The narrator has spastic CP with very little mobility and no speech. However, she doesn’t have any apparent learning disabilities, so she is “locked” in her body. Hence the title. To my knowledge, the author of this book is not disabled.

There is an emphasis on her memory and above average intelligence. It’s 1st person POV, but framed in a way that suggests physical > learning disabilities. The narrator gains respect once others discover her intelligence.

Frankly, I stopped reading and started skimming after a scene when the mom breaks down with the dad during a 2nd pregnancy bc she doesn’t want kid 2 to be messed up (folks: CP is not genetic) and she’s a failure for having a disabled child... I don’t want to unpack that here.

Book people/children’s librarians: if you see this thread, have you read/taught OUT OF MY MIND? As a grown-up I found it ableist, but I’m curious about it’s place in a classroom.