Mockingbird (Erskine novel)
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| Author | Kathryn Erskine |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| ISBN | 0-14-241775-0 |
Mockingbird is a young adult novel by American author Kathryn Erskine. It won the 2010 U.S. National Book Award for Young People's Literature.[1][2]
Summary
To Caitlin, everything is black and white, and when it's not, life gets confusing. Ten-year-old Caitlin has Asperger's syndrome. Devon, her older brother, helped her make sense of everything, but tragedy struck when a shooting occurred in Virginia Dare Middle School. Caitlin's brother Devon was shot and killed by one of the shooters, making everything harder for Caitlin to understand. Turning to textbooks, art, (as Caitlin is an exceptional artist) and dictionaries, Caitlin realizes that what she needs is closure. Caitlin makes a new first grader friend named Michael, whose mother was killed by the same person who murdered Devon. Caitlin finally thinks she can find closure while finishing Devon's Eagle Scout project. But her father isn't ready for closure. When Caitlin realizes she has to get closure, now, she convinces her father to actually try the Eagle Scout project and see if it works. After the project is finished and closure is still not found, Caitlin realizes that everyone needs closure, so she and her father decide to donate the Eagle Scout project to the Virginia Dare Middle School.
Important characters
Caitlin Ann Smith: The narrator of the story, she is an artist with Asperger's, who enjoys drawing and her dictionary, and is trying to find a friend as well as closure.
Harold Joseph Smith: Caitlin's dad who is also trying to find closure and who helps Caitlin with her Asperger's syndrome.
Mrs. Brook: The school counselor, who is trying to help Caitlin feel empathy and be more outgoing and social.
Michael Schneider: Caitlin's first friend, who also wants to find closure. His mom, Roberta, is one of the victims in the shooting that kills Devon. He is also Josh's only true friend.
Josh: A boy who is one of the antagonists. Caitlin views him as evil because his cousin killed Devon. But the truth is Josh just doesn't want to be judged just because his cousin is a bad person.
References
- ^
"National Book Awards – 2010". National Book Foundation (NBF). Retrieved 2012-04-16.
(With acceptance speech by Erskine; interview, reading, and other material replicated for all five Young People's Literature authors and books.) - ^
"2010 National Book Award Winner, Young People's Literature" (November 17, 2010). NBF. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
(Acceptance speech by Erskine with some other material.)