Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Mockingbird

Author: Kathryn Erskine

Appropriate for Ages: 10 and up

Number of Pages: 129

Lexile: 630

Bean's Rating: Baked Beans

Summary:

Ten year old Caitlin has always been doted on by her brother. He has taught her everything she knows. Then one day everything changes when Devon, is shot on his school campus, and her life falls apart. Meanwhile, at school she deals with constant bullying because of her Asperger's syndrome, and struggles to make new friends, all the while trying to find what she calls 'closure' and pull her family back together. Based on the Virginia Tech shooting, this novel shows the truth and feelings behind loss and the death of a family member.

My Thoughts:

When I first found this story, I was sitting on the floor of Barnes and Noble, while my father and brother looked for a book. I had no idea it would be so good. This book tells the powerful story of a young girl dealing with Asperger's syndrome on top of her brother being shot to death. It is a novel of revelation and hope, all through the eyes of a girl struggling to "get it".

Caitlin is the perfect example of an Asperger's child. She is gifted and talented, but has severe emotional problems to go on top of that. It is extremely plausible that these emotions would have been heightened by her brother's death and would result in the bizarre behaviors she shows in the story. Overall, she is a very strong character that tries to make everyone around her feel good. Even though she doesn't always succeed, she means well and her journey to find empathy is inspiring.

One thing I didn't like about this story, however, was the lack of "closure" for the first grader Michael at the end of the book. I thought it was a nice touch how she went to his play, and how she and Josh joined together in the end to befriend him, but I think there should have been more material about how Michael ended up. I believe he was happy when the story concluded, but there was never any definite "closure", on his part and I really wanted that for him.

Overall, this was a good book, not the best I've read but good, and I think you should take time out of your day to read this.