Like the main character in R.J. Palacio’s Wonder, Melody, in Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper, was born with a disability — in her case, cerebral palsy, which has affected her body, but not her brain. Wheelchair bound, and unable to speak, she is a member of the class in Room H-5 which is for mentally-disabled youngsters. Even doctors don’t see beyond Melody’s physical handicaps and suggest to her parents that she be institutionalized. However, her parents see a gleam in Melody’s eyes that gives them hope she is more mentally capable than the doctors think.Her neighbor, Mrs. V, also sees Melody’s potential. It turns out that she just doesn’t have the words to let everyone else know that she is bored by repetition, and the mush some teachers thought was all she was capable of doing.
Not surprisingly, in school she is practically invisible, although the mean girls make life tougher than ever. Everything comes to a climax when students are chosen to compete in a Jeopardy-type game against other schools. Melody, with the aid of a talking computer, aces the test and makes the team. Will she be allowed to compete facing the underhanded doings of the mean girls and the lack of support from other team members?
Draper draws a nuanced portrait of a severely challenged fifth grader who is determined to overcome her birth obstacles. Books like Wonder and Out of My Mind remind us to pay attention to the bright gleams that are visible in spite of outward appearances.
Atheneum (2010) Reviewed by Lillian Hecker, Children’s Services Librarian.
This summer, the Library will host a Teen Talk Summer Series from Hope's Door, to raise awareness about teen dating violence. This program is specifically for teens ages 13-18 and takes place Monday, July 21 from 12:30-1:30 pm and Mondays August 4 and 18 from 4:30-5:30 pm.
Hope’s Door is a non-profit that seeks to end…
READ MORE
You might think that summer reading programs are just for kids, but here at the library it’s for everyone!
Adults and teens in 9th grade and up can play our Reading BINGO game starting on June 20. Once you complete a BINGO you can enter a raffle to win a brand-new Kindle! You can get the…
READ MORE
Celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with this mix of history, memoirs, resources, romances, and stories where we can see ourselves reflected. You can also browse the Stonewall Book Awards List to find more exceptional books about the LGBTQIA+ experience going back to 1971. You can also peruse PFLAG’s Transgender Reading List for Adults…
READ MORE
Join The Town of Pelham Public Library as we honor Juneteenth on June 19.
Discover the books below exploring African American history including Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the day the Emancipation Proclamation reached enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865.
Adults
African Americans: Voices of Triumph. Creative Fire (Q 700.8 A) …
READ MORE
On Tuesday, June 10th from 7-8 pm popular Pelham author Karen Dukess will join us with fellow Pelham resident and literary agent Kristin van Ogtrop for a talk on her latest book, Welcome to Murder Week. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, and the author has generously offered to donate $5 to…
READ MORE
WHAT IS THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKS?
Battle of the Books is a book-based trivia tournament for Westchester Youth. The Pelham Library will have a 4th-5th grade team and a 6th-12th grade team. We may need to adjust the age groups based on interest level. We will compete against teams from other Westchester libraries. The…
READ MORE
For the 2025 growing season we have partnered with the Environmental Coalition of the Pelhams (EcoPel) to offer a seed library for the first time.
What is a seed library and how does it work?
Just like you would check out a book from the library, you can “check out” seeds from a seed library...you just don't…
READ MORE
Feeling like homework is a struggle? Want a buddy to do it with? Pelham Memorial High School students will be available to provide homework help to children in grades K-6 every Tuesday from 3:30-4:30 pm. Participants should bring their own study materials. We hope to see you there!
READ MORE
Our New Year’s Resolution was to provide you with a better app and we did it! The new WLS app has launched and is available for both Apple and Android devices. Search the your device’s store for “WLS Mobile” or follow the appropriate link below. Please delete the old Westchester Library Systems app from your…
READ MORE
Artist and educator Eddie Grigg has created a series of vibrant French pastel illustrations of countries around the world. His colorful artwork will be on display at the Library during the month of April.
READ MORE
