Published: 2021
Series: Out of My Mind
Author: Sharon M. Draper
Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Disability, Young Adult, Friendship, Contemporary, Coming of Age
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades 5-8
Number of Stars: 5-Stars
Goodreads Link: Out of My Heart
Triggers: Depiction of physical disabilities and mobility/speech impairments, mild anxiety/fear regarding summer camp environments
Review By: Kim LeRoy
Publisher’s Summary:
Melody faces her fears to follow her passion in this sequel to Out of My Mind. Melody is a year older, and a year braver. And now with her Medi-talker, she feels nothing’s out of her reach, not even summer camp. There have to be camps for differently-abled kids like her, and she’s going to sleuth one out. A place where she can trek through a forest, fly on a zip line, and even ride on a horse! A place where maybe she really can finally make a real friend, make her own decisions, and even do things on her own—the dream! By the light of flickering campfires and the power of thunderstorms, through the terror of unexpected creatures in cabins and the first sparkle of a crush, Melody’s about to discover how brave and strong she really is.
Review:
As a teacher in a building that specializes in educating special needs students, I was very interested in reading this book. The story is written in the first person and shares the pain, frustration, and challenges a child with unique needs has. Melody shares her thoughts as she sets herself a goal to attend summer camp. She cannot speak so must communicate with a device. It’s interesting to read the thought process that she goes through and the feelings that she has while experiencing the frustrations and hurdles she must overcome. In doing this, it gives readers the opportunity to really understand how some others handle life’s barriers. Melody can teach typical young adults to consider life from a different perspective and potentially change the way they interact and relate with classmates no matter their abilities. As an aside, this sequel can easily stand on its own so does not need to follow Out of My Mind.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Social-Emotional Learning (Empathy, Perspective-Taking, and Resilience): The narrative provides a deeply personal look at the internal frustrations, hopes, and triumphs of a young girl with physical limitations. Typical students can read this to gain a concrete understanding of how others navigate everyday societal barriers, promoting empathy and encouraging inclusive behaviors among peers.
- Special Education & Assistive Technology (AAC Devices): Educators can use Melody’s interactions with her “Medi-talker” to introduce classes to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools. This helps demystify assistive technology and destigmatize speech and mobility differences.
- English Language Arts (First-Person Point of View): Teachers can analyze how Sharon M. Draper utilizes a rich internal monologue to contrast with a character’s limited external speech, exploring the literary power of an active internal narrator.
- “Step Into Melody’s Shoes” Non-Verbal Challenge: To foster deeper empathy, have students complete a simple collaborative task without using spoken words, relying instead on pointing, basic symbol boards, or writing. Afterward, lead a reflection circle discussing the levels of patience, determination, and mutual respect required to communicate under these parameters, directly connecting back to Melody’s everyday experiences.
- Accessible Design Creative Challenge: After reading about Melody’s dream of riding a zip line and trekking through forests, have students research real-world adaptive equipment or accessible outdoor spaces. Students can design or sketch their own concept for an accessible playground, camp cabin, or hiking trail that accommodates wheelchair users and individuals with limited mobility.
Diversity & Representation:
Out of My Heart provides outstanding representation by centering a protagonist with cerebral palsy, speech barriers, and mobility challenges. Crucially, the narrative focuses on Melody’s agency, her emotional maturation, and her desire for independence, adventure, and normal teenage experiences (like going to camp and having a crush) rather than presenting her disability as a tragedy or a burden to those around her.
Readalikes
- Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
- Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
- Roll with It by Jamie Sumner
