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Book Review

Publisher's Note:

Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom—the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged, because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow. In this breakthrough story—reminiscent of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly—from multiple Coretta Scott King Award-winner Sharon Draper, readers will come to know a brilliant mind and a brave spirit who will change forever how they look at anyone with a disability.…

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Out of My Mind

by Sharon M. Draper

Reviewer: Cindy M
Genre: Fiction
Recommended Age: 9+

Overall Book Review:

Wow.  What more is there to say?  Author Sharon M. Draper singlehandedly instigated a paradigm shift for me with her middle grade novel, Out of My Mind.  The protagonist, Melody, has cerebral palsy and at the age of eleven has never been able to speak a word.  However, the reader comes to truly know Melody and that within a broken body is a brave soul and a perfect mind that observes everything around her and retains it.

This is a powerful and poignant book stuffed with authentic characters ranging from Melody and her family to the teachers and school mates that interact with her.  Everyone, yes–everyone, should read this book and see the world through the eyes of Melody.  You will never be the same.


Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore:  There is a report of a car accident; a character is involved in an accident, no details.

Sex/Nudity:  None

Mature Subject Matter:

Cerebral palsey, discrimination, physical disabilities/handicaps

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None

Overall Book Rating
Profanity/Language
Rating:
0
10
Violence/Gore
Rating:
2
10
Sex/Nudity
Rating:
0
10

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About the Reviewer

Cindy M
An accountant and CPA by profession, I found myself a book reviewer for Squeaky Clean Reads by happenstance. When the opportunity came to transform that website into Compass Book Ratings, I was excited to seize it and meld my business background with my love of books. As the mother of three teenage sons, I have read a large number of children and young adult books and I believe that there is great value in a content review service. As much as we would love to read everything our children read, there just isn’t enough time. I also appreciate being able to select books for myself that are really worth my precious and limited reading time. I believe there is a book out there for everyone–they just have to find it!

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