Cover of Out of My Mind

Out of My Mind

by Sharon M. Draper

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Among the most widely assigned — 18 curriculum lists · 16 states

#14 most-assigned book in America — on school reading lists in 14 states (2026-07-13 study of 13,258 assignments).

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

On reading-award lists:Mark Twain Readers AwardVolunteer State Book AwardNorth Dakota Flicker Tale Children's Book AwardGreat Stone Face Book Award+13 more

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper is assigned in US schools at grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 700L. It appears across 18 curriculum references and 16 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Out of My Mind is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Lexile
700L
Grade range
Grades 4–7
Difficulty for grade
Below the grade 4–5 band (740–1010L)
Age range
Ages 9–13
Pages
295
Reading time
about 5h 25m (est.)
First published
2010
Genre
Middle Grade Fiction
ISBN-13
9781416971719

Reading difficulty: At 700L, Out of My Mind reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge.

Reading below grade level? Kids who struggle with the print version often finish the assigned book by listening — try the audiobook free with an Audible trial. Affiliate link · trial for new members.

New to these terms? What is a Lexile level? · Reading levels by grade

More formats & details

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About this book

Melody, an 11-year-old with cerebral palsy and a photographic memory, cannot walk or speak but acquires a communication device and changes how her classmates see her. Draper's novel is widely assigned in 4th-6th grade disability-awareness units.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Out of My Mind→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Middle Grade Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 4–7. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on disability and inclusion; cited across 18 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

disability · inclusion · intelligence · friendship · family

Content notes

bullying · ableism

Common Sense Media recommends age 10+.

Where this book is assigned

Show 13 more awards & assignments

Out of My Mind by the numbers: pages, reading time and where it is listed, on Book Statistics.

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Common questions

What grade level is Out of My Mind?
Out of My Mind is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 700L. It appears on 19 school reading lists across 16 states, from grade 4 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
What is the Lexile level of Out of My Mind?
Out of My Mind has a Lexile measure of 700L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
How long does it take to read Out of My Mind?
It takes about 5h 25m to read Out of My Mind (295 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 325 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
Is Out of My Mind hard to read for 4th grade?
At 700L, Out of My Mind reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
What curricula assign Out of My Mind?
Out of My Mind appears on reading lists for Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award, California Young Reader Medal, Common Core State Standards (ELA), and 14 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
700L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
Grade band
Grades 4–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 19 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 16 states ELA frameworks or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner, book-club, summer.

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