Mockingbird

[Jessica]

Discuss your thoughts of the book Mockingbird here.

[April]

Hi! I read Mockingbird a couple of weeks ago and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. As a special education teacher, I have had much experience with children who on the spectrum of pervasive development disorders. What concerns me about this book is the possibility for young readers to group all students with Aspergers Syndrome into one classification. In other words, I think the book should have placed more importance on individual differences. Not ALL kids with Aspergers would behave or think the way Caitlin did just as not ALL people (in general) think or behave the same. I think it's great that was a book was written from the perspective of a young person with Aspergers! I'm just not sure that I like the way this particular book could be interpreted by young readers.

There is a section in the book where Caitlyn becomes very upset when other's identify her as Autistic. I was very upset with how Caitlyn reacted. The message perceived from this is that being Autistic is bad but having Aspergers is good, or at least so much better than Autism. As an adult, I know not to make this connection. However, the book is written for children who may very well make that connection. And, that is a dangerous connection.

I am very surprised that this book received all the acknowledgements, praise, and awards that it did. Maybe it is because I'm reading it from the perspective of a special education professional?

I'm curious to hear other people's thoughts about this book.