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American Girl: Melody #1
No Ordinary Sound: A Melody Classic
Melody Ellison is an optimistic, enthusiastic girl growing up in Detroit, Michigan during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. She’s excited and proud to share a special surprise with her family—she’s been chosen to sing a solo for Youth Day at her church! But what song will she choose? She gets advice from her big brother, and is also inspired by her older sister, but it’s the inspirational words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that help her pick the perfect song.
There are many unfair things happening during Melody’s time, even to people in her own family. But it’s an unimaginable tragedy in the South that leaves Melody silent. Who can help her lift her voice and sing —who will inspire her to “keep stepping”?
There are many unfair things happening during Melody’s time, even to people in her own family. But it’s an unimaginable tragedy in the South that leaves Melody silent. Who can help her lift her voice and sing —who will inspire her to “keep stepping”?
217 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
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450 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
July 11, 2023
The great AG marathon continues. Again, reading for the first time as an adult, inspired by the American Girls podcast.
Melody is far from the first AG protagonist with a large family, but I think this is the first time it has really felt like we're getting the story of a FAMILY through the lens of one girl, rather than the story of a girl with her family around her. Meet Kirsten might be the closest comparison, but in that case, it's true only for the first book, and only in the sense that we have the whole family traveling together — we don't see Lars or Peter getting their own goals or interests. (And I guess I'm still thinking of Beforever books as equivalent to three of the older style books, though this one doesn't break down neatly into thirds like Maryellen's first book does.) We'll see to what degree this continues in Melody's next book.
Anyway, we need the whole Ellison family, because this book is working a whole lot harder than the books about the white girls on either side of her chronologically, Maryellen in the 1950s and Julie in the 1970s. We NEED to know the whole Ellison family, because we're not just here to play around with the aesthetic of the decade and throw in some nuggets about polio or Title IX. This book has a curriculum to get through: Melody's grandparents were part of the Great Migration, her aunt and uncle are struggling with housing discrimination, her oldest sister is helping people down south register to vote, her brother has Motown ambitions, and most of the family participates in a freedom march. Through it all, we're getting a Melody-eye view of how segregation and discrimination looked in 1963: services, shops, jobs, neighborhoods, even soda machines that are off-limits to her and her family. And white people in Birmingham are out there throwing literal bombs to keep it that way.
So on the one hand, as an adult reader, you can kind of squint your eyes, Magic Eye-style, and see the checklist that the author is working from - all the elements Patrick needs to include to show Black life in the 1960s.
But even when the checklist shows through, Patrick is a skillful writer. Sometimes she dodges right between your ribs to get you where it hurts. The last section of the book deals with reactions — Melody especially, but everyone else, too — to the 16th Street Church bombing in Birmingham. It's visceral, and made me remember times when big news has left me feeling that nothing will ever be the same again.
It's not all hardship and discrimination - there's friendship and flowers and confidence-building, like any other AG protagonist. Patrick has also created a warm, fun, supportive family you'd want to be a part of. Melody herself is a pleasant person to spend 200 pages with. I love the way we see her working at her singing, paired with the gradual blossoming of her friendship with Diane. And speaking of blossoming, I like that Melody is also good with flowers — something she's learned from her grandpa and is treated as a talent just as much as her singing is.
Melody is far from the first AG protagonist with a large family, but I think this is the first time it has really felt like we're getting the story of a FAMILY through the lens of one girl, rather than the story of a girl with her family around her. Meet Kirsten might be the closest comparison, but in that case, it's true only for the first book, and only in the sense that we have the whole family traveling together — we don't see Lars or Peter getting their own goals or interests. (And I guess I'm still thinking of Beforever books as equivalent to three of the older style books, though this one doesn't break down neatly into thirds like Maryellen's first book does.) We'll see to what degree this continues in Melody's next book.
Anyway, we need the whole Ellison family, because this book is working a whole lot harder than the books about the white girls on either side of her chronologically, Maryellen in the 1950s and Julie in the 1970s. We NEED to know the whole Ellison family, because we're not just here to play around with the aesthetic of the decade and throw in some nuggets about polio or Title IX. This book has a curriculum to get through: Melody's grandparents were part of the Great Migration, her aunt and uncle are struggling with housing discrimination, her oldest sister is helping people down south register to vote, her brother has Motown ambitions, and most of the family participates in a freedom march. Through it all, we're getting a Melody-eye view of how segregation and discrimination looked in 1963: services, shops, jobs, neighborhoods, even soda machines that are off-limits to her and her family. And white people in Birmingham are out there throwing literal bombs to keep it that way.
So on the one hand, as an adult reader, you can kind of squint your eyes, Magic Eye-style, and see the checklist that the author is working from - all the elements Patrick needs to include to show Black life in the 1960s.
