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"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 lik ...more
Books are not lik ...more

Caitlyn is a bit different from other kids because she has Asberger’s Syndrome. Although the kids she knows tend to think she’s weird, Caitlyn’s beloved older brother Devon knows that she can’t help disliking recess, most colors, and disruptions in routine (among other things). It seems like he’s the only person who truly understands her.
When Devon is killed at a shooting at his middle school, Caitlyn deals with his unexpected death much differently than others do; while others grieve for Devon, ...more
When Devon is killed at a shooting at his middle school, Caitlyn deals with his unexpected death much differently than others do; while others grieve for Devon, ...more

I read this book in one day. It is a wonderfully written story of a young girl with Asperger's who is also trying to Deal With the loss of her beloved older brother in a school shooting. As an educator I have some limited experience with students who have Asperger's. Erskine does a fabulous job of communicating the day to day frustrations that students who have Asperger's must feel when just trying to get along in a world they don't understand and doesn't understand them. There is a great deal o
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Really enjoyed this one but at times I felt it was a bit didactic, which is often a problem with books about children with special needs. I would have liked more development of Josh's character because his would have been an interesting perspective.
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Caitlin’s brother Devon is killed in a school shooting. She has trouble processing this because she has Asperger’s. She doesn’t understand why people keep asking her how she is doing, and she doesn’t want people hugging her, and she doesn’t get why her Dad is always sad. Her dad doesn’t want her going into his room, but he used to be the only friend that she had. So she talks to the school consular Mrs. Brooks, and tries to make friends and get through this horrible experience.

A fifth grader girl with Asperger's syndrome is dealing with the recent death of her beloved older brother in a school shooting. Caitlin misses Devon terribly, but can't really express her grief like "normal" kids. It's interesting to see her search for closure, and the way she sees the world. With the help of a counselor at her school, she is working hard to learn how to behave normally in society. A good sad story with an added punch.
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This story really put me into the mind of an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger's. It was quite touching and insightful.
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Jul 07, 2010
Elisabeth
marked it as to-read

Aug 19, 2010
Karyn The Pirate
marked it as to-read

Aug 24, 2010
Hannah
marked it as to-read

Nov 29, 2010
Ariell
marked it as to-read