Parents' Guide to

Out of My Mind

By Sally Engelfried, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Girl with cerebral palsy conquers challenges in moving tale.

Book Sharon M. Draper Coming of Age 2010
Out of My Mind Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 10+

Based on 13 parent reviews

Corduroy Sage S.
Corduroy Sage S. Parent of 8, 11 and 13-year-old
April 6, 2023
age 12+

Not recommended for kids under 12, much like book Wonder but worse

I feel like this book had parts that dragged or didn't make the best of sense. Melody's classmates and teachers are rude to her, including the fact that they left her behind for a field trip thing. Whilst I do enjoy that the author included how rude kids can be and how they don't accept people like Melody, or just people with disabilities or special needs in general. I appreciated that message and that it was carved beautifully into the story. I do like and enjoy some of the characters, but I feel like too many of them aren't likable or great fits for the story in general terms. The book has many beautifully done elements added to it but it has a story that is either too sad or hard for kids younger than twelve to grasp or understand. Overall, not a great book or something that I'll read again in the future. Sad about that, it had a lot of potential.
1 person found this helpful.
Potterhead-July 31
Potterhead-July 31 Parent of 14-year-old
November 7, 2022
age 12+

A must read. Great for “clean” book reports.

(I’m fourteen- long story why I’m listed as an adult) This book is great. Seriously awesome. Unbelievably spelltacular. Left me speechless- the ending wasn’t a fairy tale one, not close. It was a sad end, but the sequel is happy. The book reminded of Wonder by R.J. Pallacio; only less mature. Although both books are about middle schoolers that, well, stand out. I love them both with all my heart. The Eason I rated this 12 and older is due to the horrid way some friends and teacher act at the end. They say sorry, but they were still unbelievably mean. I was seriously crying. Read! Read! Read!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
See all 13 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In OUT OF MY MIND, narrator Melody, born with cerebral palsy, has never been able to communicate to her loving family all the thoughts that run through her mind. The story reveals Melody's inner thoughts and her frustration at not being able to control her body -- she has to have someone feed her and help her go to the bathroom -- despite the fact that she has a photographic memory. Melody reminisces about her childhood and takes us up to fifth grade, when she acquires a machine that helps her communicate better than she ever could before. When she gets on a school team with the "regular" kids that finally allows her to show off her intelligence, Melody thinks she's on the road to being accepted by them -- until she learns the heartbreaking truth that her differences will always set her apart.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (13):
Kids say (73):

Author Sharon M. Draper, winner of several Coretta Scott King awards (for November Blues and Copper Sun, among others) has created a well-rounded, likable character. Melody's not afraid to express anger or frustration yet still manages to keep a mostly positive outlook on her situation. Though some of the language is surprisingly dated for a book that came out in 2010, Melody's worries are timeless: She wants to wear cool clothes, be accepted by her peers, and have grown-ups acknowledge her intelligence.

Readers will find it easy to empathize with Melody and will root for her when she finally gets to be a part of the fifth-grade history competition -- and they'll feel her heartbreak when all doesn't go as she hopes it will.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about stories of kids dealing with disabilities. Do their experiences make it easier for you to deal with things in your own life, or do they make you look at problems differently?

  • How does technology improve Melody's life? Can you think of more ways technology could make positive changes for someone like Melody? Has technology had any negative impacts on Melody's life?

  • How does peer pressure affect people? Does reading Melody's story make you think differently about anyone you know or have observed?

Book Details

  • Author: Sharon M. Draper
  • Genre: Coming of Age
  • Topics: Great Girl Role Models
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Atheneum
  • Publication date: March 9, 2010
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 18
  • Number of pages: 304
  • Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
  • Last updated: July 12, 2017

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate