OUT OF MY HEART by Sharon M. Draper

 

Melody is back! Fans of Sharon M. Draper's OUT OF MY MIND demanded to learn more about Melody, and the author heard the cries. OUT OF MY HEART returns to Melody and her speaking machine Elvira. They are ready to conquer new adventures.

It is summer vacation so Melody and her little sister Penny are spending a lot of their time with next door neighbor Mrs. V. She is keeping them entertained, but Melody wishes she could do more. On a trip to the library, Melody gets some research help from the librarian. She discovers there is a summer camp for kids like her with special needs. It is only a few hours away, and Melody is determined to find out if there are any openings left for this summer.

Her parents do their research, too, and decide it would be a wonderful opportunity for Melody. Before she knows it, she is off to a camp in the woods. It promises adventures like swimming, zip-lining, and even horseback riding.

Melody is thrilled to meet the three other girls who will share a cabin for the week. Each girl has her own individual camp counselor ready to take care of each girl's individual needs. Melody discovers that she loves swimming especially when she doesn't sink. She enjoys the boat ride and the nightly campfires under the stars. Most exciting is the horseback ride that turns out to be quite an adventure.

Most of all Melody loves the new friends she makes with her cabin mates and the other kids at the camp. She feels just like the kids she knows back at school who talk about their summer camp adventures. Author Sharon M. Draper reconnecting her readers with the amazing Melody is sure to inspire the courage and determination to conquer any of life's obstacles.

A FACE FOR PICASSO by Ariel Henley

 

Ariel Henley and her twin sister Zan were born with Crouzon syndrome. This condition causes the facial bones to fuse too soon. Life saving surgeries must be performed on very young children to assure adequate space for the growing brains and to preserve the airways for these children. Later more surgeries are needed as the children grow and also as a measure to achieve more normal facial features. Ariel has written a memoir of what life was like for her and her sister as they faced medical procedures, criticism about their appearance, and discrimination because of perceived notions based simply on their looks.

A FACE FOR PICASSO discusses not only the physical issues, but also the emotional toll Crouzon syndrome takes on those diagnosed with the condition. Since it is so rare, finding surgeons willing to take the risks necessary to augment the facial structure of patients is challenging. Also, dealing with the cruel stares and comments directed at young children undergoing the painful surgeries causes psychological stress that lasts a lifetime. 

Ariel tells her story frankly. She describes the feeling of having people stare and judge because her eyes slant downward and are symmetrical when all she wanted was to make friends and live like any other child. She recounts the willingness to undergo countless surgeries even knowing the resulting pain of recovery and the reshaping of her face to an extent that she didn't even recognize herself. She describes incisions across her skull from ear to ear so doctors could peel her skin down her forehead to insert plates and screws to realign her face bones. Ariel reveals the shock and amazement that her long awaited front tooth was coming in, but it came in through her nose.

Throughout this painful yet breathtaking story, Ariel relates historical comments on the definition of beauty and delves into the artist Picasso, his art and his abuse of the women who inspired it. Ariel and Zan's courage as they faced the trials of their condition are sure to inspire teen and adult readers.

IMAGINARY by Lee Bacon, illustrated by Katy Wu

 

I have long been fascinated by imaginary friends. I've been told I had one as a child, but I don't recall any details. My daughter had two imaginary friends, one she called Adeladin, and the other was Candy Pink and Red. One day I realized she hadn't mentioned them in a while so I asked about them only to have her inform me that they had moved to California. 

IMAGINARY by Lee Bacon is told from the POV of the imaginary friend making it a unique kind of tale. Shovel is a purple ball of fuzz with a talent for juggling. He met his boy Zach while Zach was in the backyard digging a hole. It was a project intended to create a hole to the other side of the earth. It wasn't a surprise when the project was not a total success.

As the story picks up, Zach is starting middle school when imaginary friends should be long gone, but Shovel has reappeared. He believes Zach needs his help. Zach's father recently died and he is having a difficult time adjusting. Shovel hopes to offer some consolation.

Middle school is not just the end of imaginary friends, but also sometimes the end of childhood friendships. Zach is discovering that his long time friend Ryan has moved on to a couple of new friends and their focus is sports. Zach isn't particularly interested in sports, and it seems he isn't wearing the right clothes or hairstyle for middle school either. This results in Ryan and his new buddies poking fun at Zach at just the time he needs support.

Author Lee Bacon and illustrator Katy Wu take readers on a journey led by an unusual narrator with only the best intentions for his old buddy Zach. IMAGINARY is perfect for ages 8-13 and anyone looking to remember the power of childhood.