This book is, by far, the most beautifully written piece of literature ever to grace the stage of realistic fiction. Melody Brooks, a hyper-intelligent girl with Cerebral Palsy and Synesthesia, can’t talk and is used to being underestimated. All the doctors that she’s seen have seen her as unable to amount to anything. In this book, however, you’ll be able to hear the words she can’t say. The words others can’t hear. You’ll see how very deep her world is.
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Let’s start from the beginning. Melody is severely impaired, in the body, but not the mind. She has a radiant and piquant neighbor who has helped her embrace her intelligence. In all of the “Special” classes she has been in, she was forced to put up with activities using up a minimal amount of her potential. One of the teachers even showed them the Alphabet. They were in 5th grade. This is exactly the kind of stereotyping behavior that Melody must power through, every page, every chapter of this book. Try not to laugh at the behavior of these stereotyping people.
Melody’s life changes when, one day, her special needs class joins with the other children for Music Class, and it will stay that way for the rest of the year. Melody immediately makes a new friend, one who doesn’t seem to mind Melody’s wheelchair or impairments. Melody is happy, thinking the positive, living the life. She even gets a special computer wheelchair that she can use to speak. Her family, her neighbor, her friend, they’re so happy for her. Soon after, the biggest change of all will occur. She gets a baby sister.
Melody has decided that she can excel at a quiz bowl, an intellectual competition. Immediately, Melody will rise to the top. Finally, her life is going great. She does so great in the first competitions and will fly to another city for the finals. Melody loves her life and will continue to give her all in the next competitions. Just then, 2 things will happen that will break your heart. You’ll feel the pain that Melody does as her life falls apart. Buy the book to find out what happens next.
I commend this book for advanced elementary school readers or on grade level middle school readers. Excellent writing with a good positive message.