Out of My Heart by Sharon Draper

 

This follow-up to Sharon Draper's beloved Out of My Mind follows Melody, a brilliant young girl with cerebral palsy. In the first book, Melody gets technology that allows her to speak, and everyone around her realizes her potential and life changes for her in many ways. One year later, Melody is feeling frustrated by her constrained life and she researches summer camps that cater to kids like her. This sweet story is her week at a camp where she uses a zipline, rides a horse, and learns to swim. On top of it all, she makes new friends and develops her first crush. This book is exactly what it should be and is going to be loved by all the students who already are invested in Melody's story. This is a fine example of how books can build empathy. Recommended for readers in grades 4-8. 

A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman

Veda is a classical dancer who loses a leg in a car accident. This is her story of starting over, pursuing her dream of dancing again, and finding people who share her passion. It is told in verse, so it is not a difficult read, and it will resonate with anyone who dances. Readers with an interest in Indian culture and religion will enjoy this book, as well as people who enjoy a coming of age story set in a culture outside of the United States.

El Deafo by Cece Bell

This charming graphic novel will be loved by a wide range of readers. Although the characters are all rabbits, it's the true story of the author's girlhood and she dealt with sudden hearing loss at age four. Cece has all the insecurities and endearing hopefulness of any little girl, but her life is made much more complicated by the big hearing aid box that she must wear around her neck while at school. She spend one year in a special kindergarten class where she learns to read lips, but after that she is in public schools. Although her box sets her apart, she sometimes sees it as giving her super hearing and she fantasizes that she is a fearless superhero called "El Deafo." She longs for a true friend, and finds several friends as the book goes on. One tries to manipulate her, one makes a big deal out of her hearing loss (always talking slowly and loudly), and one shies away from her out of guilt. There are small moments that made me really empathize with kids with hearing issues, especially the time when, at a slumber party, Cece is shut out of the conversation because the girls turn out the lights. My 9-year-old son loved this book, and I suspect kids from 2nd through 8th grades will enjoy it on many levels. Anyone who grew up in the 1970s will also recognize their childhood in Cece's story. I recently met Cece Bell for the first time at the Decatur Book Festival. We went to the College of William & Mary together, although we never knew each other there. She is the author/illustrator of a series of Sock Monkey monkey picture books which I love, and her husband is Tom Angleberger, author of the Origami Yoda books.

Every Day by David Levithan

Imagine being a person with no body of your own. The main character in this story, who calls himself A, finds himself in a new body each and every day. He takes over the person't life for one day, then at midnight (usually when A is asleep) he enters a new person's body for the next 24 hours. He is always careful not to mess up the lives of the people he inhabits. He goes to school and sports practices and family dinners so that no one is the wiser. A really has no gender—some days he is male and some days female. He has been blind and a drug addict and a victim of abuse. He can wake up as a person of any race or ethnicity, but he always returns somewhere within a few hundred miles of his previous body. One day A wakes up in the body of a tough guy with a girlfriend named Rhiannon. She is special and she and A spend a magical day together skipping school and going to the beach. Of course, Rhiannon just thinks her boyfriend has suddenly become a nice guy, but the truth is she is connecting with A. From that day on, A starts breaking the rules and trying to connect with Rhiannon. But how can love survive with a person who has no physical body? It's a great premise that's well executed. The author sticks to the rules he has set up for A's life and it's fun to read about each new day in A's life. Recommended for high school readers.

A Certain October by Angela Johnson

A Certain October is a small and unassuming book. It paints an intricate picture of Scotty and her friends and family as she navigates through a difficult month in her life. Scotty's younger brother with autism steals cookies and runs naked through the neighborhood. Her best friend Misha is preparing for the homecoming dance where she is a rebellious homecoming queen candidate. Scotty's other best friend, Falcone, has broken up with his boyfriend and trying to find a way to visit his estranged older sister. Everyone is going about their normal lives when Scotty and her brother are in a train wreck. The book is about how she deals with the resulting injuries, death, and guilt. It's not a sad book, though. It shows how ordinary people can go on living in spite of difficult circumstances Angela Johnson's writing style is spare and deceptively simple, at times poignant and often humorous. It's a beautiful and rewarding book that will most certainly win some literary awards this year. Recommended for grades 9-up.

