The book features the story of Melody Brooks, a courageous young girl, who proves that disability should not be an obstacle when finding happiness. With her courage, determination, and perseverance, Melody manages to convince her parents to book her a summer camp. Throughout her life, she has been confined to a wheelchair. The moment Melody gets the freedom to go to new settings away from home, she is filled with joy. The author, Sharon Draper, uses metaphors to relate the life of Melody to that of the firefly. The first paragraph of chapter one describes a hovering firefly over the back of Melody’s hand. The bug lands gently and the young girl watches it flickering.
The allegorical use of insects trapped in a jar represents Melody’s life of confinement at home. The chat between Melody and her sister, Penny, on whether to release the bugs from a jar signifies the talk she held with her parents to release her to go to a summer camp. The parents were initially reluctant but ultimately gave in to her demands. Many children with disabilities are hopeless and desperate. On contrary, Draper characterizes Melody as a bold child yearning to have a new adventure.
The adventure in the summer camp makes readers explore the world experiences of disabled kids through Melody and her camp-mates. Trying new adventures is not easy for children living with disabilities. The stigmatization and bias subjected to them make them nervous about everything they undertake. The camp-mates shared the stories with Melody about the rejection they endure in day-to-day life. The stories echo the real-life experiences children with disabilities undergo in an ableist society.
