Out of My Heart is a middle-grade novel written by New York Times bestselling author Sharon Draper. It was published on November 9, 2021, by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books. It is the sequel to Draper’s 2010 novel Out of My Mind continuing the story of the protagonist Melody Brooks. In this story, Melody has to once more face a new challenge in her life as a person living with a disability. In the previous narrative, she was in fifth grade trying to pursue a normal life and now she is a year older with much more confidence.
Melody wishes to join a camp similar to other able-bodied kids but has to find one that suits her needs. Once her parents allow her to sign up in the Camp Green Glades, she meets other differently-abled children as they go on an adventure. Here she manages to have a regular pre-teen experience complete with new friendships and a first love moment. She undergoes personal growth, as she has to chart this new territory without the support system that she is accustomed to. Though the story highlights the physical obstacles she encounters, it dwells more on her anxieties, thoughts, and emotional development. She comes out of the experience much bolder as she overcomes her fears and embraces the new community of friends.
The sequel adds upon Melody’s life journey by introducing new characters and widening the scope of her human experience. Publisher Weekly said, “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.”
