Out of My Heart

by Sharon M. Draper Narrated by Sisi Aisha Johnson

Overview

A New York Times bestseller!

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.

Editorial Reviews

October 11, 2021 - Publishers Weekly *STARRED REVIEW*

"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.”

September 15, 2021 - Kirkus Reviews

"A deeply satisfying and worthy continuation of a beloved story."

11/01/2021 - Booklist

Draper authentically captures [Melody] determination, fears, and blossoming abilities with such sweet accuracy that readers will feel the anxieties and triumphs themselves. [...] Full of fun and the brightness of the future, Melody's summertime adventure will delight readers old and new and leave them hoping for another installment. The best-selling Out of My Mind won countless hearts, which will eagerly seek out Melody's latest outing.

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2021-09-01
A tween with cerebral palsy expands her horizons when she attends her first summer camp.

Twelve-year-old Melody Brooks, from Draper’s bestselling award winner Out of My Mind (2010), returns. As the school year ends, her classmates are full of their plans for summer camp, and Melody wonders if there could be a camp that is accessible for her; she uses a wheelchair and an assistive communication device. After getting brochures from the library, Melody convinces her parents to overcome their concerns and enroll her in Camp Green Glades, a camp for kids with disabilities. Melody feels some nerves, but the staff are welcoming, and she bonds with Trinity, her Jamaican American camp counselor who has a leg brace, and meets the three other girls who will share her cabin. Over the course of the week, the campers go swimming, hiking, horseback riding, and zip lining as they make new friends and have new adventures. Melody also has her first crush on and dance with a boy. Melody’s character continues to be irresistible, and a strength of the novel is how completely readers experience the world through her eyes. The supporting characters, who have a variety of ethnic backgrounds and types of disabilities, add richness; Melody’s race is ambiguous. The book includes careful, detailed descriptions of physical logistics, but it’s Melody emotions, thoughts, and perspectives that propel the narrative.

A deeply satisfying and worthy continuation of a beloved story. (Fiction. 9-13)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173019523
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	11/09/2021
Series:	Out of My Mind Series , #2
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

The firefly hovered over the back of my hand, then landed—slowly, effortlessly. I could hardly feel its delicate touch. Two wire-thin antennae, flickering, protruded from its tiny round head painted with a small red dot. I tried not to tremble. My hands often move on their own, whether I want them to or not, so I focused intensely, willing myself to remain still.

Its black wings, so shiny, opened and closed like scissors. I barely breathed. Dark lines that looked like they’d been painted on its back with a fine-tipped pen separated the crimson from the ebony.

The firefly seemed to be in no hurry to leave. It looked right at me.

I wondered about the magic of having iridescent floaties attached to my body—what it would feel like to lift into the air and glide on a whisper of wind.

What are you thinking, Mr. Firefly? As if it could hear me, its wings flexed out and in. And then it happened. One tiny bloom of bright yellow-green light gleamed from its body. It spoke to me! I know quite a bit about speaking out loud without saying a word.

As we sat there in the purpling twilight, just me and that lightning bug, I sighed with happiness. I might have breathed out too hard, because at that moment, the tiny insect lifted its wings and took off on an unseen breeze.

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