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

A common theme of children's literature is a group of kids taking on the world with no help from parents or other adults. While the kids in this book have wings, special powers, and have had their DNA altered, they sort of reminded me of futuristic Boxcar Children. They are a family of six, headed by a 14-year-old girl named Max. When Angel, the youngest of their "flock," is kidnapped, they all return to The School to rescue her. From there they escape to New York City and along the way they face great danger and Max begins hearing a voice in her head telling her she was created to save the world. The appeal of this book is threefold—the action and adventure, the fascinating genetic experimenting going on, and the relationships between the kids in the flock. Several book reviews have pointed out that the kids in this book talk like adults and are not believable, and while somewhat true, it didn't make the book any less enjoyable. Sometimes you just have to suspend your disbelief and enjoy a good story. Thank you to Siena in the Unbound Book Club for finally convincing me to read this book.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Get out your kleenex. Any time you read a book about two teenagers with terminal cancer you know it's going to be emotionally rough, and probably full of cliches about facing cancer bravely and living in the moment. But in the hands of John Green, it's refreshingly funny and touching and illuminating and frequently surprising. Hazel, who has thyroid cancer and needs assistance to breathe, meets Augustus, who had a leg amputated due to bone cancer, at a cancer support group. They share a sarcastic sense of humor an intellect beyond their years. They bond over a favorite book and contact the author to ask him some questions that lead them on a journey to Amsterdam. But the plot really isn't the point here. It's the characters and how they make something special in the midst of the rotten luck they share. Like many excellent young adult books, it's definitely for older teens and will be embraced by adults as well. I was serious when I said get your kleenex, though. Read this book somewhere where you can wallow in delight and in sorrow.

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Melody is the smartest kid in her class but no one knows it. She has cerebral palsy and has very little control of her body, and because of her physical disability people assume that she is mentally handicapped as well. She has spent most of her time in special education classes learning the alphabet over and over. Her parents and a special neighbor realize that there is more to Melody than meets the eye but they don't know how to let her communicate. Finally, when she is in fifth grade she gets a special computer that speaks for her and allows her to show who she really is inside. No one can believe it when she earns a spot on the school's quiz bowl team, but will that be enough to earn the acceptance of so-called "normal" kids? This is an important book for all ages—it should be read by elementary school students as well as young adults and adults. It shows a hopeful, determined character who carries on in spite of great difficulties and almost insurmountable odds.

After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick

Jordan Sonnenblick has done it again. Another great middle school story that makes you laugh, makes you cry, and makes you want to keep on reading. It's the follow-up to Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie but it's really not necessary to read the first book to enjoy this one. The focus here is on Jeffrey, who has survived childhood leukemia and is now in eighth grade. Jeffrey walks with a limp and has some learning problems related to his cancer medications. His big problem is that he has to pass the state math test in order to go on to high school. His best (and only) friend, also a cancer survivor, takes on the task of tutoring him. The best part of the new school year is that there's a cute new girl in school who wants to be friends with Jeffrey. This book follows Jeffrey and his two friends through eighth grade as they help each other become the best that they can be. It's hard to describe how enjoyable a Jordan Sonnenblick book can be--you just have to read one to understand. A great read for all middle school kids.

Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Jason is a 12-year-old with autism. He knows that his brain functions differently than other kids' brains, but still it is hard to change his behaviors in ways that will make him fit in better with his peers. The greatest joy in his life is his writing, and he posts his stories on a website called Storyboard. A fellow writer named PhoenixGirl reads his stories and strikes up a friendship with him. Jason finds out that her real name is Rebecca and he has some illusions that she might be his girlfriend. But when he finds out that he and Rebecca will both be attending a Storyboard users conference in Texas he fears that she will see what he is really like and not be his friend anymore. While not heavy on plot, the strength of this book is the first-person look inside the mind of a bright, struggling autistic boy. I would recommend it to readers who like to get inside of different characters heads and understand how they think and act. (By the way, the autism spectrum teacher at my middle school said it's the best middle school fiction book with an autistic character she has ever read.)

She Touched the World: Laura Bridgman, Deaf-Blind Pioneer by Sally Hobart Alexander and Robert Alexander

This biography of Laura Bridgman was fascinating. Years before Helen Keller became famous for her accomplishments, Laura went blind and deaf at the age of two. At that time no one had ever taught someone to read and communicate who had both of these disabilities. Laura was lonely and hard to deal with until she was sent away to a blind school to learn from Dr. Howe. She learned finger spelling quickly and from there the world was opened up to her. According to this book she was one of the most famous people in the U.S. in the early 1800s. She showed the world that all people, no matter what their challenges, should be given the opportunity to learn and live a meaningful life. The techniques Dr. Howe developed with Laura went on to be used with Helen Keller and many others after her. One of the book's authors is herself blind and deaf and in the final chapter she explains how life is different for people today with these disabilities. This book flowed well, was easy to understand, and could be appreciated by readers in 5th grade on up through adults. Recommended for people who like to read about people overcoming big challenges.