But even when the checklist shows through, Patrick is a skillful writer. Sometimes she dodges right between your ribs to get you where it hurts. The last section of the book deals with reactions — Melody especially, but everyone else, too — to the 16th Street Church bombing in Birmingham. It's visceral, and made me remember times when big news has left me feeling that nothing will ever be the same again.
It's not all hardship and discrimination - there's friendship and flowers and confidence-building, like any other AG protagonist. Patrick has also created a warm, fun, supportive family you'd want to be a part of. Melody herself is a pleasant person to spend 200 pages with. I love the way we see her working at her singing, paired with the gradual blossoming of her friendship with Diane. And speaking of blossoming, I like that Melody is also good with flowers — something she's learned from her grandpa and is treated as a talent just as much as her singing is.
January 22, 2016
I found American Girl Beforever: No Ordinary Sound by Denise Lewis Patrick at the library. I was very surprised to find it because I didn’t even know that the book was available already. This is the first story featuring the new American Girl doll Melody Ellison.
Melody Ellison is a nine-year-old girl living in Detroit in 1963. She is the youngest of four children: her oldest sister Yvonne attends Tuskegee University, Dwayne loves to sing, and Lila is in middle school. Melody also has a dog named Bojangles.
As the story begins, Melody has exciting news to share: she has been picked to sing a solo at a Youth Day event in the fall. Melody is even more excited about her cousin moving from Alabama to Detroit. Melody and her family experience prejudice throughout the story. Yvonne applies for a summer job at a bank; she is told there are no positions available, but she overhears the manager telling a white girl that there are several positions still available. Dwayne and Melody are denied service at a department store, and accused of stealing. Melody is inspired by Martin Luther King, and is excited about the opportunity to hear him speak when he comes to Detroit. When Melody hears about a devastating event, she becomes too scared to sing the beautiful song she has been practicing for all summer. Will Melody get her voice back in time to sing her solo for Youth Day?
No Ordinary Sound presents information about the Civil Rights movement. The material is age appropriate for the target audience, but it is very eye-opening to see the unfair ways in which Melody and her family are treated. Some of the moments are subtle; Melody’s cousin is amazed that they are allowed to go to the public library, and that they can walk through the front door. This was something that Melody’s cousin was not allowed to do when she lived in Alabama. On a happier note, I was also impressed with the strong role that Melody’s faith played in her story; excerpts from hymns appear throughout the book. Although Melody experiences a tragedy, her family and faith play a strong role in overcoming her obstacles.
No Ordinary Sound is a wonderful book. We own most of the American Girl historical books, and I plan on purchasing our own copy of this book. These books provide insight into American history, allowing children to see what life was like in that time period through the eyes of girls living during that era. Even though these girls come from different time periods and different cultural background, their experiences are undeniably American.
I would absolutely recommend No Ordinary Sound to American Girl fans. My oldest daughter and I are looking forward to reading the of Melody’s story, and seeing her collection when the Melody Ellison doll is released later this year!
Melody Ellison is a nine-year-old girl living in Detroit in 1963. She is the youngest of four children: her oldest sister Yvonne attends Tuskegee University, Dwayne loves to sing, and Lila is in middle school. Melody also has a dog named Bojangles.
As the story begins, Melody has exciting news to share: she has been picked to sing a solo at a Youth Day event in the fall. Melody is even more excited about her cousin moving from Alabama to Detroit. Melody and her family experience prejudice throughout the story. Yvonne applies for a summer job at a bank; she is told there are no positions available, but she overhears the manager telling a white girl that there are several positions still available. Dwayne and Melody are denied service at a department store, and accused of stealing. Melody is inspired by Martin Luther King, and is excited about the opportunity to hear him speak when he comes to Detroit. When Melody hears about a devastating event, she becomes too scared to sing the beautiful song she has been practicing for all summer. Will Melody get her voice back in time to sing her solo for Youth Day?
No Ordinary Sound presents information about the Civil Rights movement. The material is age appropriate for the target audience, but it is very eye-opening to see the unfair ways in which Melody and her family are treated. Some of the moments are subtle; Melody’s cousin is amazed that they are allowed to go to the public library, and that they can walk through the front door. This was something that Melody’s cousin was not allowed to do when she lived in Alabama. On a happier note, I was also impressed with the strong role that Melody’s faith played in her story; excerpts from hymns appear throughout the book. Although Melody experiences a tragedy, her family and faith play a strong role in overcoming her obstacles.
No Ordinary Sound is a wonderful book. We own most of the American Girl historical books, and I plan on purchasing our own copy of this book. These books provide insight into American history, allowing children to see what life was like in that time period through the eyes of girls living during that era. Even though these girls come from different time periods and different cultural background, their experiences are undeniably American.
