Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

To spread more awareness for autism here is another inspiring autism book everyone should read.

10 and Up

This story is about Caitlin and 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 her Dad is no help at all. She wants to get over it, but as an 11-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. She just has a little trouble explaining it to everyone else.

This book does a pretty good job explaining the mind of a child with autism. We tend to live in our own little world, where what makes sense to us doesn’t always make sense to others. And it’s very hard to take us out of that world we’ve grown accustomed to. We are also very honest. Until a certain age we’re a walking truth bomb. And even as adults we will tell you our honest opinion, whether you want us to or not.

Children with autism and most children say ‘I don’t know’ a lot and most of the time we really don’t know the answer. ‘I don’t know’ should be a reasonable answer. I know I say it a lot and a majority of the time I really don’t know the answer.

And above all do no yell or raise your voice at a kid with autism. We won’t work with you if you do. Talk to us slowly and clearly but not like the way you would talk to a 3-year-old. We’re not stupid we just have a hard time understanding you.

If you’re with someone with autism and you’re looking at them and thinking ‘Why are they doing that?’ they’re probably looking at you and thinking the same thing.

This book involves another very serious subject: the death of a family member. Death is a tough thing to understand, especially if you think differently than everyone else.

I would suggest this book to pretty much anyone and everyone.