Beth's Review: Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Reviewer Purchase
Publisher: Puffin Books
Released: April 15, 2010
Genre: Children’s books
Length: 239 pages
Format: ebook, paperback, hardback, audiobook
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Blurb
THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER and ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NOVELS OF OUR TIME FOR YOUNG READERS Caitlin has Asperger's. The world according to her is black and white; anything in between is confusing. Before, when things got confusing, Caitlin went to her older brother, Devon, for help. But Devon was killed in a school shooting, and Caitlin's dad is so distraught that he is just not helpful. Caitlin wants everything to go back to the way things were, but she doesn't know how to do that. Then she comes across the word closure--and she realizes this is what she needs. And in her search for it, Caitlin discovers that the world may not be so black and white after all.
Four Boundless Stars
Mockingbird is told in the point of view of a child with Asperger’s, Caitlin; as she shares daily her struggles to give readers a better understanding of Asperger’s. In addition, she is dealing with the death of her older brother, Devon; with whom she had a very close relationship. He was killed in a school shooting, which has the community grieving along with Caitlin, and her father.
This is a beautifully touching story about love, loss, grief and closure; brilliantly written to bring readers into the story, while educating them on the symptoms of Asperger’s. It touches on the anxiety, literal understanding, and social struggles of children with Asperger’s, in an easy to understand and, at times, funny way. I loved Caitlin and how she viewed the world around her. I recommend this book to readers of all ages. I enjoyed Mockingbird and appreciated that I could listen to it with my 10 year old daughter in the car; as a plus, she loved the story too.