Describe your new book: This book is the story of my life — the ups, the downs, and the music. If someone were to write your biography, what...
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Yes, this is young adult fiction (but so is "The Hunger Games"), but I have to say it is the best, most surprising story I've read all year. The main character has more "voice" in her mind than most characters do aloud. You see, the main character has cerebral palsey; she cannot walk, feed herself, or talk. However, the readers are privy to her thoughts and boy does she have thoughts. The story focuses on Melody and what she goes through being a person with disabilities. Don't feel sorry for her, though, because trapped in a body that doesn't behave the way she'd like lies a genius, really. Melody goes to school, interacts with peers ( the good and the bad) and learns what kind of person she is capable of being. Actually, everyone else learns what kind of person she really is; she already knows. Susan Draper creates a story full of voice from a person with no traditional voice, and along the way events occur that shape this into a non-predictable story. I'm usually not too surprised when it comes to young adult fiction, but Draper threw a couple of curveballs at me. Maybe I was just so engrossed that I didn't see it coming, but I was surprised by some of the turn of events. Besides the obvious, this story really enlightens the reader as to a world that most of us will never encounter. I've recommended it to many of my elementary students, but I've also insisted that my adult friends read it as well.
Magical things happen on the Peabody Rhubarb farm. The family home is a castle (literally), no one ever drowns in the lake, chocolate rhubarb grows along side your regular varieties, it rains every Monday at 1:00 pm, and the plants talk to eleven-year old Polly Peabody, although that's not something she likes to brag about. You see, she is a shy, socially awkward, scaredy-cat and the success or failure of her family's farm depends on her. When the unthinkable starts to happen (it stops raining which leads to more disasters), Polly must find the courage to overcome her fears and become the person she is destined to become.
This story celebrates the unique qualities that are in all of us and learning to be brave in the face of our greatest fears, all the while asking to believe that a "little bit of magic" never hurt, too.
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Colleen Perez has commented on (2) products.
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Colleen Perez, January 2, 2012
Yes, this is young adult fiction (but so is "The Hunger Games"), but I have to say it is the best, most surprising story I've read all year. The main character has more "voice" in her mind than most characters do aloud. You see, the main character has cerebral palsey; she cannot walk, feed herself, or talk. However, the readers are privy to her thoughts and boy does she have thoughts. The story focuses on Melody and what she goes through being a person with disabilities. Don't feel sorry for her, though, because trapped in a body that doesn't behave the way she'd like lies a genius, really. Melody goes to school, interacts with peers ( the good and the bad) and learns what kind of person she is capable of being. Actually, everyone else learns what kind of person she really is; she already knows. Susan Draper creates a story full of voice from a person with no traditional voice, and along the way events occur that shape this into a non-predictable story. I'm usually not too surprised when it comes to young adult fiction, but Draper threw a couple of curveballs at me. Maybe I was just so engrossed that I didn't see it coming, but I was surprised by some of the turn of events. Besides the obvious, this story really enlightens the reader as to a world that most of us will never encounter. I've recommended it to many of my elementary students, but I've also insisted that my adult friends read it as well.Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve
Colleen Perez, July 2, 2011
Magical things happen on the Peabody Rhubarb farm. The family home is a castle (literally), no one ever drowns in the lake, chocolate rhubarb grows along side your regular varieties, it rains every Monday at 1:00 pm, and the plants talk to eleven-year old Polly Peabody, although that's not something she likes to brag about. You see, she is a shy, socially awkward, scaredy-cat and the success or failure of her family's farm depends on her. When the unthinkable starts to happen (it stops raining which leads to more disasters), Polly must find the courage to overcome her fears and become the person she is destined to become.This story celebrates the unique qualities that are in all of us and learning to be brave in the face of our greatest fears, all the while asking to believe that a "little bit of magic" never hurt, too.