 19, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Lori
Dec 12, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Beth
Feb 18, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Susan
Feb 23, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Christy
Apr 29, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Roxanna Lopez
Jul 14, 2012 rated it really liked it
Ceane
Nov 10, 2012 added it
Shelves: family
Heather
Feb 12, 2013 rated it liked it
clare o'c
Nov 03, 2016 rated it really liked it
Jen
Aug 13, 2013 rated it really liked it
Shelves: middle-and-ya
Stephanie
Dec 03, 2013 rated it really liked it
Marnie
Apr 24, 2014 rated it it was amazing