I would absolutely recommend No Ordinary Sound to American Girl fans. My oldest daughter and I are looking forward to reading the of Melody’s story, and seeing her collection when the Melody Ellison doll is released later this year!
April 14, 2021
While it makes sense for the story to focus on the Civil Rights Movement, the looking back section does not mention any of the other big events of the 60’s, of which there were so many. This persists in the sequel, too.
January 14, 2016
I just read all of this in one sitting. I grew up with the American girls and I am so glad they are still doing the historical stories. A very good read.
January 28, 2016
I found this at the library and was surprised that American Girl had released another new historical character so soon after Maryellen. I checked this out and was thoroughly delighted with it, because even though I still think it's silly for the company to proclaim a book a classic at the moment of its printing just to fit with the rest of the series redesign, this is a fabulous novel that could stand alone in excellence even apart from the American Girl company. Set in the Civil Rights Movement, it deals with big, difficult topics in a child-appropriate way and never sacrifices good storytelling just to make a point. The characters are charming and distinctive, the storylines are interesting, and the emotional appeal is masterfully done without seeming manipulative. I am thoroughly impressed with this book on every level, and look forward to reading the sequel.
Many books that deal with big topics end up winning awards and being much-loved by adults but do not reach children effectively. This book is different, because you don't need a grown up perspective to see value in this book. It treats the times and topic truthfully while still remaining friendly to young readers, and is grounded in ordinary life a child can relate to: the small concerns and childhood dynamics make the big picture issues come through in a real and personally affecting way. I am amazed by how good this book was, and even though I wish I could have read it as a kid, I'm so happy it exists now.
As a sidenote, I appreciated the book's inclusion of Christianity as a core aspect of the family's life. I expect books to be politically correct and ignore any potential religious leanings of the characters, but because this book was about a black family in the 1960s, it included church as an integral part of their life and portrayed it in a real, vibrant way without being preachy or snide. All throughout the book, there were quotes from different hymns, and that delighted me.
Many books that deal with big topics end up winning awards and being much-loved by adults but do not reach children effectively. This book is different, because you don't need a grown up perspective to see value in this book. It treats the times and topic truthfully while still remaining friendly to young readers, and is grounded in ordinary life a child can relate to: the small concerns and childhood dynamics make the big picture issues come through in a real and personally affecting way. I am amazed by how good this book was, and even though I wish I could have read it as a kid, I'm so happy it exists now.
As a sidenote, I appreciated the book's inclusion of Christianity as a core aspect of the family's life. I expect books to be politically correct and ignore any potential religious leanings of the characters, but because this book was about a black family in the 1960s, it included church as an integral part of their life and portrayed it in a real, vibrant way without being preachy or snide. All throughout the book, there were quotes from different hymns, and that delighted me.
January 25, 2016
I picked this up from the library and decided to give it a go since I always loved American Girl books in the past and it is set in Detroit. I grew up in Michigan so I was somewhat familiar with the city.
I have to say, this was an excellent story! The author did a great job describing the city and I loved getting to know Melody. This story brought a lot of important historical events to light that I would say young girls need to read about. I will admit, I even got a little teary eyed a few times. I also appreciated that the author was not afraid to write about Melody attending church and singing some gospel songs. We are so politically correct nowadays that I was actually surprised it was in there.
I will definitely purchase a copy of this book and probably the rest of the series once it is released. I will also hand these down to my daughter once she is old enough. A great book!
I have to say, this was an excellent story! The author did a great job describing the city and I loved getting to know Melody. This story brought a lot of important historical events to light that I would say young girls need to read about. I will admit, I even got a little teary eyed a few times. I also appreciated that the author was not afraid to write about Melody attending church and singing some gospel songs. We are so politically correct nowadays that I was actually surprised it was in there.
I will definitely purchase a copy of this book and probably the rest of the series once it is released. I will also hand these down to my daughter once she is old enough. A great book!
Read
October 20, 2017I picked this book up to prepare for a program coming up in November. I thought I'd at least read the book of the girl I'd be doing a whole program over. It wasn't bad. I think Patrick does a great job of making it kid friendly while also diving into several darker parts of the 1960s. Melody's story is an important one. Patrick does a great job of showing the civil rights movement as well as other aspects of the 1960s. It was a great middle grade book. I haven't read an American Girl book since Samantha wayyy back in the day so this one was a lot different. I'm glad they decided to do a book about this time period and the issues covered within these pages. This book is great for kids 8 and up. Also, it says American Girl but even boys can read it and get something from it. I doubt many will but the ideas within the book are worth it for any child.
August 16, 2023
Ugh so good! Such a great way to show what the civil rights movement was like for kids!!!
