Book Review and GIVEAWAY Mockingbird By Kathryn Erskine

Name: Mockingbird
Author: Kathryn Erskine
Publisher: Usborne

Summary:
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 Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-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. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white—the world is full of colors—messy and beautiful.


Review:
A heartbreaking novel of the everyday life of Caitlin- a young girl with Asperger's Syndrome.

Asperger's Syndrome is a rare and relatively mild autistic disorder characterised by awkwardness in social interaction, pedantry in speech, and preoccupation with very narrow interests.
Not only is Caitlin socially awkward, her and her dad are grieving her brother Devon's death.
The novel is in Caitlin's view and you can see how much she relied on her older brother in many everyday situations.
Reading Mockingbird has made me realise how much we take for granted in life.
For Caitlin so much effects how she gets through every second of every day and I find this sad.
It really has made me think- just small things like making friends and being part of a group intimidates her.
If she's out in the playground she's at her most frightened as the loudness gets to her.
The worry makes her act really childish she finds comfort in sucking on her sleeve, which means other children find her weird.
I love that even though a few children have called her names or been unkind to her, Caitlin still continues to try and make friends, she sees the kindness in everyone.
Caitlin understands the importance of manners and helps enforce manners amongst her peers.
I loved her friendship with Michael and the connection between them is heartbreaking especially as he is much younger than she is.
I also loved it when Emma realised how good at drawing Caitlin is, it made me smile knowing that would have made her day.
Caitlin may have a disorder that makes her different but she has a huge heart.
The poignant story will have you hooked from the very first page through to the very last word.
Seeing Caitlin improve and change her life for the better is beautiful, if you don't feel emotional whilst reading this novel then I worry about you as a person.
The ending is perfect and beautiful.

I also loved that Kathryn included an author note stating the reasoning behind this beautiful book.
As a resident of Virginia, Kathryn Erskine was devastated by the 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech, following that tragedy, Kathryn wanted to understand the families, and the community who went through this trauma as well as the families with special-needs children and how they dealt with the life-changing events.

I loved this book so much that I want to share it with the world.
So, leave me a comment stating why you should win my proof copy.