Title: Mockingbird
Author: Kathryn Erskine
Age: Juvenile (Grades 4 and up)
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Keywords: school shooting, family tragedy, asperger's syndrome

Description: (Bibliochic) Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine is the tale of 10-year-old Caitlin, a talented young artist with Asperger’s syndrome. In Mockingbird, Caitlin is on the search for “Closure” after the death of her older brother, Devon. The novel is told from Caitlin’s point of view, and the reader gets a unique look into the mind of a child that sees the world very differently from the average person.

I had originally requested this book from the library because it's been on my Amazon wishlist for months under Young Adult. It was only until I got it that I realized it was juvenile fiction, but either way - I think anyone of any age can read it and enjoy it.

First of all, I'd like to say that this really blew me away. Erskine writes in first person POV, through the eyes of Caitlin, a 10-year old girl with Asperger's. Her brother, Devon, who was in Middle School, was killed in a school shooting. Throughout the novel, Caitlin struggles to understand that Devon is no longer going to be there to explain things to her; she has to try to connect with her father, who's torn by grief, and adapt to her surroundings through sessions with Miss Brook, who is her counselor.

Erskine has a wonderful writing style that really lets the reader connect with Caitlin and see things as she sees them. There were several times that I found myself wrapped up in Caitlin's world and pronouncing words as she would pronounce them and try to understand them.

Caitlin's self proclaimed mission is to find Closure for Devon's death, and help her father find Closure as well. By the end of the book, Caitlin has actually helped the entire community start to heal from the school shooting.

I was floored by how well written the novel was, honestly. I also love that the story revolves around such a serious subject (coping with a tragedy) and how a young girl, who many consider strange, is the one that ends up helping people start to heal after such a tragedy. I would definitely recommend this book to child and adult alike, it was so well written and such an amazing story.

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