Melody Brooks is the main character in the book "Out of My Mind". She is disabled and unable to speak, but has an intelligent and creative mind. Mansa Musa was a real-life king of the West African Mali Empire in the early 14th century who became famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca and enriching towns along the way by giving away gold. In a fictional interaction, the spirit of Mansa Musa appears before Melody and offers her wealth and status if she comes back in time to help advance his kingdom, but she declines as her place is in the present with her family and friends.