Review “Out of My Mind” by Sharon M. Draper

There are very few books that remain imprinted in your mind after you finish reading them.

This novel is one of them. It has never exited my mind, even though the title is Out of My Mind.

The author is a former American Indie Writer: her name is Sharon M. Draper.

The beginning of the book is strongly poignant and debuts with these words: ”Hi, I am Melody. I am 11 years old and I have never spoken”.

Melody is the main character of the novel. She is a disabled little girl affected by cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that prevents children from moving and speaking, while their cognitive and behavioral skills are perfectly normal. Often, these skills go beyond normality.

Melody lives in a sort of golden cage, with sweet and loving parents and likewise loving neighbors, but, outside, the world is merciless, indifferent and cynical. For doctors and teachers, in fact, Melody is an invisible person.

She needs to be fed and dressed, because can’t perform these tasks alone. But she is capable of remembering dates, numbers, and events. She learns fast and her mental reasoning is better than a scientist! Melody feels of being a fish out of water, just as depicted on the book cover. Her brilliant intelligence does not fit with the stupidity of the external world.

The description of this character is so outstanding that you can perceive all the intelligence of this girl against the silliness of the so-called “normal people”.

Try putting yourself into the shoes of Melody: your cerebral skills are normal, also your learning skills are normal, but you are unable to show them or say to your mother: “I love you”.

You are trapped in your body, which is unable to do what you ask it to do! This is the cerebral palsy that imprisoned Melody.

The realism of the character strikes, because Out of My Mind is based on a true story.

Sharon M. Draper is, in fact, the mommy of Wendy, a little girl with the same syndrome of Melody, and though Melody is not Wendy, the resemblance among the two girls is clearly evident.

I read the Italian edition of this book and every page and chapter have been for me a touching experience of life. The Italian edition has a few typing mistakes, but the overall frame is extremely gripping.

I still remember the scene of the doctor who suggests Melody’s mommy to abandon her in an institute so that the parents can be free to fully live their existence without the burden of this disabled daughter.

I suggest that you read the reaction of Melody’s mommy, with all of the rage and frustration against this doctor who treats patients like rubbish instead of cure them.

With a sharp and punchy writing style, this book will change the way to consider disability. The relationship with diversity will be totally different when you arrive at the last page of the story.

Through the inner voice of Melody (the novel is narrated in first person by this character), the author skillfully showed that disability is in the prejudice and wrong mindset and not in maladies.

This is a great story to retrieve a bit of lost humanity and to learn the eternal arts of love and respect.

Moreover, this authentic and heartfelt novel turned its author into a best-selling novelist who sold nearly one million copies, rewarded as the best book of the year by Kirkus Reviews and by the Japanese kids with the Sakura Award.