Out of My Mind

Out of My Mind, Sharon M. Draper, Atheneum Books, 2010.

Out of My Mind follows the life of Melody, an eleven-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. Though she has little control of her body and cannot speak, Melody can think and comprehend just as much, if not more, than her classmates. Unfortunately, nobody, except her parents, believes there is anything going on inside her mind. She spends each day trapped in a classroom for students with special needs, relearning the alphabet and engaging in other mindlessly boring activities. When the school finally begins an inclusion program, Melody is subjected to cruel comments from other students and desperately wants to fit in. Melody is trapped in a prison of her mind until a computer is finally able to give her a voice and allow her to speak.

This book should be taught at the middle school level because it highlights issues surrounding students with special needs. Through Melody’s narrative, students are able to see that though she has a physical disability, Melody is just an average and relatable adolescent girl-with emotions and feelings that can be hurt. Kids often perpetuate the stigma involving students with special needs and I think this novel does a good job of bringing up the problem and attempting to dispel the stigmatization. The “typical” students that go to school with Melody play a large role in the novel as well. These students are merciless and subject Melody to cruel jokes and an incredibly heartbreaking moment towards the end of the novel. The actions of Melody’s classmates can bring up good discussion about how to interact with and treat students who may be a little different.

I really enjoyed this book and think it is teachable at any middle grade level. Though the book is lengthy (320 pages), it is an easy read and the issues brought up are definitely worth discussion.