Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

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      Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper is another story about a disabled child facing severe adversity. Melody was born with cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak, write, or walk. The story follows her as she enters school and she is perceived as helpless and weak by everyone around her, no one realizing that she is incredibly brilliant and has a photographic memory. Out of My Mind is a testament to how society treats the disabled, from the flippant girls on Melody’s Whiz Kids team, to her oblivious first teachers, to her caring and supportive parents, and Mrs. V. While Melody is on her journey from misunderstood invalid, to a valuable member of the Whiz Kids team thanks to her new technology that lets her communicate with others, the reader is casually introduced to themes like acceptance and why one should not judge others by outward appearance. As Melody gains enough self-confidence to stand up to her teammates at the end of the novel, Melody and the reader both come to realize that all people are disabled in their own ways, and it is not always apparent on the surface, sometimes individuals need to work on what is inside.

Evaluative Criteria: Culture and Theme 

Draper, S. (2010). Out of my mind. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 

-Ms. J