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Quick answer: If you loved Out of My Mind, read its sequel Out of My Heart, then Wonder, Counting by 7s, Mockingbird and Rules. All are warm, honest middle-grade novels about children who are underestimated and prove everyone wrong.
Sharon M. Draper's 2010 novel follows Melody, an eleven-year-old with cerebral palsy who cannot speak or walk but has a photographic memory and a brilliant mind, until a computer gives her a voice. It is moving, funny and fierce. The books below offer similar stories of difference, voice and belonging.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out of My Heart | Sharon M. Draper | Ages 10-14 | the sequel |
| Wonder | R. J. Palacio | Ages 8-12 | kindness |
| Counting by 7s | Holly Goldberg Sloan | Ages 10-14 | grief and family |
| Mockingbird | Kathryn Erskine | Ages 10-14 | autism and loss |
| Rules | Cynthia Lord | Ages 8-12 | life with an autistic brother |
| Fish in a Tree | Lynda Mullaly Hunt | Ages 9-13 | dyslexia |
| El Deafo | Cece Bell | Ages 8-12 | graphic memoir |
| Stuck in Neutral | Terry Trueman | Ages 12+ | locked-in voice |
| The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | Mark Haddon | Teen | autistic detective |
| The London Eye Mystery | Siobhan Dowd | Ages 9-13 | unusual detective |
| Hello, Universe | Erin Entrada Kelly | Ages 9-13 | connected stories |
| Ghost | Jason Reynolds | Ages 10-14 | running and healing |
| Wonderstruck | Brian Selznick | Ages 9-13 | silent and illustrated |
| Rain Reign | Ann M. Martin | Ages 9-13 | girl and a dog |
| Close to Famous | Joan Bauer | Ages 9-13 | dreams and cooking |
1. Out of My Heart by Sharon M. Draper
Melody faces new challenges at summer camp. Hopeful and honest.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Wonder by R. J. Palacio
A boy with a facial difference starts school. A modern classic, told in many voices.
Best for: kindness.
3. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
A gifted girl becomes an orphan and builds a new family. Warm and original.
Best for: grief and family.
4. Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
A girl with Asperger's copes with her brother's death. Tender and honest.
Best for: autism and loss.
5. Rules by Cynthia Lord
A girl makes rules for her brother and meets a new friend. Gentle and sharp.
Best for: life with an autistic brother.
6. Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
A girl hides her struggle with reading until a teacher notices. Warm and encouraging.
Best for: dyslexia.
7. El Deafo by Cece Bell
A deaf girl becomes a superhero in her own mind. Funny and wise.
Best for: graphic memoir.
8. Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman
A boy with cerebral palsy narrates his inner life. Short and powerful.
Best for: locked-in voice.
9. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
A boy investigates the death of a neighbour's dog. Funny and unusual.
Best for: autistic detective.
10. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
A boy with Asperger's helps solve the disappearance of his cousin. Sharp and original.
Best for: unusual detective.
11. Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
Four children's lives collide in a day. Warm and funny.
Best for: connected stories.
12. Ghost by Jason Reynolds
A boy joins a track team and learns to face his past. Fast and funny.
Best for: running and healing.
13. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Two deaf children's stories from different eras. Visual and moving.
Best for: silent and illustrated.
14. Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
A girl with autism and her dog survive a storm. Tender and sad.
Best for: girl and a dog.
15. Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
A girl who cannot read dreams of a cooking show. Warm and funny.
Best for: dreams and cooking.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Out of My Mind: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
To continue read Out of My Heart. For gentle stories about difference choose Wonder, Rules or Mockingbird. For brilliant, determined heroines pick Counting by 7s or Fish in a Tree. For graphic memoir read El Deafo. For puzzle-solving try The London Eye Mystery. Out of My Mind is emotional, so these picks suit readers who like to cry and cheer. Draper has said she wrote the book partly because of her daughter with cerebral palsy, and it has become a classroom staple. Reading aloud is a good way to share it with a class or family. Reading Out of My Mind with a class is a powerful way to talk about communication and inclusion. If you want other perspectives, Rules and Mockingbird show neurodiversity from the sibling's or the child's view. Audiobooks are widely used for this book, with warm narration.
Related: The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt: Summary and Key Takeaways · How to Get Out of a Reading Slump: 12 Tips That Work
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Out of My Mind about?
Melody, a girl with cerebral palsy, finds her voice through a communication device.
Who wrote it?
Sharon M. Draper.
When was it published?
2010.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 10 to 14.
Is it a sad book?
It has sad moments but is ultimately hopeful.
Is there a sequel?
Yes, Out of My Heart.
Is it used in schools?
Yes, widely.
What should I read next?
Try Wonder or Out of My Heart.
Is Out of My Mind a true story?
It is fiction, inspired by the author's experience raising a daughter with cerebral palsy.
Is it a good book club pick?
Yes, it prompts discussion about assumptions and respect.