Out of My Mind

Out of My Mind 

Author: Sharon M. Draper

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers 

Year Published: 2010  

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Reader Recommendation: 

• Middle School students grades 5-8 
• Appeals to both boys and girls. Female main character. 
• For students who are learning about themselves, others, fitting in, and accepting differences. 
• Empowering story for individuals with disabilities 

Out of My Mind
Melody emulates the characteristics of your typical middle school girl. She likes to have fun, look cute, be noticed (in a positive way), and make friends. There is only one thing that keeps her locked out of the surrounding world; Melody has cerebral palsy and she cannot walk or talk. Countless adults have told Melody’s parents that she will never have success, but her parents fight this belief, knowing that Melody has a brilliant mind. As Melody navigates her first experiences in a real school, she realizes she will need to find a way to let everyone know what she is really thinking!

Why read it?

I continually find myself returning to this book for the beautiful story that it tells. Many times, a child who is non-verbal and in a wheelchair is met with cold and gawking stares by both adults and children. Many automatically assume that these children “have nothing going on upstairs,” which is what most believed about Melody as they taught her about colors, shapes, and the alphabet, still under the impression she was not comprehending. The truth is, Melody was capable of so much more. This book speaks to the message about making assumptions, judging others, and truly challenges the definition of normal. Melody, once she received her “medi-talker” communication system that spoke for her, was able to join her school’s quiz team and lead a group of her peers to the finals. Nobody believed she would be able to answer the questions correctly or participate, but Melody showed them all that she could do anything anyone else could, just in a different/unique way.

Themes: 

 

The Support of Family & Friends: Melody was able to overcome because of her parents, family friend Ms. V, and all of those who advocated for her and pushed her to keep going.

Overcoming Challenges: In many ways, the odds were stacked against Melody. Her decision to work hard to find a way for her voice to be heard took immense courage and spirit.

Acceptance of Differences: Melody was able to do everything everyone else could do, just in a different way! At first the kids at school could not see that, but after Melody proved she could ace every question on the quiz team tryouts, they began to realize Melody's true potential.

Fighting Normal: Melody's story of finding her voice begs the question, "what is normal." It seems strange to others at first the way Melody uses her "medi-talker" communication device, but kids learn that it is the tool that helps Melody express herself! Even though she communicates in a different way, she is still communicating and sharing who she is.

This book would fit well into a unit focused on diversity and exceptionalities. 

Out of My Mind Inside The Classroom: 

   
First-Person Narration: This book is told from Melody's perspective. Students can explore what advantages/disadvantages this gives them as the reader! They can ask the question: how does this choice of narration add to the book? 

Connecting Activities: Students can be guided through in-class activities that help them connect to Melody. 

• Trying to communicate the way Melody did before her "medi-talker." Provide students with a communication board that provides simple words and phrases, similar to Melody's original board. Have them try to talk with their partner (who can use verbal communication) using just the board for one minute and then switch! Discuss as a class how it felt to communicate this way. What was difficult about it?  
• Melody's Music: In the novel, Melody connects to music by relating genres to colors and smells. Listen to the songs referenced in the book along with additional selected songs and give students time to free write about the feelings, images, smells, etc. that come to their mind while they listen. 

Writing:  Students can engage in a variety of writing activities with this novel. They can write a letter to Melody, asking her questions, write a diary entry as one of the characters, and answer questions such as "Is there really such a thing as "being normal"? 

Outside Projects: Have students research about cerebral palsy or assign them a non-fiction text about kids with cerebral palsy. One example of this type of text is Stretching Ourselves: Kids with Cerebral Palsy by Alden and Sarah Carter which introduces readers to multiple children with cerebral palsy and how they differ. Kids can teach the class what they have learned! 

Teaching Resources:

Scholastic:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2014/05/teaching-out-my-mind
Pre-Reading, Reading, and Post-Reading Activities 

ReadWriteThink.org: 
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/analyzing-first-person-narration-31156.html?tab=1#tabs 
Lessons on First-Person Narration used in Out of My Mind 

Author Website:
http://sharondraper.com/bookdetail.asp?id=35
Discussion Questions, Variety of Writing Activities, Q & A with Sharon Draper

Meet Sharon Draper: