Draper, Sharon M. Out Of My Mind. New York: Athenium Books for Young Readers, 2010.

PA Readers’ Choice Awards Nominee 2012-2013

I read this awhile back and dusted it off in light of Draper’s ALA Margaret A. Edwards award for her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens. While this particular title isn’t mentioned in the ALA press release, I just loved reading it.

Certainly, as librarians we are in a unique position to encourage our readers toward books that have the potential to make them better people. By allowing students inside the mind of a young girl with cerebral palsy, Draper’s Out Of My Mind is just such a book!

On the surface Melody has little control of her body: spastic limb movements, drooling, and shrieking plague her. But underneath, Melody has a photographic memory and a mind filled with words, but no way to effectively communicate this to her family, friends, and classmates. The first person narrative chronicles her frustrations and her triumphs as she gains her voice through the help of a Medi-Talker and some respect through her position on a school’s quiz team. By not sugar coating how unfairly she is treated and not allowing the reader to pity her, Melody demands respect.

Draper indicates on her website, that she has based the character of Melody on her daughter who has a disability. She has this hope for her young readers:

I want them to say, "Wow! That was great! That book made me think, and it made me realize that all human beings are more alike than different. I never knew what is was like to be handicapped-I learned to think differently." (sharondraper.com)

I would hope, too, that my readers would treat young people who seem different on the surface the same as other children with dignity and respect, offering understanding and friendship.

On a side note, Melody has this to say about her aides in the learning support classroom, “I don’t think they get paid very much, because they never stay very long. But they should get a million dollars. What they do is really hard...” (52). Agreed, Melody, and a shout out to the aides with whom I am privileged to work every day!