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

This is a good mystery told by an interesting narrator. Two siblings living in London are visited by a cousin they hardly know, Salim. They take him to The London Eye, the huge observation wheel that tourists ride in to see the view of the city. Someone gives Salim a free ticket, he hops into the capsule with a group of other people, and 30 minutes later, when the ride is over, he is not among those who emerge from the ride. Days pass and there is no sign of him. How can a person simply disappear into thin air? Salim’s mother is frantic and the police are baffled. Ted and Kat make a list of theories and do some investigating on their own. They seem to be completely stuck until Ted, who has Asperger’s Syndrome and thinks differently than other people, puts some clues together and realizes what happened to Salim. Then the race is on to save his life. The clues are all there, but I sure didn’t solve the mystery on my own. Recommended for anyone who likes a good mystery.

Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller

I could not put this book down. It is the story of one month in the lives of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller. Annie was only 20 years old when she took the train to Alabama to become Helen's teacher. Six-year-old Helen's family loved her but had almost given up on her—she was blind and deaf and had no way to communicate, and so she behaved like a wild animal. Annie Sullivan knew what it was like to be blind and lonely and desperate for human connection, and she was also a tenacious and gifted teacher. When she arrived she realized what Helen needed—discipline, love, and words, which are the key to human thoughts and emotions. Annie tried to discipline Helen, but she fought fiercely, physically, and with great intelligence. Helen knew that her parents would give in to her slightest tantrum and she pulled all the right strings to get her own way. Annie had to take her away for a week in order to begin to civilize Helen's behavior. But even when Helen's behavior improved, she didn't immediately understand the concept of language that Annie was trying to teach her. I was amazed at the courage and talent of this young woman. It is a fiction story, but it's closely based on the letters of Annie Sullivan, and I imagine that the emotions and events are very true to life. Sarah Miller did a fantastic job of writing this historical fiction novel.

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Imagine having a brother who constantly embarrasses you and being stuck babysitting that brother a lot of the time. And then imagine that your parents give all their attention to your brother and never seem to give you credit for putting up with him and helping out with him. That's the story of Catherine's life, and since her brother has autism, things aren't going to change. David doesn't understand how to behave in public, so Catherine is always writing down rules for him to remember (like no toys in the fish tank and keep your pants on in public). It's summertime and with her best friend away Catherine really hopes that the new girl in the neighborhood will be a good friend. But strangely enough, the real friend that she meets that summer is a paralyzed boy who communicates by pointing at cards. Catherine is an artist, a compassionate spirit, and a very believable narrator. She's the kind of friend I would have wanted to have when I was 12 years old. It's more than a book about kids with disabilities—it's about being true to yourself.

The Last Girls of Pompeii by Kathryn Lasky

You kind of know up front how this book is going to end. It's the story of two teenagers who have no freedom—Julia, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, and Sura, Julia's slave. Julia's prospects in life are dim because she was born with a deformed arm and at that time it was considered a curse. Well, it's 79 A.D. and they live in Pompeii, so you can guess that they will be trying to escape the horrible eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. In spite of knowing something about the ending, I found the details of life in Pompeii to be fascinating. Lasky obviously did a lot of research into Roman religious practices (lots of animals are sacrificed), wedding rituals, food (flamingo tongues!), gladiator flights, and more. My only criticism is that the actual eruption of the volcano was almost anticlimatic—their escape seemed awfully easy. This book was personally fascinating to me because I actually visited Pompeii for spring break and walked those same streets. This is great for kids studying Roman civilization. My only fear is that there is so much detail and advanced vocabulary that this will be a hard read for the average middle schooler. But nevertheless, I recommend it for motivated readers, especially 6th graders since they study this era in history.

Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham

This book surprised me. I bought it for the media center because girls love reading about tragedy, and the biography of Bethany Hamilton (the surfer whose arm was bitten off by a shark) is a big hit. I thought this might be a mediocre attempt to capitalize on the popularity of that book. In reality, this is a well-written novel in verse format. The story begins in the hospital after fifteen-year-old Jane has been attacked by a shark. She has just been told that her arm has been amputated. She is depressed and angry and unwilling to be a brave, inspirational poster child. The book is quick and easy to read, but full of deep emotion and introspection. There are moments of beautiful poetry. I think readers will be drawn to the book because of the subject matter and the format, and will find that they are reading a really fine novel. Jane's story isn't full of drama or action—it's a journey of emotional healing. It's a big step up from the usual "chick lit" that some girls like to read.

Reaching for Sun by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

This brand new book written in free verse tells about the growing and blossoming of a seventh grade girl named Josie. Living with a grandmother and mother who love gardening and growing things, Josie has learned many of their secrets and skills. She herself needs special care because, even though she is smart and capable of many things, her cerebral palsy makes speaking and movement difficult. Her best friend is really her grandma because classmates rarely talk to her or take time to get to know her. When "rich kids" start moving into new houses near her family farm, a new boy comes along who becomes her first true friend. Justin is a science geek, and he doesn't seem to care what other kids think about who he is friends with. Justin and Josie do science experiments and grow plants and their friendship grows as the spring turns to summer. This book will appeal to readers who like poetry and who like to read about characters who overcome challenges and grow into their true selves.