From multiple Coretta Scott King Award winner Sharon M. Draper comes a story full of heartache and hope. Get ready to meet a girl whose voice you’ll never, ever forget.

    Born with cerebral palsy*, Melody, 11, has never spoken a word. She is a clever fifth grader trapped in an uncontrollable* body. Her world is enhanced by insight and intellect, but troubled by physical limitations* and misunderstandings.

    She will never sing or dance, talk on the phone, or whisper* secrets to her friends. She’s not complaining*, though; she’s planning and fighting the odds*.

    In her court are family, good neighbors and an attentive student teacher. Pitted against her is the “normal” world: schools with limited resources, cliquish* girls, superficial assumptions* and her own disability.

    Melody’s life is tragically complicated. She is mainly placed in the special-ed classroom where education means being babysat in a room with replayed cartoons and nursery tunes*.

    Her supportive family sets her up with a computer. She learns the strength of thumbs as she taps on a special keyboard that finally lets her “talk.” When she is taken into the regular classroom, Melody’s contribution enables her class to make it to the national quiz team finals. Then something happens that causes her to miss the finals, and she is very sad over her classmates’ actions. It is available on dangdang.com.(SD-Agencies)