Mockingbird

Title:  Mockingbird

Author: Kathryn Erskine

Publisher: Philomel

Release Date:  April 15, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

An unforgettable story in the tradition of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.

In Caitlin’s world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That’s the stuff Caitlin’s older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon’s dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger’s, she doesn’t know how. When she reads the definition of closure, she realizes that is what she needs. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white—the world is full of colors—messy and beautiful.

I received this book from Around The World Tours and forgot about it. Then Cindy asked me if I had sent it and I was not sure what she meant, then I looked around and there it was sitting on the table. I told her I would send it promptly the next morning. I then picked up the book to try and read it before the next morning thinking it was going to be a struggle. I completely fell into this book. Caitlin's child-like innocence was increased by her battle with Asperger's so when her brother dies she has no real idea what is going on.

Kathryn created a story that touches so many different emotions. I felt genuinely sad for Caitlin and her father's loss and Caitlin's need to make her father feel better and have "closure". This book deals with more than Asperger's it deals with something we all inherently feel whether we admit it or not.

So poignant and touching! It made me cry.

5/5