Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Melody Brooks, in a wheelchair and unable to speak, narrates this story about finding her voice. The first half of the book catalogues Melody's struggles—from her frustration with learning the same preschool lessons year after year to her inability to express a craving for a Big Mac. Draper, whose daughter has cerebral palsy, writes with authority, and the rage behind Melody's narrative is perfectly illustrated in scenes demonstrating the startling ignorance of many professionals (a doctor diagnoses Melody as “profoundly retarded”), teachers, and classmates. The lack of tension in the plot is resolved halfway through when Melody, at age 10, receives a talking computer, allowing her to “speak.” Only those with hearts of stone won't blubber when Melody tells her parents “I love you” for the first time. Melody's off-the-charts smarts are revealed when she tests onto her school's quiz bowl team, and the story shifts to something closer to <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">The View from Saturday than <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Stuck in Neutral. A horrific event at the end nearly plunges the story into melodrama and steers the spotlight away from Melody's determination, which otherwise drives the story. Ages 10–up. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Mar.)

Starred Review ALA Booklist (Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2010)

Starred Review Fifth-grader Melody has cerebral palsy, a condition that affects her body but not her mind. Although she is unable to walk, talk, or feed or care for herself, she can read, think, and feel. A brilliant person is trapped inside her body, determined to make her mark in the world in spite of her physical limitations. Draper knows of what she writes; her daughter, Wendy, has cerebral palsy, too. And although Melody is not Wendy, the authenticity of the story is obvious. Told in Melody's voice, this highly readable, compelling novel quickly establishes her determination and intelligence and the almost insurmountable challenges she faces. It also reveals her parents' and caretakers' courage in insisting that Melody be treated as the smart, perceptive child she is, and their perceptiveness in understanding how to help her, encourage her, and discourage self-pity from others. Thoughtless teachers, cruel classmates, Melody's unattractive clothes ("Mom seemed to be choosing them by how easy they'd be to get on me"), and bathroom issues threaten her spirit, yet the brave Melody shines through. Uplifting and upsetting, this is a book that defies age categorization, an easy enough read for upper-elementary students yet also a story that will enlighten and resonate with teens and adults. Similar to yet the antithesis of Terry Trueman's Stuck in Neutral (2000), this moving novel will make activists of us all.

School Library Journal Starred Review (Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2010)

Gr 4-6 Born with cerebral palsy, Melody, 10, has never spoken a word. She is a brilliant fifth grader trapped in an uncontrollable body. Her world is enhanced by insight and intellect, but gypped by physical limitations and misunderstandings. She will never sing or dance, talk on the phone, or whisper secrets to her friends. She's not complaining, though; she's planning and fighting the odds. In her court are family, good neighbors, and an attentive student teacher. Pitted against her is the "normal" world: schools with limited resources, cliquish girls, superficial assumptions, and her own disability. Melody's life is tragically complicated. She is mainly placed in the special-ed classroom where education means being babysat in a room with replayed cartoons and nursery tunes. Her supportive family sets her up with a computer. She learns the strength of thumbs as she taps on a special keyboard that finally lets her "talk." When she is transitioned into the regular classroom, Melody's undeniable contribution enables her class to make it to the national quiz team finals. Then something happens that causes her to miss the finals, and she is devastated by her classmates' actions. Kids will benefit from being introduced to Melody and her gutsy, candid, and compelling story. It speaks volumes and reveals the quiet strength and fortitude it takes to overcome disabilities and the misconceptions that go with them. Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY

Voice of Youth Advocates

Although she’s afflicted with cerebral palsy (CP), fifth grader Melody experiences a rich mental life, which is immediately evident to readers of her engaging first-person narration. Due to her inability to control her muscles or speak, she has to overcome initial assumptions that she is also mentally impaired. Only after acquiring an electric wheelchair and a special communication device can Melody begin to transmit her thoughts “out of her mind” and convince her teachers and schoolmates that she is an intelligent person inhabiting an unresponsive body, much like her hero, Stephen Hawking. Draper, a retired teacher (and, as explained in her author note, the mother of a grown daughter with CP), is superbly qualified to describe both home life and the public school setting from the perspective of a child with CP. Melody is mainstreamed into some regular classes, including a history class in which she earns a prized spot on a quiz team. Melody’s triumphs and setbacks as she strives to become a socially accepted classmate and team member are vividly described in this inspirational novel, which will appeal not only to middle school readers but also to anyone who wonders what might be going on in the minds of individuals with severe physical handicaps. Draper’s sensitive immersion in the mind of a specially challenged eleven year old joins a number of other excellent recent YA novels about CP. Ron Koertge’s Stoner & Spaz (Candlewick, 2002/VOYA April 2002), Harriet McBryde Johnson’s Accidents of Nature (Holt, 2006/VOYA August 2006) and Tracie Vaughn Zimmer’s Reaching for the Sun (Bloomsbury, 2007) are about older teens with CP. Terry Trueman’s acclaimed Stuck in Neutral (HarperCollins, 2000/VOYA December 2000) is narrated by a fourteen-year-old with CP.—Walter Hogan.

Kirkus Reviews

Melody, diagnosed with cerebral palsy, cannot walk or talk. Despite her parents' best efforts, the outside world has defined her by her condition. Melody's life changes when inclusion classrooms are introduced in her school, and she interacts with children other than those in her special-needs unit. To these children, Melody is "other," and they are mostly uncomfortable with her sounds and jerky movements. Normal problems of school friendships are magnified. Preparation for a trivia competition and acquisition of a computer that lets her communicate her thoughts reveal Melody's intelligence to the world. Melody is an entirely complete character, who gives a compelling view from inside her mind. Draper never shies away from the difficulties Melody and her family face. Descriptions of both Melody's challenges—"Going to the bathroom at school just plain sucks"—and the insensitivities of some are unflinching and realistic. Realistically, Melody's resilient spirit cannot keep her from experiencing heartbreak and disappointment even after she has demonstrated her intellect. This book is rich in detail of both the essential normalcy and the difficulties of a young person with cerebral palsy. (Fiction. 10 & up)