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Chapter 18
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Out of My Mind, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Disability and Ability
Language, Communication, and Identity
Acceptance vs. Rejection
Family
Summary
Analysis
For the next week, everyone in Melody’s life helps her study for the Whiz Kids test. At school, Catherine helps her, and at home Mrs. V, her mother, and her father quiz her.
Melody’s immediate and extended family bond together to help her succeed. This underscores the importance of all the adults in her life who see her potential.
Themes
Melody also makes time to add new sentences to her Medi-Talker. She has two automatic responses to the question “what’s wrong with you?” One, is serious, and explains that she has cerebral palsy. The other is more tongue and cheek, intended for clueless or rude people like her classmates Claire or Molly. It says, “We all have disabilities. What’s yours?”
The weather is warm the Saturday before Melody’s test. She goes outside with Mrs. V and looks at birds. Melody says she’d like the freedom of flying. Melody’s mother comes outside too and says how impressed she is that Melody has learned so many words. Mrs. V counters that Penny has also learned thousands of words, and that it isn’t impressive that a smart child would be able to learn.
Mrs. V once again stands up for Melody and shows how she has more faith in her than even her parents do. Mrs. V points out that Melody is often praised for doing simple tasks that come naturally to her, like learning words, which only seems impressive because of her outward appearance. Melody’s brain works perfectly, Mrs. V argues, so she shouldn’t be praised when it works as it is supposed to.
Themes
Melody knows that her mom, her dad, and Mrs. V all believe in her. But she also knows that the rest of the world doesn’t necessarily think she can succeed, and they don’t necessarily want her to.
Melody’s family is incredibly important because they give her strength and confidence, especially when the rest of the world doesn’t think she’s capable of anything.
Themes
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