Mockingbird, by Kathryn Erskine, is the 2010 National Book Award recipient for young people’s literature. Sweet and emotional, Mockingbird is told by Caitlin, a
ten-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. Caitlin, an exceptional artist, lives with
her family, which now only consists of her and her dad. Her older brother,
Devon, used to also be a part of Caitlin’s family. However, after a tragic
school shooting, Devon is gone from Caitlin’s life. Forever.
Devon was always a source of guidance for Caitlin. He
offered her assistance, encouraged her creativity, and taught her how to act
properly in world that is so strange to her. But now that Devon is dead and
gone, Caitlin must fend for herself in a scary, cruel world. Her dad is of
little assistance; he is too busy mourning the death of his son, the mediator
of their abnormal family.
 |
| paperback edition |
Visits with the school’s guidance counselor do not help
Caitlin understand or cope with her family’s tragedy. She is often teased and
stared at in school. People call her “freak,” or try to sympathize with her, or
just avoid her altogether. The only thing that helps Caitlin deal with her pain
is her artwork. But people even try to change that. They ask her to add color
or try different techniques that don’t appeal to Caitlin. For her, art is an
escape, not a skill.
It is only after Caitlin meets Michael, a first grader, that
she has someone to share her feelings with. Michael’s mom was also killed in
the school shooting. Caitlin’s mind, an area of imagination and confusion, is a
war zone of thought. While she will never be the same again, Caitlin learns to
use situations thrown at her to make wise decisions and establish
relationships.
A short, but deep, novel, Mockingbird draws references from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird to create a touching story of a family of two that was once a
family of three. The vivid first person narrative is an eye-opening experience of
Asperger’s syndrome and how it makes difficult situations even more uneasy.
Thoughtful, caring, and hopeful, Mockingbird
tells a story of light after darkness.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
No comments:
Post a Comment