March 2, 2021
4.5 stars. I loved this book. Melody and her family members (especially Yvonne and Dwayne) were so well characterized, and the book weaved together history and plot in very convincing, and very emotionally moving and unfortunately-still-culturally-relevant, ways. I appreciate having viewpoints in both Michigan and Alabama, to see that progress needs to be made everywhere in the USA, not just the South. This book could open up so many much-needed conversations, and serve as a jumping off point for kids to research more about the civil rights movement and America in the 1960s. This should be a must-read for middle graders.
January 11, 2018
I'm so glad that children nationwide are going to be growing up with this book.
Also, yes, I definitely cried over a children's book today.
Also, yes, I definitely cried over a children's book today.
May 30, 2018
Yep, I'm above this book's target age range by quite a bit. Do I care? Not really... :D
This book was so sweet and dealt with some pretty dang important topics in a very sensitive and beautiful way. I just studied the American Civil Rights movement last month for school, so I really enjoyed getting to refresh my memory and see history in a new way.
I really appreciated several things in this book...
1. - The importance of family - Melody has a strong family and their bond is prevalent throughout the story. I love how supportive they are of her, and how they obviously mean a lot to her. Too often there are broken families in mainstream fiction these days, so I appreciated how this book showed what a healthy family can look like.
2. - Dealing with hard issues in a sensitive manner - The Civil Rights era of the 1960s was rough. There was so much violence and prejudice and other horrible things going on - it really is heart breaking. But while this book does clearly show the reality of segregation and prejudice, it does it in a way that is tactful and sensitive. After all, these books are aimed at like 8-12 year olds. I would be comfortable giving this book to my younger sisters, because even though it deals with heavy topics, it does it well, and I know that they would benefit from learning about this part of history.
3 - The role that the church plays - Yes, this book is not a Christian book. It doesn't even pretend to be - after all, it's American Girl we're talking about here. But the church still plays a positive role in the book. And I like that. It's way too easy for non-Christian books to just bash the church, or put a bad light on it. But this book didn't. It's clear that the author knew her history well, because she dealt with the church in an entirely time period-appropriate manner. It was a positive, uplifting place, and God's love showed, even though the book was not written with that in mind.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, despite being 'too old' for it. I loved the themes of hope and justice that were underlying. The emotions that the story brought up were real and thought provoking. If you want any of your younger sisters/nieces/granddaughters/daughters/etc to learn about the Civil Rights movement, I'd highly recommend this book as a great introduction.
This book was so sweet and dealt with some pretty dang important topics in a very sensitive and beautiful way. I just studied the American Civil Rights movement last month for school, so I really enjoyed getting to refresh my memory and see history in a new way.
I really appreciated several things in this book...
1. - The importance of family - Melody has a strong family and their bond is prevalent throughout the story. I love how supportive they are of her, and how they obviously mean a lot to her. Too often there are broken families in mainstream fiction these days, so I appreciated how this book showed what a healthy family can look like.
2. - Dealing with hard issues in a sensitive manner - The Civil Rights era of the 1960s was rough. There was so much violence and prejudice and other horrible things going on - it really is heart breaking. But while this book does clearly show the reality of segregation and prejudice, it does it in a way that is tactful and sensitive. After all, these books are aimed at like 8-12 year olds. I would be comfortable giving this book to my younger sisters, because even though it deals with heavy topics, it does it well, and I know that they would benefit from learning about this part of history.
3 - The role that the church plays - Yes, this book is not a Christian book. It doesn't even pretend to be - after all, it's American Girl we're talking about here. But the church still plays a positive role in the book. And I like that. It's way too easy for non-Christian books to just bash the church, or put a bad light on it. But this book didn't. It's clear that the author knew her history well, because she dealt with the church in an entirely time period-appropriate manner. It was a positive, uplifting place, and God's love showed, even though the book was not written with that in mind.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, despite being 'too old' for it. I loved the themes of hope and justice that were underlying. The emotions that the story brought up were real and thought provoking. If you want any of your younger sisters/nieces/granddaughters/daughters/etc to learn about the Civil Rights movement, I'd highly recommend this book as a great introduction.
