OUT OF MY MIND By Sharon Draper

Title: Out Of My Mind

Author: Sharon M. Draper

Publishing Date/Publisher: Atheneum, March 9th 2010

Format: Hardcover Novel

Acquired: Library

Summary: (From www.amazon.com)

"Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there's no delete button. She's the smartest kid in her whole school—but no one knows it. Most people--her teachers and doctors included--don't think she's capable of learning, and up until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows . . . but she can't, because Melody can't talk. She can't walk. She can't write.

Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her mind--that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever. At last Melody has a voice . . . but not everyone around her is ready to hear it."

Thoughts about the book:

               For me, Out of My Mind was a very emotional read. Although this book is sad some of the time, the author tries her absolute best no to make you feel bad for Melody (the main character.) Since she has cerebral palsy, she can't do what normal children do in their spare time, plus she has to suffer having her mom take her to the bathroom and feed her at eleven years old! As you can imagine, anyone, no matter what would be embarrassed to have their mother do that.(Shout out to all of the incredible mothers out there!) 

                The way the writing flows and the story is developed keeps you turning the pages every time, whether it is Melody talking about her childhood, or an important event in her life in the present. You can easily connect to her through her words, and her many opinions on life and society. Melody hated being called retarded by her peers, just because physical boundaries kept her from seeming and looking normal. And believe me, normal is some peoples' worst fears, so I think it is useless to be identical when you have the chance to be unique, especially if you are as smart as her! 

                 An emotional, well written book, Out of my Mind will change the way you will look at the people around you, how they should be treated, and the very reality of society.

                 I give it 5/5 stars.


 ENJOY! ^~^