I was deeply touched by this book. I found myself in tears as I read about protagonist Melody's challenges and triumphs. Due to the short amount of time we had to read this book, I thought I'd skim through it and try to find the main highlights to write this post. I found that after the first chapter I was hooked and read the book in one sitting. I couldn't put the book down. That to me is the sign of an extraordinary writer and Sharon M. Draper is all that, if not more. On his website he talks about why he wrote this touching and meaningful story of a brilliant mind trapped in an uncooperative body. Ms. Draper has a disabled daughter and so has first-hand experience in dealing with the daily challenges of parenting and loving a not-so-perfect child. As moms, we always hope to get perfect babies, and most of the time we do. When Mother Nature intervenes, and that doesn't happen, it's those parents who step up to raise and love that child who deserve the recognition. One of these families that I know personally is my daughter-in-law. Her younger brother is a child with special needs and she grew up as a middle child focusing on her younger brother. She recently graduated with a degree in Special Needs Education, but instead chose to pursue another path with younger children. After a life dedicated to his younger brother, he decided to take a break. When I met his family, I was enchanted by the love and care, dedication to his brother, and the sacrifices the other family made to raise him at home. He just turned twenty-two and graduated from a special school, with honor and pride. Much of what I read in this amazing book resembles… half of the paper… okay, it has nothing to do with how your brain works! You should know by looking in the mirror!” Although this story is fiction, it is based on the reality of very intelligent children who have disabilities, whether they are born with them or develop after birth. The spirit in which Melody triumphed over the class at the end of the book, after losing the opportunity to participate in and possibly win the competition for them, is inspiring. The author brings the reader to the brink of despair at the thought of Melody losing her sister, and then shows us how what seemed to change his life the day before is insignificant in light of what is truly important. Love of family, love of life and love of each other. I cried reading the words “I love you” that Melody said to her parents for the first time. Melody in that moment became everyone's daughter.