November 15, 2023
I wanted to read this book since I just got my first american girl doll after waiting for like 7 years and cause it works perfectly for my challenge of only reading books by black authors this year. This book is fine. I read it in 2 days (could’ve been less but im lazy) but I still enjoyed it. There are some problems though like specifically the way it tackles black topics. Like why does Melody sometimes ask questions that just feel so wrong? Of course I understand that she’s 9 and won’t understand big words but occasionally she’ll need an explanation for things that a regular 9 year old black child especially in 1964 should understand. The way the characters speak also really bothers me 😭. I can’t really explain it but they speak the exact same way AI does. I don’t know how but istg the way they explain things sounds exactly like what you get when you ask chatgpt to write a fanfic or some shitty character ai dialogue. This is in combination with the way it tackles certain topics is why I personally wouldn’t let my child read this book. Like the way they explain what oppression is really isn’t a proper explanation. If you’re gonna teach a child about what it was like to be a black person in 1964 this is not a good way to do it. Also the book really reminded me of just a worse version of the Wonder Years reboot 💀. It’s like exactly this but just way better. It also has cousin/sister moments, an older sister that wears her afro out (in like a rebellious way) and even conflict between a dad and his son (the son being the mc’s older brother??). Anyways if you want something about black kids in the 60s just watch that and if you wan’t something that really tackles racism in that era idk read literally anything else 😭😭 tho i rlly cant be that harsh since its literally an american girl book. They rlly did their best tho and I love the author for trying!! (also any bits that werent in the actual story like the explanation on negro, colored or the end of the story talking about irl things was great and I really loved that)
December 1, 2024
As always with these - I wish this wasn't a BeForever release. I would have loved these stories so so much more if they had a 6 book set with illustrations and full history sections. Okay, obligatory grumbling over.
I really liked this one. Even though I just complained about the BeForever-isms of it, this book is the closest one to feeling like it's working *with* BeForever rather then against it.
I loved the entire Ellison family. And the last couple of chapters, with Melody having such a visceral reaction to the church bombing...? It's one of the most emotionally resonant bits of writing in all of AG canon, IMO.
I really liked this one. Even though I just complained about the BeForever-isms of it, this book is the closest one to feeling like it's working *with* BeForever rather then against it.
I loved the entire Ellison family. And the last couple of chapters, with Melody having such a visceral reaction to the church bombing...? It's one of the most emotionally resonant bits of writing in all of AG canon, IMO.
December 21, 2024
Melody is such a sweet little girl! I thought the book did a pretty good job of presenting age appropriate information about racism in the 1960s. I thought that the author did a good job towards the end weaving the problems of the historical events into Melody’s own issues to overcome. I think the losing her voice device was very clever and thematic. I’m excited to keep reading about Melody and her nice family.
November 26, 2021
First of all, I do love the message behind this book. I think it’s important, and I think it’s something all kids should learn about.
But that said… I wanted to like this so much more than I did. I don’t know if it’s because I read the abridged version, but it felt very disjointed in parts.
The writing itself just wasn’t very good, even for a kids’ book. It felt condescending. I understand this is written so kids who don’t know about the civil rights movement can read it, but Addy’s books were also written for children about freedom from chattel slavery, and I never once felt like those books were talking down to me.
It’s a shame, because I used to love the AG books a ton as a kid, but the quality in writing for Melody’s first book just is not there.
But that said… I wanted to like this so much more than I did. I don’t know if it’s because I read the abridged version, but it felt very disjointed in parts.
The writing itself just wasn’t very good, even for a kids’ book. It felt condescending. I understand this is written so kids who don’t know about the civil rights movement can read it, but Addy’s books were also written for children about freedom from chattel slavery, and I never once felt like those books were talking down to me.
It’s a shame, because I used to love the AG books a ton as a kid, but the quality in writing for Melody’s first book just is not there.
January 12, 2016
First things first, I figured I'd read maybe a chapter or two of No Ordinary Sound before putting it down and getting some sleep. Yeah, no. I read straight on through to the end. So the story is definitely compelling and hard to put down. Melody, as a character, is a sweetheart and I hope others love her as much as I already do.
That said, if you enjoy your AG characters to be a bit flawed, Melody might not be for you. She's good at everything (little old ladies ask her opinion on gardening, she's got an impressive voice, she's crafty!) and I know that as a kid, it got a little bit tiring when every main character was just The Best. But Melody's never mean about it, nor does she even seem to realize just how good she is (and not in that false modesty sort of way).
I'm not sure why it feels different tying Melody's story to a specific historical event (the Birmingham Church Bombing) versus just having it be set against the backdrop of war (see: Felicity, Addy, Caroline, Molly) but it does. Part of that might be intentional, in that the attack shakes Melody to her core and reading about how it affects Melody should also affect the reader, especially since similar things still happen today.
In any case, No Ordinary Sound is definitely worth a read, even if you're not an AG fan already.
That said, if you enjoy your AG characters to be a bit flawed, Melody might not be for you. She's good at everything (little old ladies ask her opinion on gardening, she's got an impressive voice, she's crafty!) and I know that as a kid, it got a little bit tiring when every main character was just The Best. But Melody's never mean about it, nor does she even seem to realize just how good she is (and not in that false modesty sort of way).
