From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026…

Out of My Mind (Out of My Mind, #1)

Sharon M. Draper

Start date: July 1, 2010

Finish date: July 31, 2010

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Dec 25, 2012 Jan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Moving and Insightful. This book will help you see differently abled children and adults with new eyes.

Melody is a brilliant 11 year old girl with a photographic memory. She remembers everything she reads, hears, or sees. She is probably the smartest student in her school. Only problem is, no one knows this except her. Melody was diagnosed with cerebral palsy by doctors who don't believe she is capable of learning. She is confined to a wheelchair and cannot walk, speak, or do anything for herse Moving and Insightful. This book will help you see differently abled children and adults with new eyes.

Melody is a brilliant 11 year old girl with a photographic memory. She remembers everything she reads, hears, or sees. She is probably the smartest student in her school. Only problem is, no one knows this except her. Melody was diagnosed with cerebral palsy by doctors who don't believe she is capable of learning. She is confined to a wheelchair and cannot walk, speak, or do anything for herself. At school she spends her day in a classroom with other special needs children and teachers who recite the alphabet to her daily and have no clue what is going on inside her head. Stuck inside her head, Melody is literally "going out of her mind", not being able to communicate her needs or tell people to stop all the "baby" lessons. In 5th grade she begins attending a regular classroom for one period a day where she longs to join in the conversations and shout out all the answers to the teacher's questions.....all of which she knows. With the help of her supportive parents and a neighbor/caregiver, she is able to get a computerized talking device, (a Medi-Talker), that allows her to speak for the first time. Melody doesn't hold back and some people are not prepared to hear what she has to say.

One of the things I loved about this book was how we get to see the world through Melody's eyes and from inside her head, sort of how we get to see the world through the eyes of a kid with Aspergers in Mockingbird or with synesthesia in A Mango-Shaped Space. I loved how wonderful her parents were, such strong advocates for her. Her mother was such a momma bear when anyone treated Melody disrespectfully. I loved the neighbor Mrs. V and her classroom aide. They both treated her with respect and dignity. She had so many people loving and supporting her. I'm wondering why no one thought to get her the Medi-Talker or looked into getting something like that for her knowing how smart she was. She had to figure that out on her own. I think books like this one are so important for kids to read (and adults also) so that they, and we, can understand what others who are differently abled and have Aspergers, Autism, or Cerebral Palsy go through on a daily basis. It might help students be a little more understanding and compassionate toward the students who are getting mainstreamed into their classrooms.

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Mar 30, 2012 Ariell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, ya, books-read-in-2012

This was an incredible book. I love how the author expressed the frustrations and intelligence of a person with a developmental disability. Specifically Cerebral Paulsey. My best friend has cerebral Paulsey and is an incredible, intelligent woman. Truly amazing. I highly recommend this book to everyone. You just don't know what amazing minds and spirits these wonderful people have if you don't try to get to know them. You will be truly amazed and humbled by the experience. ...more

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Apr 13, 2019 Krystal rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 09, 2011 Mary Klepper rated it it was amazing

Amazing voice for a voiceless character. This book had me from the first page. I couldn't get over the way the teacher treated Melody. I wanted to smack him upside the head! Very powerful book on how we as a society look at people with special needs and how we treat them. ...more

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Apr 01, 2023 vanessa rated it really liked it

Shelves: childrens-lit, jf, listened-on-audiobook, physically-from-the-library, 2023

The audiobook narration of this book really made it for me. There is a spunk to Melody thanks to Sisi Aisha Johnson (who is also the narrator of One Crazy Summer - another great one on audio). I loved learning about Melody. As expected, there are peers and grown-ups that are thoughtful and caring and there are others that are dismissive and excluding of Melody. But it's the voice and POV of Melody that carries the book. I didn't anticipate the plot towards the last third (a trivia contest and th ...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Brandy rated it liked it

I always struggle when books come out around the same time with very similar themes. It is hard for me to judge those books on their own merit. I couldn't help compare this book to Wonder. Quite honestly there were things I liked better about this book and their were things I liked better about Wonder.

I think I enjoyed the over all writing of Wonder better, but I liked that this book seemed more real. Not everything ends up all tied neat in a bow where people live happily ever after.

It is good f ...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Just love Sharon Draper--she writes with such authority of character, feeling and love.

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Jun 07, 2018 Marie rated it really liked it

My daughter loved this book so I read it. It was a really good story!

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Jun 12, 2011 Cori Grady rated it it was amazing

I LOVED this book and the message it delivers!

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Jul 16, 2015 Amy rated it really liked it

This book was about a girl, Melody, in 5th grade with cerebral palsy. People don't know she is extremely brilliant and she learns to communicate with others. Some of her peers, and even teachers, are less than kind to her. It's hard to read those parts. Especially, the part with the teacher. It doesn't end warm and fuzzy like Wonder. I wish there had been more of a wrap up at the end with Melody's relationship with her mother. I felt like the author left that hanging. ...more

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Sep 30, 2011 Gin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: varied-abilities-and-special-needs

I believe all adults who work with elementary and middle school kids should read this book, especially those who encounter kids with special needs. This is a powerful story that improved the way I encounter and perceive people with special needs.

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