OUT OF MY MIND BY SHARON M. DRAPER

Melody speaks of Ollie, a goldfish she won with her father at a carnival. Ollie lived to be almost five – which is very very old for a goldfish. especially one won in a carnival – and spent his life in a small glass bowl with pink pebbles. I believe that the reason the author made sure to talk about Ollie is because of the similarities to Melody. Ollie spent his life doing the same thing everyday. Swimming. Melody is quite like that. She spends every day wanting to talk and be able to express herself and her intelligence. Ollie was never able to do anything but swim mindlessly in his bowl, which is likely close to how Melody feels about her condition. When Ollie jumped from his bowl, it was made clear that Melody was upset. She even tipped the bowl over in attempts to get him back in. When her mother came in though, she didn’t understand what had happened. Melody was frustrated by this, as it was yet another reminder of what she was not capable of.