Eleven-year-old Melody, protagonist of Sharon M. Draper's new MG novel Out of My Mind, has a photographic memory, synesthesia (she can hear colors and see smells when music is played), and high intelligence, especially verbal intelligence. She also has cerebral palsy. She has never spoken a word, can’t feed herself, can't walk, has seizures. Of her pink wheelchair she says, "Pink doesn't change a thing." Like Terry Trueman, author of Stuck in Neutral, Draper has a child with cerebral palsy, and Melody's sense of being trapped in her body is similar to that of Trueman's character Shawn. It's not until Melody gets a talking computer that she is able to express herself, but not everyone around her is ready to face that Melody is far from "profoundly retarded," as she's been labeled by one professional. Fascinating and highly readable, this story by a two-time Coretta Scott King Award winner will make one think twice about presuming to judge the intellectual level or inner life of someone who can't communicate.To be entered in the drawing:
- Extended deadline: Comment on this post anytime on June 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. Extended extended deadline: Comments must be posted by 6am on Tuesday, June 8.
- For an additional entry, become a follower of this blog and mention that in the comment. Ditto if you already are a follower.
- For an additional entry, post a link to this contest and give the URL in either the same or a separate comment. In this category, you can enter as many times as you have cyber-places to post the contest.
So, come one, come all--and meanwhile have a great day in the world of books.
29 comments:
This book is on my To Read list! Please count me in.
Sounds like an interesting book, Marcia. I'd love to be entered!
I'm a follower, too.
OH! Me! MEEEEEE!
Thanks for offering it. I'm a follower :)
It's sounds great! Thanks for the contest!
Carmella -- I love to enter drawings for books that I already intend to read. :)
Andrea, Angela, and PJ -- You're all in x2. :)
I was just reading about this book. I'd love to read it!
mryward(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'm a new follower on GFC.
mryward(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi Mary, you're in x2 :)
Ooooo ... the book sounds interesting. I'd love to play please!
Already a follower.
lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com
My friend who is a speech therapist was just talking about this book the other day and I thought it sounded interesting so please enter me!
kerrie@mayansfamily.com
Lleyn -- You're in x2!
degood -- Welcome! You're also in x2.
That does sound like an interesting book. I had never heard of synesthesia before. Thanks for the give away, I am already a follower.
Your book sounds so interesting, Marcia. I'll put it on my reading for the summer.
Sounds like a great read—please enter me to win! Thanks!!
skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
Janet, Lee and skkorman, you're all entered. :)
Sounds interesting! Sorry I missed your contest before posting today! Glad you got it in on the comments! I'm a follower.
This book sounds SO great!!! Reminds me a lot of Wendy Mass's A Mango-Shaped Space which is about a girl who also has synesthesia.
This books sounds so cool! Enter me! I've been so busy packing lately, I haven't been so good about blogging. Glad I stopped by.
Sounds like a fascinating book. I love the cover. Please enter me in the contest - I'm a follower!
TV and Book Addict -- I love your user name! :) You're entered.
Laura -- Thanks for coming by again. You're in x2. :)
Christina -- Hope that packing is going as well as possible. You're in x2.
Anna -- I love the cover too. I'll pay attention to almost anything blue. You are also in x2.
I would like to read this. This is an example of how technology can be used to help people in such tremendous ways.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds good.
13greenducks at gmail dot com
Sandra and 13greenducks, isn't it wonderful what technology can do? Thanks for entering.
A great review as usual, Marcia.
Not to get nosy, (which of course means I will) but don't you have some marvelous gift like the protagonist? I thought I remembered that about you...
This would be great to read on the beach! Please count me in :)
Count me in. I'm also a follower.
Good thing I checked ... what happened to my comment? Did I squeak in or did you go to bed already? Wah! This is the second comment I've lost in a week ...
Hi Katie! You're in x2! :)
Vijaya -- LOL. Nope, not in bed yet, but I'm going soon. Even if I was, you'd still be in 'cause I'm going to take comments till 6am Tuesday. Every once in a while I lose a comment too, and today Blogger hiccuped and gave me a weird message but my comment DID post. Hmmmm... Anyway, you're in x2.
I've seen this before, but I didn't know what it was about. I love the cover! It gives me hope that the ending is going to be satisfying and uplifting.
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