Mockingbird
Ratings19
Average rating4.1
A fairly realistic voice for an autistic protagonist. I found it preferable to the other YA autism book I read at the same time ([b:Al Capone Does My Shirts 89716 Al Capone Does My Shirts Gennifer Choldenko https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1309198452s/89716.jpg 2952174]), but not having read YA in a long time, parts seemed very superficial. In addition, the character sometimes seemed young or naive in a way that does not sync with my experience with high functioning individuals on the autism spectrum
Somethings made me squirm, somethings I loved, some of these things aren't mutually exclusive. Caitlin at times felt very real and I loved that at times she was ‘bratty'. I also felt that she was very inconsistent, sometimes that inconsistency broke my suspension of disbelief, yet other times it paradoxically lent to her authenticity.
Her portrayal of Aspergers is her own. There's some rigidity, not understanding figurative language/taking things literally (yet at times being very adept at using it squirm or engaging in imaginative play), not being self aware, repetitive motions, routines, etc.
There were others things that frustrated me, but they're supposed to (?). Such as Caitlin's school. