Out of My Heart Blog Tour + Review (Out Of My Mind #2)

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the OUT OF MY HEART by Sharon M. Draper Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Author: Sharon M. Draper

Pub. Date:  November 9, 2021

Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 352

Find it:  Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Melody faces her fears to follow her passion in this stunning sequel to the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling middle grade novel Out of My Mind.

Melody, the huge-hearted heroine of Out of My Mind, is a year older, and a year braver. And now with her Medi-talker, she feels nothing’s out of her reach, not even summer camp. There have to be camps for differently-abled kids like her, and she’s going to sleuth one out. A place where she can trek through a forest, fly on a zip line, and even ride on a horse! A place where maybe she really can finally make a real friend, make her own decisions, and even do things on her own—the dream!

By the light of flickering campfires and the power of thunderstorms, through the terror of unexpected creatures in cabins and the first sparkle of a crush, Melody’s about to discover how brave and strong she really is.

Out of My Mind is an absolutely beautiful story about a young girl named Melody who has cerebral palsy and is nonverbal. In that book, she experiences going to school for the first time in a classroom that isn’t fully segregated by “special education” and “regular” classrooms. I read this book in 2012 in a book club with my friends. We consisted of a group of young POC girls who were neurotypical, diagnosed neurodivergent, and undiagnosed neurodivergent. Not only did this book speak to us, but it was also one of few books with disabled characters that were racially ambiguous. Sharon M. Draper is a black female author, and Melody’s race isn’t detailed outside of the fact that she has short, dark, curly hair. The race of these characters could be interpreted in any way, which made this book truly accessible to all children. 

Fast forward about 10 years, and I heard there was going to be a tour for the sequel to this book! I couldn’t believe that after so long, I was going to get the chance to see Melody grow up a little and in a brand new environment.

Melody is going to camp! She saw online that there is a camp for kids like her, and she can’t wait to go. Although she is a little scared of spending a full week away from home for the first time, Melody is still excited to meet other children her age who have experienced many of the same things she experiences on a daily basis. She doesn’t like being 12 years old and still reliant on other people to do so much for her, although she’s accepted it as a fact of her life at this point. At school, she’s basically invisible as kids bump into her chair as she tries to get down the hall and treat her like she isn’t even there a lot of the time. She hopes that this camp will be different. She won’t be the only one who has to be fed at mealtimes, she won’t be the only one in a wheelchair, and she might not even be the only one using a Medi-Talker to speak. This book shows all the adventures Melody has during her week at camp. 

I loved this story so much. It might be my favorite book in this now-duology. The pain and bullying that were included in the storyline of the first novel are seemingly gone in this one, with the focus being on Melody finding herself in an environment that is made for her. The first book was about Melody having to change the environment around her to fit her needs. Now, this camp is tailored specifically to disabled kids. She doesn’t have to compromise to “fit in” with the group. Instead, the group ensures that everyone’s needs are met. The first book focused on what the world is while this book focuses on what the world could look like with more inclusive infrastructure based on what has already been implemented in camps and schools like this throughout the world. 

The characters introduced in this story were incredible. The camp counselors each had their own unique stories and personalities that shone through as they helped the girls through their week at camp. Each of the girls in Melody’s cabin came from different backgrounds and were all somewhat apprehensive to the idea of camp originally, but they all try new experiences throughout the first few days that shape their week. Seeing Melody have real friends almost brought a tear to my eye. She’s grown so much since the beginning of the first book, and these relationships show that a lot. 

This book is definitely for middle-grade/early high-school readers. Other age groups will definitely gain something from reading this book, but I feel that the story can be most impactful on those age groups. I’ve never forgotten Melody over the past few years ever since reading Out of My Mind at 11 years old. Melody will stick in the minds of younger children who can relate to her more. As an adult, I personally would love to see a book in this “day in the life of” fictional style about adults with cerebral palsy/other disabilities. I feel like this format really allows abled readers to step into the shoes of the character and really understand what it would be like to be them in this world. If anyone has recommendations of adult books in this style, please drop a comment! I would love to explore more. 

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a contemporary fiction middle-grade read. 

I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. 

*Note, I use the word disabled/disability in this review as from what I have seen from the disabled community online, that is the preferred terminology. I understand this terminology is not used in the book, but it is the one I am currently choosing to use. 

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 books. 

Reviews:

“A deeply satisfying and worthy continuation of a beloved story.” (Kirkus Reviews, STARRED September 15, 2021)

“Melody Brooks, a smart, determined 12-year-old diagnosed with cerebral palsy, returns in this sequel to 2010’s Out of My Mind. Longing for independence from her family and daily routines, she persuades her parents to let her attend Camp Green Glades, a summer camp for kids with disabilities in her home state of Ohio. With the help of her Jamaican American counselor Trinity and three cabinmates, Melody navigates new experiences—including zip-lining, horseback riding, and a first crush. Melody’s voice is as wryly funny as ever, and the supporting cast, which features kids and adults of various ethnicities and disabilities, treat her with respect and empathy… it’s impossible not to be charmed by the witty protagonist’s affirming, frequently ecstatic discovery of what it means to be part of a community that truly understands her.” (Publishers Weekly *STARRED REVIEW* October 11, 2021)

Grab the first book in the series now!

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About Sharon M. Draper:

Sharon M. Draper is a three-time New York Times bestselling author and a recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens. She has received the Coretta Scott King Award for both Copper Sun and Forged by Fire, and was awarded the Charlotte Huck Award for Stella by Starlight. Her novel Out of My Mind has won multiple awards and was a New York Times bestseller for over three years, and Blended has also been a New York Times bestseller. She taught high school English for twenty-five years and was named National Teacher of the Year. She now lives in Florida. Visit her at SharonDraper.com.

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Giveaway Details:

2 winners will win a finished copy of OUT OF MY HEART, US Only.