I'm not sure why it feels different tying Melody's story to a specific historical event (the Birmingham Church Bombing) versus just having it be set against the backdrop of war (see: Felicity, Addy, Caroline, Molly) but it does. Part of that might be intentional, in that the attack shakes Melody to her core and reading about how it affects Melody should also affect the reader, especially since similar things still happen today.
In any case, No Ordinary Sound is definitely worth a read, even if you're not an AG fan already.
September 6, 2017
I was disappointed in this book. I thought it wasn't heavy enough on the events of the civil rights movement that were happening at the time. They watched the I have a dream speech but there weren't even any quotes in the book about it and you don't know they were there for sure until the looking back section. I studied this time period in the south pretty extensively when I was in high school and even participated in a trip down to Alabama and a documentary about our trip and the time period and met some of the people who were there so it all became very vivid to me and I was excited to kind of read about it through an American girl story but it kind of disappointed. It focused way too much on melodys singing at a lot of points. You would t even necessarily know this was taking place in the 60s during a lot of the scenes.
February 8, 2016
Such a wonderful read, set in the early 1960s in Detroit. A young girl, Melody, tries to navigate life during the Civil Rights Movement. In this story, you see the world not only through Melody's eyes, but also her older siblings', parents', and grandparents'. The story will leave you saying, "What? I'm not crying--you're crying," and jumping up and down, impatiently waiting for the next book in the series to come out in print.
July 17, 2024
It’s what you’d expect from a middle grade book taking on the Civil Rights and what blacks had to fight for in the 1960’s. It’s 1963 so no Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, hippies, and drugs just yet. Fun for the whole family!!
June 25, 2019
"I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free. His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me." I weep because of hatred; I weep for we are not free. His eye is one the sparrow and I know he watches me; because God gave me my big, empathetic heart.
I have been avoiding the BeForever American girl books, but was gifted this one recently. I may rethink my position on these books. I still miss the illustrations of the original books that accompanied the historical characters. However, it is easier to google images from 1963 and the Civil rights Movement of the 1960s than 1774 or earlier. Then we rely on portraits, paintings, sculptures, and actual artifacts.
Okay, on to the review of the story. The first 14 chapters only touched on the struggles African Americans experienced. Denise Lewis Patrick gave us glimpses at the inequality including indignation and anger and frustration around everyday activities AND Melody's struggle to learn a solo for an upcoming event. Before the solo, tragedy strikes and rocks Melody to her core.
Melody's story is well constructed. Her family is large and loving and joyful and strong. Some characters are more flat than others, but overall you get relationship dimension and some growth.
In the very beginning of the book is a note on the language that would be included and why it was included. I thought that was a very helpful note for younger people who may not be aware of the historical context. At the end was a section called "Inside Melody's World" this gave the reader more historical facts and information about Detroit and the civil rights movement. At the very end was a page denoting the advisory board that helped with creating Melody and her story. This provided the credentials of those involved.
In my opening I added the second part because this story brought me to tears. 1) Because I do have a big heart and could empathize with Melody's shock, fear, and sadness. 2) Because we (our society) haven't grown much since the 1960s and the events are still happening when they should have been trampled ages ago.
I have been avoiding the BeForever American girl books, but was gifted this one recently. I may rethink my position on these books. I still miss the illustrations of the original books that accompanied the historical characters. However, it is easier to google images from 1963 and the Civil rights Movement of the 1960s than 1774 or earlier. Then we rely on portraits, paintings, sculptures, and actual artifacts.
Okay, on to the review of the story. The first 14 chapters only touched on the struggles African Americans experienced. Denise Lewis Patrick gave us glimpses at the inequality including indignation and anger and frustration around everyday activities AND Melody's struggle to learn a solo for an upcoming event. Before the solo, tragedy strikes and rocks Melody to her core.
Melody's story is well constructed. Her family is large and loving and joyful and strong. Some characters are more flat than others, but overall you get relationship dimension and some growth.
In the very beginning of the book is a note on the language that would be included and why it was included. I thought that was a very helpful note for younger people who may not be aware of the historical context. At the end was a section called "Inside Melody's World" this gave the reader more historical facts and information about Detroit and the civil rights movement. At the very end was a page denoting the advisory board that helped with creating Melody and her story. This provided the credentials of those involved.
In my opening I added the second part because this story brought me to tears. 1) Because I do have a big heart and could empathize with Melody's shock, fear, and sadness. 2) Because we (our society) haven't grown much since the 1960s and the events are still happening when they should have been trampled ages ago.
