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To me, the best thing about this book was the way it depicted what can go on in the mind of a person with cerebral palsy. Draper clearly has done her research, and anyone reading this book should view anyone with a disability with perhaps a slightly different viewpoint.
Parts seemed too contrived to me; why were antagonists Molly and Claire continually allowed to be obnoxious? A huge slight near the end did not seem naturally explained. Many characters were too "good" or too "bad". Early in the b ...more
Parts seemed too contrived to me; why were antagonists Molly and Claire continually allowed to be obnoxious? A huge slight near the end did not seem naturally explained. Many characters were too "good" or too "bad". Early in the b ...more
Wow! What a powerful book. Definitely stands a chance of being nominated for a Schneider Family Awards/ALA 2011 for a MG novel with a character with a disability.
The story is about an 11 year old girl Melody who has severe CP. Melody is cognitively intact but no one but her family really believes how intelligent she is until there is a way for her to "find her voice". When Melody is finally given a computer/assistive technology device that can "speak" for her, her world opens up in new ways. Sh ...more
The story is about an 11 year old girl Melody who has severe CP. Melody is cognitively intact but no one but her family really believes how intelligent she is until there is a way for her to "find her voice". When Melody is finally given a computer/assistive technology device that can "speak" for her, her world opens up in new ways. Sh ...more
The first chapter is a beautiful reflection on the power of words. The main character, Melody, speaking in first-person, talks about how they float around her, and have always been there to describe her thoughts and memories. Even so, she has never been able to utter a single one. She has cerebral palsy and though her mind is extremely active and aware, her body is only two thumbs that act as they should. With the attention of her lovingly strong-bodied and strong-willed neighbor Mrs. V added to
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"Fifth grade is probably pretty rocky for lots of kids. Homework. Never being quite sure if you're cool enough. Clothes. Parents. Wanting to play with toys and wanting to be grown up all at the same time. Underarm odor.
I guess I have all that, plus about a million different layers of other stuff to deal with. Making people understand what I want. Worrying about what I look like. Fitting in. Will a boy ever like me? Maybe I'm not so different from everyone else after all.
It's like somebody gave ...more
I guess I have all that, plus about a million different layers of other stuff to deal with. Making people understand what I want. Worrying about what I look like. Fitting in. Will a boy ever like me? Maybe I'm not so different from everyone else after all.
It's like somebody gave ...more
What a fantastic book. Draper does an amazing job getting the reader inside the head of a child with cerebral palsy. Touching and eye-opening.
This book was amazing! I loved how vivid it was and the "voice" of the narrator Melody. I have worked with students with CP in the past and it really answered many questions I often wondered and still wonder. The story was told with passion by the author, but still the reader could remain engaged by the message it had without feeling "preached to". I thought the other characters developed in the story were authentic and engaging as well. I loved that through the book the reader becomes someone c
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I had heard much good buzz about this book, so I was disappointed when it didn't measure up to my high expectations. The novel's main character, Melody, is an eleven-year old with severe cerebal palsy; Melody is unable to walk or feed herself, and she is is largely non-verbal. About halfway through the book, she is mainstreamed into a general education classroom for the first time, and she gets a Medi-Talker computer that allows her to communicate more effectively with her family and schoolmates
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This book touched my heart! It is the story of a 10 year old girl with cerebral palsy who is unable to walk or speak, but who is extremely intelligent. The story is told in first person and the reader is really able to feel Melody's frustration with other children, her parents and even doctors. This book should be a contender for the 2011 Newbery Award.
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I think this was a wonderful book on children who are different, what they are feeling and how others react to them.
Uplifting. You pull for the main character and want her voice to be heard. Great writing.
This is absolutely one of my favorite books of all time... to be continued
Melody is 11 years old but has never been able to sing, play, or tell her parents she loves them. She is smart, funny, and loving, but can't express herself because she is physically limited by cerebral palsy. She has to deal with doctors telling her parents she'll never be potty trained or understand language, and teachers who think she's only capable of the ABCs and nursery rhymes. But she also has people who love her and fight for her. When Melody finally finds a way to express herself I want
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Apr 08, 2010
Beth
marked it as to-listen
Jun 23, 2010
Joshua Whiting
marked it as to-read
