Sharon Draper began Melody’s story in Out of My Mind. I recommend reading it for background before reading her newest account in Out of My Heart. Reading them back to back would be best. The first book, with a nice story arc, introduces us to Melody who has cerebral palsy, a condition that limits her physical capability to a wheelchair and her ability to communicate.
Out of My Heart, which came out on November 17, instead of a story arc like the first book, has an account more like a diary of a week in her life. It begins with her longing to go to camp. She is still wheelchair bound, but now has a Medi-talker that helps her communicate and clearly refutes the idea that there is nothing in her head. She takes the initiative to find a camp for differently-abled kids like herself and convinces her parents that she can handle the week though they are nervous. The weeklong story line takes her past her fear of water to learn to swim, on a scary fly on a zip line, and atop a horse. Her encouraging camp counselor, assigned specifically to her for the week, helps her face her fears but ultimately also has to back off and grant Melody a bit of self-sufficiency.
Other typical camp activities like campfires, thunderstorms, and varmints in her cabin are enhanced when one of the boys takes a special interest in her. The week at camp gains Melody a sense of independence and strength along with a new group of friends, which are worthy camp goals whether or not one is differently-abled.
As she did in the first book, Draper brings understanding and empathy to Melody and others like her, showing her humanity along with the ups and downs of dealing with her limitations.