July 18, 2020
My nine year old daughter and I read this book together for homeschool as we were studying the Civil Rights Movement. As usual, I was so impressed with the historical information she and I learned through American Girl! My daughter not only learned about what it was like for Melody and her family to face discrimination simply for the color of their skin, but she also learned about the vibrant African American community in Detroit during that time and the music of Motown. We would sometimes pull up The Marvelettes, Smokey Robinson, or The Temptations on YouTube to listen to after reading. It was also great to read about Melody watching Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech" on TV when we had just studied it for school and watched the speech ourselves. Reading about a little girl my daughter's age being there when it happened made it real to her.
*spoilers ahead so parents can be informed*
Parents do need to be aware that the Birmingham church bombing happens towards the end of the book, and even though Melody and her family learn of it second hand on radio and TV, Melody is badly shaken and becomes terrified of attending church. Today we would say she was suffering from severe anxiety and panic attacks. Melody wonders what the girls were doing right before the bomb went off, and speaks of them never growing up or being able to speak or sing again. Each parent needs to make a call whether or not this is appropriate for their child. Considering what is going on in the world right now, however, I think Melody's feelings may be very similar to what our children are already feeling. I think the book could open honest and healthy discussions about race, violence, hatred, and fear. All things that I believe kids are dealing with whether we want to face it or not. This book therefore could be used with kids 8-12 in order to start a wonderful discussion.
*spoilers ahead so parents can be informed*
Parents do need to be aware that the Birmingham church bombing happens towards the end of the book, and even though Melody and her family learn of it second hand on radio and TV, Melody is badly shaken and becomes terrified of attending church. Today we would say she was suffering from severe anxiety and panic attacks. Melody wonders what the girls were doing right before the bomb went off, and speaks of them never growing up or being able to speak or sing again. Each parent needs to make a call whether or not this is appropriate for their child. Considering what is going on in the world right now, however, I think Melody's feelings may be very similar to what our children are already feeling. I think the book could open honest and healthy discussions about race, violence, hatred, and fear. All things that I believe kids are dealing with whether we want to face it or not. This book therefore could be used with kids 8-12 in order to start a wonderful discussion.
May 25, 2017
Wow, this book did a great job of covering a lot of historical events from the perspective of 9 year old Melody in 1963 Detroit, (Even though the cover says 1964...oops). There were two highly impactful scenes for me. First, when Melody decides to remove her money from a bank that won't hire her sister because she is black. Melody thinks of this on her own and I thought it was powerful to have here understand the injustice and figure out a way she could take a stand. The other is Melody's overwhelming reaction to the murders of the 4 girls as a result of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham AL. She is so overcome by fear and sorrow to the point that she can't set foot in her own church and loses her voice for a time. The way she is able to triumph over that fear and push on for change with the help of her friends and family was wonderful. Kudos to Denise Lewis Patrick for not shying away from the tumultuous events of the time period and bringing it to light for this age group.
February 6, 2018
As someone who has read american girl books for around 10 years now, I can say that as of late, American Girl books have just not been the same as they were in the past. I find that more often then not, the girls are little brats now, the best thing about this book is the fact that it defied the most recent published books by AG and was actually a good read, it was a solid book that any little girl would love.
Melody is a nine year old girl who loves to sing. Her story takes place in th 60's, so this is right in the area of the anti segregation marches. Melody was choosen by her teacher to take the most prestigious role in the children chior, a solo in the big show in the summer, Melody is elated. Her brother is also into music, and she learns alot from him in that sense. One of the great things about this book is the relationship Melody has with her siblings and cousins. They are all very close. Melody's brother is hiding a secret from the family though, he has only told Melody.
As time goes on, the tensions rise. Melody is right in the middle of all of it. Suddenly, an accident occurs and Melody doesn't feel right about everything going on. Will she be able to perform at the show?
I didn't do it enough justice at all, but if you love history novels, this is the book for you. I felt surprised at alot of events in the book, and all of it was historically accurate as well with no sugar coating while still remaining appropriate for a younger reader.
Melody is a nine year old girl who loves to sing. Her story takes place in th 60's, so this is right in the area of the anti segregation marches. Melody was choosen by her teacher to take the most prestigious role in the children chior, a solo in the big show in the summer, Melody is elated. Her brother is also into music, and she learns alot from him in that sense. One of the great things about this book is the relationship Melody has with her siblings and cousins. They are all very close. Melody's brother is hiding a secret from the family though, he has only told Melody.
As time goes on, the tensions rise. Melody is right in the middle of all of it. Suddenly, an accident occurs and Melody doesn't feel right about everything going on. Will she be able to perform at the show?
I didn't do it enough justice at all, but if you love history novels, this is the book for you. I felt surprised at alot of events in the book, and all of it was historically accurate as well with no sugar coating while still remaining appropriate for a younger reader.
