Out of My Heart

The representation of children with disabilities in literature holds significant importance in fostering inclusivity, promoting empathy, and challenging societal stereotypes. In her Out of My Mind Series, Sharon M. Draper introduces Melody, a young girl with cerebral palsy. This portrayal sheds light on the unique challenges faced by children with disabilities, like Melody’s difficulty communicating early in the series, and her struggle to maintain normal relationships with her school peers. The series also offers valuable insights into Melody’s triumphs and aspirations, promoting understanding and acceptance from readers and allowing children who are differently abled to see their own stories represented positively and authentically. The novel’s underlying message regarding the importance of representation is mirrored in the plot, as Melody recognizes that her camp friends have experienced the same difficulties as her, and that commonality strengthens her and gives her courage.

According to research conducted by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, diverse representation in children’s literature is alarmingly limited. In their 2019 report, out of the 3,716 books analyzed, only 122 (3.3%) depicted characters with disabilities, despite that Americans with disabilities make up 26% of the population (“The Numbers are in: 2019 CCBC Diversity Statistics.