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magis1105's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A heart-warming story.
Melody is very smart but people have a hard time looking past her physical limitations. Also, the fact that it takes only 11 years for her family to be able to afford a device to allow her to communicate is realistic but still very optimistic. Her parents struggle for a few paragraphs fighting insurance, trying to get doctors to actually prescribe the one thing that their daughter needs to communicate. It does touch very lightly on the not-so-nice side of limitations depending on their budget.
She does not have a best friend from school because most 11-year-olds are clearly trying to fit in and children are normally very cruel or superficial. You look different - then they look down on you.
Melody is a strong-willed person who still feels bad for herself and wants nothing more than to be a normal kid. Regardless of how many times people tell her she should not want to be like the rest of the kids because they're spoiled and fake. She really shows resilience, but her wish for normalcy is not really squashed, she simply keeps going because there is no other option really.
I will keep looking for more stories on the topic because it made me realize I know very little about cerebral palsy so I can't speak for the accurate representation. Still, the story was one I greatly enjoyed.
Melody is very smart but people have a hard time looking past her physical limitations. Also, the fact that it takes only 11 years for her family to be able to afford a device to allow her to communicate is realistic but still very optimistic. Her parents struggle for a few paragraphs fighting insurance, trying to get doctors to actually prescribe the one thing that their daughter needs to communicate. It does touch very lightly on the not-so-nice side of limitations depending on their budget.
She does not have a best friend from school because most 11-year-olds are clearly trying to fit in and children are normally very cruel or superficial. You look different - then they look down on you.
Melody is a strong-willed person who still feels bad for herself and wants nothing more than to be a normal kid. Regardless of how many times people tell her she should not want to be like the rest of the kids because they're spoiled and fake. She really shows resilience, but her wish for normalcy is not really squashed, she simply keeps going because there is no other option really.
I will keep looking for more stories on the topic because it made me realize I know very little about cerebral palsy so I can't speak for the accurate representation. Still, the story was one I greatly enjoyed.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying
immaavo's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, and Ableism
Moderate: Car accident
ash_ton's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
2019 review: It was a cute little read. Although, I don't really know any 10 year old that "talks" like Melody does. Even really smart ones.
2023 "review:" the only notes i wrote were "fuck rose fr. and claire and molly. AND THE WHOLE WHIZ KIDS TEAM." so... yeah. idc that they're kids they shall have no mercy (/hj).
2023 "review:" the only notes i wrote were "fuck rose fr. and claire and molly. AND THE WHOLE WHIZ KIDS TEAM." so... yeah. idc that they're kids they shall have no mercy (/hj).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Toxic friendship
starsnstitchin's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Ableism, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Minor: Car accident, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Vomit
ekmoore11's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Medical content, Chronic illness, and Bullying
Moderate: Animal death, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Toxic friendship
aceofsphades_reads's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Amazing, super enjoyable. I reread it often and it’s still one of my favorite books ever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Minor: Vomit
flowerpower's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Cried several times but they were incredibly cathartic moments. Melody is hilarious and the people in her life that love her are incredible. It was such a pleasure to read about part of her middle school journey and how much she grew within that year or so.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Car accident
zombiezami's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
When I was in high school, Sharon Draper was my favorite author. I’m revisiting this book since I saw she published a sequel to it last year.
This book has a lot of heart, and I enjoyed Melody’s internal monologue. I didn’t enjoy the casual fatphobia, and I hope it’s not present in the sequel.
This book has a lot of heart, and I enjoyed Melody’s internal monologue. I didn’t enjoy the casual fatphobia, and I hope it’s not present in the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Moderate: Car accident, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Vomit, Excrement, Medical content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
aecorsilva's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
It's a very cute children's book, but the quality of the prose isn't great. There's a lot of "sassy" comebacks, which sound cool for kids, but ruin some very good dialogue if reading from a more mature perspective.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Car accident
nlovestoread's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying