Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

The goldfish jumping out of the bowl on the blue cover of this book caught my imagination in the "Little Library" box down the street. It's quite a good story with some rather predictable characters. Melody is a fifth grader with cerebral palsy and a brilliant mind. This story traces her development as she figures out how to speak via computer and unleash her thinking and learning on the world. It's a good story in that it graphically illustrates how children in Special Ed are treated. The safety of the Special Ed room is well-described, as well as the challenge of "inclusion" and the social issues associated with that. That part is very well-done. The conversation of the fifth graders is a little dated, as is the technology, but it's still relevant. I especially liked the family life descriptions because the challenge of raising such a child is clearly described. I think it would be good for a class read because the ensuing discussion of differently abled children is important. Is it a great book? No... Worthwhile? Yes. The characters a little predictable? Yes... A little superficial? Yes. A good message? Definitely!