NAME: Ms. Warren
Marking Period: 1
Grade 8 Reading Log
Each week, pick a question from the attached list. You must pick a different question each week. You can only repeat
questions if you are writing about a different book. Respond to the question with at least one well-developed paragraph.
Make sure to record your starting point and finishing point at the beginning and end of each week.
Primary Book of the Week (with author): Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Dates:
Question: Who is the narrator? Pick three traits that show this character is unique.
Response:
Out of my Mind is narrated by the main character, Melody Brooks, who has cerebral palsy and
is confined to a wheelchair. One trait that makes Melody unique is the fact that she is 11years-old and has never spoken a word (2). Because Melody can’t speak, she points to words
on a board to express her feelings and thoughts. Another character trait for Melody is she is
brilliant but frustrated by her disability, and she is in a classroom with other “special” children
who people often underestimate and think are stupid.
Starting
Page
1
Page
Ended
100
Starting
Page
101
Page
Ended
200
Starting
Page
201
Page
Ended
295
1
15
Other Book(s) Read (with authors):
Primary Book of the Week (with author): Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Dates:
Question: Explain what you learned about the character(s)/conflict/setting that you didn’t
know before?
Response: During this part of the story Melody struggles to be accepted by her classmates.
Once Melody starts fifth grade she is mainstreamed into a regular classroom for part of her
day. In Mr. Dimmings’ class she meets Rose, Molly and Claire. Rose is the first “normal”
student who makes an effort to be nice to Melody, while Molly and Claire make fun of her and
treat her meanly. Several times Molly and Claire accuse Melody’s aide, Catherine, of cheating
for Melody when this is not the case. Melody is very smart and Catherine is only helping her to
use her new Medi-talker. Even Mr. Dimmings is suspicious when Melody gets most of the
questions correct on his quizzes and tests. When Melody earns her place on the Whiz Kids
team Rose is one of the only students to congratulate her.
Other Book(s) Read (with authors):
Primary Book of the Week (with author): Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Dates:
Question: What lesson does the main character learn over the course of the novel?
Response: Over the course of the novel, Melody learns a great deal about herself and the
people around her. The most important lesson she learns is that as long as you are confident
and comfortable with yourself, it really doesn’t matter what other people think about you.
Melody knows she is smart and knows that she was helping the Whiz Kids team win their
National Championship. When they purposely left her behind, she was devastated; however,
because they did not win the competition without her, she realizes that it was their loss to
have underestimated her intelligence and left her behind. The trophy the team tried to give
her was an insincere gesture that she didn’t want or need.
Other Book(s) Read (with authors): The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins