Sharon Draper
Atheneum, 2021
334 pages
Grades 5-7
Realistic Fiction
Melody finishes her school year and wants to experience a right of passage common to many middle school youth: summer camp. The problem is, Melody is not like other kids. She has Cerebral Palsy and is confined to a wheel chair. She has no control over her body movement, yet her brain is super-sharp and she can communicate through a computer device that she calls "Elvira". After much research, and convincing of her parents that this is a safe plan, Melony finds herself at Camp Green Glades as part of the Fiery Falcons cabin with four other girls, each with a personal councilor. At first Melody and the other girls are nervous, but they slowly warm up as the fun begins. Melody finds herself painting, hiking, ziplining, boating, swimming, and even horseback riding. Most of all, she finally makes some friends her own age who can understand what she is going through. And then the unthinkable happens: does that cute boy Noah have a crush on her?
Draper finally tells fans what happens next to Melony in this sequel to the widely popular Out of My Mind. Since the author makes many references to key points of the first book, it would be really helpful to have read that before diving into this sequel. That being said, this new installment is stand alone and can be enjoyed and understood without the benefit of previously reading the first. Melody has adventures and matures during her camp experience, which, though idealistic, demonstrates how important it is for all kids to experience the independence and adventure of summer camp. Readers will learn how the experience is both the same and different for kids with different abilities and learn to face their own challenges by taking inspiration from our hero. The story seems at times a bit forced and agenda-driven and I did not find it as well-written as its predecessor. That said, fans of the first will not care and will be thrilled to see Melody's adventures continue. Though not quite as heart wrenching, Draper got me again as I started crying towards the end of the story. A warm book that shows readers that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.
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