Mockingbird- Katheryn Erskine

Title: Mockingbird
Author:Erskine, Katheryn
Publisher: Puffin, 2010
ISBN-13:978-0142417751

Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Reading Level: 630 Lexile
Interest Level: 11+
Award: National Book Award Winner

Readers Annotation: Having Asperger's syndrome has given Caitlin an interesting outlook on the world. She sees things differently, but has Devon, her brother, to help her interpret the world until he is gone.

Plot:
When a school shooting takes her brother, Caitlin has a hard time navigating the world that seems foreign to her. Devon always helped interpret things and explained to her what emotions she did not understand. In the aftermath, the school counselor Mr. Brooks helps Caitlin figure out what she is feeling and how to cope with her new reality. She is an eccentric person who is simply trying to find her way through each day. The reader sees the world through Caitlin's outlook and begin to understand her personality as she figures it out as well. She hears that people need to find closure, but is not sure what that means, she tries hard to find this mysterious "closure" as if it is a thing. This story delves into the life of someone who experiences tragedy but who does not feel as the stereotypical person does. This book helps defy normal. 

Review:
This book is powerful and full of unexpected emotion and wisdom. There is something wonderful about the fact that Caitlin sees the world so objectively and yet feels many emotions. This book takes the definition of normal and skews it in many ways. Devon is this perfect being in Caitlin's mind, which is an interesting look into the eyes of a younger sister who idolizes her brother. Her father seems so sad all the time and Caitlin cannot understand emotionally even though cognitively she can see the sadness. This book is a unique look at death, love, and family.

Similar Materials:

Rules- Cynthia Lord
Waiting for Normal- Leslie Connor