Out Of My Heart

Description

By (author) Draper, Sharon M.

Short /annotation:
Margaret A. Edwards award winner Sharon Draper is back with Out of My Heart, the New York Times bestselling sequel to the multi-million copy-selling Out of My Mind.

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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.

Review quote:
“A deeply satisfying and worthy continuation of a beloved story.”

Review quote:
“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.”

 

Review quote:
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.

Biographical note:
Sharon M. Draper is the New York Times bestselling author of Out of My Mind, Blended, and Out of My Heart. She’s won Coretta Scott King Awards for Copper Sun and Forged by Fire and multiple honors. She’s also the recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens. Sharon taught high school English for twenty-five years and was named National Teacher of the Year. She lives in Florida. Visit her at SharonDraper.com.

Excerpt:
Chapter 1CHAPTER 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