The Blurb:
Caitlin doesn’t understand. Her world, which is
pretty much topsy-turvy already, turns upside down when her brother and best
friend Devon dies on a fateful day in a school shooting. Caitlin, who suffers
from Asperger’s syndrome, refers to that as The Day Our Lives Fell Apart. We
see how she learns to cope with her surroundings and tries to make sense of
things. After reading the definition of closure, she realizes that she
and the people around her are searching for it, all in their own ways.
My Views:
This novel is an insightful piece of writing.
Written from Caitlin’s perspective, we see things from the mind of an eleven year
old who has difficulty in understanding some things and is surprisingly
intelligent in other matters. Unmistakably, it is a very moving story in which the
reader, along with Caitlin, uncovers the meaning of closure, friendship, heart,
and many things in between, in a manner which is seemingly simple but very
profound. Symbolism is an important element in this book; for example, the
wooden chest Devon has made, and Harper Lee’s mockingbird, both point to some
of the important aspects of this book. Also, the way Caitlin interprets things
is unusual. The relationships our protagonist shares with people around her are
unique too. With Mrs. Brooks, who is the school counselor, she is a curious,
unafraid child who is inquisitive of everything around her. With her classmate Emma,
she tries to be friendly in her own way. With Michael, who is her first ever
friend, she tries to play the elder helping sibling that Devon has always been
to her. With her father, she is a demandingly innocent child who is having
difficulty understanding her father’s actions.
What is remarkable about this book is that it
covers three different storylines. It is a book about a school shooting and how
the community deals with its grief. Secondly, it is a book about a child with
Asperger’s syndrome learning to understand her surroundings, and finally, it is
a book about dealing with the loss of a family member, of someone close to you.
The only thing that can be called as a weak point
of this book is its writing style. The author has an unusual writing style
which may be appealing to some readers, but can have a reverse effect on
others. That is to say that the writer has taken a risk by writing this book in
the way it is written; the way Caitlin’s mind works and her way of seeing and
explaining things can be wearisome for some readers (because of her incoherent
manner).
In my view however, this novel is well written
and holds its charm over adults and kids alike.
Some of my favourite quotes from Mockingbird:
“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.”
“I don't think I'm going to like it at all. I think it's going to hurt. But
after the hurt I think maybe something good and strong and beautiful will come
out of it.”
“Understanding people’s difficulties and—just as
crucial—helping people understand their own difficulties and teaching them
concrete ways to help themselves will help them better deal with their own
lives and, in turn, ours.”
* * * *
Thank you, Aqsa! You're a great reader, and always full of surprises!
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