Monday, July 18, 2011

August

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine: Book Cover

Mockingbird
by Kathryn Erskine

Synopsis:
Caitlin has Asperger's. The world according to her is black and white; anything in between is confusing. Before, when things got confusing, Caitlin went to her older brother, Devon, for help. But Devon has died, and Caitlin's dad is so distraught that he is just not helpful. Caitlin wants everything to go back to the way things were, but she doesn't know how to do that. Then she comes across the word closure- and she realizes this is what she needs. And in her search for it, Caitlin discovers that the world may not be black and white after all.

3 comments:

Annell said...

I LOVE this book!! LOVE it! It is a book I would definitely read again and recommend to everyone. An amazing and inspiring story that reminds me of my sweet nephew.

Favorite Quotes:
"It's too hard to see what you have to Deal With if things start blurring together and getting mushy and turning into each other." pg. 23

"Sometimes I read the same books over and over and over. What's great about books is that the stuff inside doesn't change. People say you can't judge a book by its cover but that's not true because it says right on the cover what's inside. And no matter how many times you read that book the words and pictures don't change. You can open and close books a million times and they stay the same. They look the same. They say the same words. The charts and pictures are the same colors. Books are not like people. Books are safe." pg. 34

"I shake my head. I don't think I'm going to like it at all. I think it's going to hurt. But after the hurt I think maybe something good and strong and beautiful will come out of it. Just like Dad said about the chest." pg. 171

Lauri said...

I enjoyed this book. I have a niece and nephew living with aspergers, this gave me some small insight into what they deal with every day. I would recommend this book. I am sorry I missed book club to talk about it.

I love the quote on books Annell listed, especially; "Books are safe". Two of my favorite quotes came from the author's note.

Favorite Quotes:
"But this is real life. A movie isn't as good as real life. It can't even compare." page 204

"Saving society money is a travesty if the cost of that savings is in human lives. Ignore and ignorance share the same root." page 234

..."by getting inside someone's head, really understanding that person, so many misunderstandings and problems can be avoided." page 235

Candy said...

I loved this book, Annell. (I am also sorry I missed book club--long story. I apologize.)

I loved Caitlin and her literal way of seeing life. Favorite parts:

"How are you feeling? . . .
"Finally I say, I feel like TiVo. . . .
"What do you mean?
"I fast-forward through the bad parts and all of a sudden I'm watching something and I'm not sure how I got there" (11-12).

SO know that feeling!

And I loved the part when she learns that "Your Manners" doesn't mean other people's "Manners," it means hers! (You'll have to read it to understand. :)) (59-60)

Oh, and this is so Caitlin:
"Say something nice, Dad hisses.
"When Dad hisses he is serious. He will not let me leave until I say something nice. I try to focus. I stare at the ear. What can I say that's nice? Finally I realize and say it. I don't think you're disgusting just because you have hair sticking out of your ear" (135).
She tries so hard, I just love her!