Out of My Mind

Every so often a book comes around that makes you question what you know, think about how you think and reevaluate yourself and adjust how you will think in the future.  A few years ago, our Language Arts department added the book Wonder by R. J. Palacio to the 4th grade curriculum.  It created such a buzz with the students that the library copies are constantly checked out and the book is being read and reread all the time.  I enjoyed the book as much as my students did.

As I read through the new books on my book order, I couldn't help but stop and share the following book with you all because I know it is going to make a big impact in my library.  That book is Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. WOW!

Here's the Amazon summary:
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.

This book is so well written and so relatable to all.  As a parent, I want to hug Melody's parents who are not portrayed as perfect. I want to give Melody's neighbor the "Neighbor of the Year" award. (And isn't it the wish of everyone to make that kind of difference in the life of a child?) As an educator, I want to cringe at the many professionals who share Melody's world but don't try to make it a better place and I want to high five the ones that do make a difference - even the imperfect ones. 

I cannot imagine being trapped within myself like Melody has been.  But I have had the wonderful pleasure of meeting my very own Melody.  Her name is Kenzi.  Look how beautiful that smile is:

During the summer of 2013, I met Kenzi as I did a photography internship at Studio Gagliano.  Her mother April and I became friends.  Occasionally, April would bring Kenzie to the studio while we were there working together.  Kenzi, much like Melody, loves music and TV and her face lights up to show her joy and you certainly can tell if she does NOT like something--much like any other young teen in America.  Kenzi's face is the one I think of when I read about Melody.

I want make everyone read this book and think a bit differently about the misconceptions that surround special needs students.  I want my students to read this and think about how they treat each other.  I want us to all look inside and see that we all have something that challenges us.  But those challenges don't DEFINE us.  That's what we all can learn from Melody and Kenzi.