Out of My Mind

Finished April 12
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

This children's novel has a main character Melody, who is eleven years old and suffers from severe cerebral palsy. She can't walk, can't feed herself, and can't talk. But inside, she is extremely bright with an almost photographic memory. Her parents have fought for her to have access to education and recently her school has started integrated their special needs students with the regular classes.
With the help of her school-supplied aid and a family friend, Melody researches and finds out about a device that will allow her to communicate with those around her in a way that reflects her real voice.
This is a novel about not judging others by how they appear, about recognizing that we are all unique and bring different skills to the table. This is about challenging those preconceived notions about others' capabilities. A great book for young people that will expand their minds with new ideas.
I really got a sense of Melody's frustrations. The author makes her a real girl, not a perfect one. She makes mistakes and takes out her anger on others who don't deserve it like we all sometimes do. She learns that she too has made judgements that aren't always accurate.