Out Of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Out Of My Mind by Sharon Draper is an empowering book about a young woman with cerebral palsy. Melody often feels trapped inside her own body, which won't respond when she wants it to. She cannot speak and has difficulty communicating in other ways. This book allows the reader to follow along on Melody's journey as she finds new ways of communicating and learns how to make friends.

Although it feels somewhat dated at times, Out Of My Mind is a great introduction to people with disabilities for children in late elementary school/early middle school; I think it would also be wonderful for a child who sometimes feels "different" to read and empathize with Melody.

Poster Child by Emily Rapp

Poster Child is Emily Rapp's memoir of growing up with a congenital condition that led her to have several operations, eventually lose her left leg below the knee, and become the poster child for the March of Dimes. Emily Rapp is inspiring in this book, in which she details her experiences with the operations and her artificial leg. I felt a lot of parallels between this book and my own journey with hearing aids and audiologists.