Out of My Mind (novel)


Out of My Mind is a 2010 novel by Sharon M. Draper, a New York Times bestselling author. The book is recommended for ages 10–14 and for grades 5–8. The story was written in first person, featuring Melody Brooks, a girl with cerebral palsy.

Summary

Melody Brooks is a nearly eleven-year-old girl. Her parents have done everything they can to help her live a normal life, but life is often frustrating for Melody since she cannot speak, move, nor communicate her wishes due to cerebral palsy. As a result, Melody has to fight to get her wishes. At age five, Melody is even diagnosed as "profoundly retarded" by a doctor who suggests putting Melody in a nursing home. In spite of this, Melody's mother enrolls her in Spaulding Street Elementary School to get the education she needs. However, the special education class she is put in, Class H–5, is not well suited for bright kids with learning differences; the class teaches its students the same things every day, i.e., the alphabet. Melody is frustrated by this, as she is advanced beyond the material taught in her lessons but cannot communicate in speech or writing. Her neighbor, Mrs. V, is a kind, but tough woman. She pushes Melody to do the best she can. When Melody was three, Mrs. V was not impressed by Melody having to rely on her parents for everything. Because of this, Mrs. V forced her to learn how to crawl and roll on the ground. She even taught Melody how to catch herself whenever she fell from her wheelchair. This helped Melody become self-sufficient, but she continues to be reliant on her parents to help feed her and help her go to the bathroom.
When Melody turns eight, her mother becomes pregnant with a new baby. During this time, Melody overhears them talking about the new baby and their fears that it will have the same disabilities, causing Melody to feel ashamed and sad. However, Melody is happy when the baby, Penny, is born perfectly healthy. Melody envies Penny as she grows and matures since she will never be able to do the things Penny can do. However, Melody loves her little sister and the pleasures Penny brings to the family and to Melody herself, although her nagging envy sometimes gets in the way.
When Melody enters fifth grade, she becomes frustrated by the difficulty of communicating her wants and needs to those around her. She eventually learns of and gets a communication device that allows her to talk with other people. At school, her new teacher starts an inclusion program that allows disabled students to participate in the standard classes. Melody also gets a dedicated aide, Catherine, who accompanies her throughout most of her school days. Melody befriends Rose Spencer but is bullied by two girls named Molly and Claire, who believe that her disability makes her dumber than them. Melody joins a trivia team known as the Whiz Kids, and she gets a perfect score on the practice test. She then participates in the qualifying exam to be part of the trivia competition and once again, surprises everyone when she makes the team.
On the day the group is to fly to Washington, D.C., Melody learns that her noon flight has been canceled due to snow, but that the rest of the team flew the 9:00 AM flight without her. The following day Melody insists on going to school, despite the fact that her mother is tired and frustrated. As she and her mother get her ready for school, Melody realizes that Penny has slipped out of the house. Melody hits and kicks at her mother, trying to warn her that Penny is outside and is actually in the path of the car, but her mother fails to understand, resulting in Penny being hit and injured. Melody feels guilty for not being able to warn her mother but learns that Penny will recover. On Monday, Melody's class apologizes for their lack of consideration towards her by giving her the ninth-place trophy that they won, hoping to reconcile with her. However, Melody laughs at them, breaks the trophy, and heads out of the room. The next day, she and Catherine begin work on her autobiography project for school, which begins with the first few lines of the book.

Awards and achievements

New York Times Bestselling Novel for nine weeks

Film

In May 2022, it was reported that a film adaptation of the novel was in development for Disney+ with Daniel Siepleman as writer, Amber Sealey as director and Phoebe-Rae Taylor set to star. It premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Reception

Critical reception has been positive and seen as a well-written novel. Out of My Mind has received reviews from the Denver Post, the Columbus Dispatch, Publishers Weekly, Children's Literature, the Washington Post, the Horn Book Magazine, and the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. The novel received starred reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Reviews praised the book as "rich in detail of both the essential normalcy and the difficulties of a young person with cerebral palsy", and "descriptions of both Melody's challenges—'Going to the bathroom at school just plain sucks'—and the insensitivities of some are unflinching and realistic". Publishers Weekly criticized that there was a "lack of tension in the plot", although it was "resolved halfway through". Booklist stated that Out of My Mind is "a book that defies age categorization, an easy enough read for upper-elementary students yet also a story that will enlighten and resonate with teens and adults". The Bulletin said the novel " students think twice about their classmates, acquaintances, and siblings with special needs". The Columbus Dispatch and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette stated "Draper challenges those who read her story to become activists for those who are different". The Denver Post powerfully concluded: "if there's only one book teens and parents can read this year, Out of My Mind should be it." VOYA praised "Melody's triumphs and setbacks as she strives to become a socially accepted classmate and team member are vividly described in this inspirational novel, which will appeal not only to middle school readers but also to anyone who wonders what might be going on in the minds of individuals with severe physical handicaps". The Horn Book exclaimed that the novel is "a powerfully eye-opening book with both an unforgettable protagonist and a rich cast of fully realized, complicated background characters". Children's Literature said "this is a genuinely moving novel". The Washington Post commented "author Sharon Draper creates an authentic character who insists, through her lively voice and indomitable will, that the reader become fully involved with the girl in the pink wheelchair".