Mockingbird

by Kathryn Erskine

What’s Closure anyway?

What might bring you closure if you lost a loved one?

Scout talks to the crowd of angry men and makes them go away. All she says is hi and that she knows their kids from school. Then all the angry men leave. I don’t Get It. But Devon says that’s exactly what I’m like because I say stuff that’s obvious and people go, Oh, and it makes them think.

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It’s evil, evil, evil! I said, and I screamed until he put his hand over my mouth and I bit his finger hard and he tried to get his finger out of my mouth but I wouldn’t let him until I saw the tears coming out of his eyes. He crumpled on the floor holding his finger tight and his face went red and I realized for the first time that Devon feels pain.

What is haappening here in her mind?

Yes. But he asked what I want. That’s what I want. I know I can’t have it.

The rest of the stupid reading buddies time is a blur. I know I read really LOUD so Michael can hear me reading to HIM even though I am at the other end of the library. I know that the stupid little girl I’m reading to starts crying because she says I’m yelling at her which I’m not. If the book says STOP! then that’s how you should read it. Especially if Michael is sitting next to Josh and especially if Josh is giving Michael a high five and ESPECIALLY if Michael and Josh are giggling together. And I know Mrs. Brook takes me out of the library early but not before I see Michael looking at me with his big Bambi eyes and giving me our special wave.

What might this event look like to an onlooker who does not get a sneak peek into Caitlin's brain?

wonder if I can still be Scout if the person who called me Scout is now gone.

Then I have an idea. I pull her desk out of the row and push it all the way to the back corner of the room and shove it up against the wall where the terrarium was until the turtle died.

Hello, says the voice. Hello? It sounds like Aunt Jolee. Is anyone there? Dad and I are here, I say. Oh Caitlin! It’s you. Hi! I wait for her to talk more. Are you still there? Yes. Oh. I wasn’t sure because you weren’t talking. That’s because you were talking and it’s rude to talk when someone else is talking. Oh . . . well . . . so . . . what are you up to? Talking on the phone. With you. Can I speak with your dad?

Is it ok to laugh?

I have forty-six quarters in my State Quarters Map now because Virginia is coming out to cut the oak tree.

Example of literal thinking.

But first I do something important. I leave Devon’s door open.

Closure - working on chest - leaving door open

and just because we’re better at some things than William doesn’t mean we’re any better than he is. I didn’t say that.

They are all talking LOUD about anything. I hear security system and school board and babysitter and nightmares and ulcer and high fiber. Not one person says food pyramid or dairy product or candy or anything about why they are here.

How is the community grieving?

I think drawings in the margins would be good. They could be of things around school. I think of what’s around school. The grass? No. Not just grass. The street? No. I mean things you see in the classroom or out on the playground.

Literal thinking

High five, Emma says. She puts her hand in the air.

What do we know about Emma?

I’M PROUD WHEN I TELL MRS. Brook the chest is done. I also tell her that I have one really good friend which is Michael and one sort of maybe future friend which is Emma. And maybe Mr. Walters. Mrs. Brook smiles. Do you think you’re coming to Closure?

What has changed in Caitlin's life?

I hear the crying and then I see Dad’s hand reaching under the sofa cushion and pushing the wet hair out of my eyes. But I can’t stop crying. For Devon. Because of what happened to Devon. Because his life got taken away and he can’t do anything and he can’t be happy or proud or live or love

Finally grieving

I’m crying for Devon! I’m crying because I feel bad for HIM! Isn’t that empathy? I’m feeling for HIM instead of me!

How has Caitlin changed?

Everything’s okay. Just watch me. I’ll be up there, and he pointed to where Dad was standing onstage and I didn’t answer him so he said, See? And I still wouldn’t answer him so he said, I have to go now Scout. I’ll be up there. You’re going to be just fine.

Devon was so good with her

Over all the noise in the auditorium I can still hear in my head what Devon told me. I have to go now Scout. I’ll be up there. You’re going to be just fine.

If we all understood each other better, we could go a long way toward stopping violence. We all want to be heard, to be understood.

And I hope that readers will see that, by getting inside someone’s head, really understanding that person, so many misunderstandings and problems can be avoided—misunderstandings and problems that can lead to mounting frustration and, sometimes, even violence.

In what ways is Devon’s unfinished chest symbolic of the loss of Devon? How has it impacted the rest of Caitlin’s family? Although her father has covered the chest with a sheet, why do you think he chooses to keep it in their home? • Caitlin’s father tells her that “The whole town is upset by what happened. They want to help. . . . They want to help you deal with life, Caitlin . . . without Devon.”(pp. 4–5) How do readers know Caitlin isn’t dealing with the loss of her brother? What are some of the behaviors she displays that verify how she’s doing? • Devon served as a navigator to Caitlin as he helped her understand and explore the world; how does his absence make it significantly more difficult for her to deal with others? What are some of the specific kinds of things Devon did to help his sister? What was his motivation in doing these things? Did he stand to gain anything for assisting her? • Do you believe Caitlin’s father is providing her with the support she needs? Why or why not? • Mockingbird is told in the first person; how would the story be different if someone besides Caitlin were telling it? Do you thinking changing the point of view would make the story better or worse? Why? • Based on instructions on how to act, Caitlin reminds herself to “Look At The Person.” Why do you think this is particularly difficult for her? Why is each word in that phrase capitalized? What other phrases have that same treatment? What function do they serve to the reader as well as t...