OUT OF MY MIND

Narrator Sisi Aisha Johnson puts 11-year-old Melody's active mind and vivacious personality front and center, focusing, as Melody herself does, on what she CAN do more than what, as a girl who cannot speak and relies on a wheelchair, she cannot. Johnson is expressive and works well with accents, creating distinct voices that round out the personalities that surround Melody. When she gets a computer that allows her to communicate more clearly and directly than she's ever been able to, it leads to her join her school's quiz team. It's Melody whom Johnson captures best, though, giving a well-rounded portrait of someone whose life is not about her cerebral palsy. Particularly good for family listening. A.F. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2016]