Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper is a touching novel about a brilliant, smart, young girl. She has a memory like no one you will ever meet and is all around a great person. The only thing keeping her from the rest of the world is that she was born with a rare, disabling disorder.

Just imagine not being able to walk, talk, or communicate with anyone. Even though you know so much and have so much to say all your thoughts are forever stuck in your brain. This was the life of Melody Brooks, the main character in Out of My Mind. Ever since Melody was born she had been different. Different in ways that she couldn’t do the things other kids could do. She wanted so badly to run and play everyone else but she knew that a life like that would only exist in her mind.

The only person who truly understood her was her neighbor Mrs. Valencia. From the moment Mrs. V. meet Melody she treated her like any other little girl. Instead of holding her as if she were made of glass, like everyone else did, she bounced her on her lap without a thought. Despite her appearance, Mrs. V. knew Melody had smarts on the inside and believed she could go far.

With the help of Mrs. Valencia, her family, and some newly found friends, Melody finds ways to overcome her challenges and accept herself as a person. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a heartwarming story about normal people who hit some bumps in the road but always find their way in the end. I thought this book was very well written and the whole time I read it I couldn’t put it down. This story really touched my heart and I hope it will do the same for you.