From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026

Mockingbird
by
Start date
July 1, 2010
Finish date
July 31, 2010
Why we're reading this
We had a tie for the book this month. Choose one to read or both if you like.

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Mandy
Jul 05, 2010 rated it really liked it
"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
Sarah
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
Beverly
Aug 07, 2010 rated it it was amazing
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 ...more
Jaclyn
Dec 17, 2010 rated it really liked it
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. ...more
Ann
Jan 20, 2011 rated it liked it
The book takes the reader into emotional and difficult places.
Though sensitively done, the issues are heart breaking.
Jen
May 18, 2013 rated it it was amazing
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.
Susan  Dunn
Aug 09, 2010 rated it liked it
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. ...more
Emily
Oct 22, 2010 rated it really liked it
Shelves: listened-to, kid-lit
4.5 stars
Shelley
Nov 19, 2010 rated it it was amazing
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Gin
Jun 17, 2010 rated it it was amazing
All adults working with children on the autism/aspergers spectrum should read this book, as well as peers/students who coexist with special needs classmates. Emotional and challenging subject matter with engaging characated development.
April Moody
Jul 10, 2011 rated it really liked it
This story really put me into the mind of an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger's. It was quite touching and insightful. ...more
Elisabeth
Jul 07, 2010 marked it as to-read
Becky Barrier Nelson
Jul 13, 2010 rated it really liked it
Laura
Jul 14, 2010 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: j-fiction
Karyn The Pirate
Aug 19, 2010 marked it as to-read
Hannah
Aug 24, 2010 marked it as to-read
Charity
Aug 24, 2010 rated it really liked it
Deborah Kovacs
Sep 28, 2010 rated it it was amazing
Diane
Nov 07, 2010 rated it really liked it
Jodi
Nov 21, 2010 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: social-issues
Ariell
Nov 29, 2010 marked it as to-read
Dana
Dec 12, 2010 rated it liked it
Laurie
Feb 09, 2011 rated it really liked it
Sarah
Aug 11, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Kristen
Nov 24, 2011 rated it really liked it
Mary
Dec 02, 2011 rated it it was ok
Claire Caterer
Mar 27, 2012 marked it as to-read
Amanda A
Sep 04, 2012 marked it as ktbr  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: overdrive
Lou Hunley
Dec 13, 2012 rated it liked it
Wendy Garland
Apr 22, 2013 rated it liked it
Shelves: middle-grade