August 24, 2020
I really liked this- while Melody also has a loving family and happy life like Maryellen, there's realistic historical strife, like facing discrimination in a department store or being shocked to her core by the bombing of a church in Birmingham. A grounded and necessary addition to the American Girl historical canon (though, as mentioned on twitter, I do think it's limiting to confine Black historical characters to civil war slavery and the civil rights movement- BIPOC have existed in all eras and it's not like they pop out of the ground for those two topics specifically?)
But yeah- as a non-black person of color who grew up in a predominantly white environment, I didn't learn about Lift Every Voice and Sing as the "Black national anthem" until the Beychella performance in 2018, so I'm happy to see its inclusion here. Advisory board, and an #ownvoices author were good decisions here, which really makes me question why Kirby Larson was picked for authoring the Nanea books (sure, she writes about WWII dogs but like... eeeeh).
But yeah- as a non-black person of color who grew up in a predominantly white environment, I didn't learn about Lift Every Voice and Sing as the "Black national anthem" until the Beychella performance in 2018, so I'm happy to see its inclusion here. Advisory board, and an #ownvoices author were good decisions here, which really makes me question why Kirby Larson was picked for authoring the Nanea books (sure, she writes about WWII dogs but like... eeeeh).
September 22, 2020
I've met only a few other Melodies in my life, so it's a delight to meet Melody as an American Girl. Patrick did a splendid job of presenting Melody's historical reality with all the warmth and spirit readers expect from AG books. I'm sure these books will be beloved reads of Black girls, and I for one enjoyed it a lot as a white woman. The focus on music and poetry, Melody's love for gardening, and the close-knit Ellison family were particularly enjoyable for me. Of course, the historical note could have gone more in depth at the end. I'm not sure why it was a trim two pages. These books will raise young readers' interests in Black literature and culture from the 1960s and beyond.
April 17, 2025
I really love the character of Melody and her family. They cover a lot of topics and really immerse you in the world. You also really get to know everyone in the book and become quite attached and invested in the characters.
Maybe it’s because I just read Claudie and had high expectations, but I just didn’t feel like it hit as hard in terms of tackling tough topics. It did a decent job talking about them but didn’t go as deeply as I felt Claudie’s did. Sometimes things felt a little too brushed over - or another thing (like Melody losing her voice) took precedence. I love Melody but I kind of wish this book followed around her sister Yvonne instead!
Maybe it’s because I just read Claudie and had high expectations, but I just didn’t feel like it hit as hard in terms of tackling tough topics. It did a decent job talking about them but didn’t go as deeply as I felt Claudie’s did. Sometimes things felt a little too brushed over - or another thing (like Melody losing her voice) took precedence. I love Melody but I kind of wish this book followed around her sister Yvonne instead!
August 17, 2025
5 stars. As much as I’m still annoyed about the squeezing of six books into two I will say that this was still a fantastic read. I’ve had this series sitting on my kindle for a couple of years now and I’m so glad that I finally picked it up. It’s wonderful and emotional. Melody is such a lovable character with a gift of singing. She’s also very headstrong and really knows how to stand up for herself and others for what she thinks is right and I love that. The 60s time period was fascinating and made for some intense moments for the characters but it was all handled with such care. I adored this. On to book two!
July 29, 2021
I left Melody for last because the Civil Rights content seemed too pertinent and heavy for 2020, and it was both heavy and pervasive in this book. However, there's still a lot of hope here, especially with "Lift Every Voice and Sing" playing such a predominant role in the story. I love that it's set in Detroit and that Motown, MLK, and The Motor City are worked in so seamlessly.
Also, I'm glad Denise Lewis Patrick got another shot after Cecile. I knew there was more to her than all those series-wide pacing problems that were probably actually the fault of writing by committee.
Also, I'm glad Denise Lewis Patrick got another shot after Cecile. I knew there was more to her than all those series-wide pacing problems that were probably actually the fault of writing by committee.
February 15, 2022
Melody is a great character and a much needed one in the American Girls series! I love how her focus is music, and I love how she looks up to her older sister. Melody is a prime example of how current tragic events can deeply hurt children, the church solo was a beautiful moment. However, there is barely an mention of school at all. In an era when desegregating schools was such a big deal, I wish there could have been some mention of what Melody's schooling was like. As a child, you assume it's like yours today but as an adult you know that can't be true.
October 13, 2023
American Girl did a disservice to the understanding of history by changing the format of their historical books. No illustrations were included, and the section in the back of each showing graphics and explaining the history of the time was omitted. This book is also longer than the original Samantha, Molly, Addy, and Josephine books, making it a lot slower pace and duller for early readers. Having read most of the versions with my children from the previous iterations published in the 1980s through the 2000s, I can state that the quality has gone down.
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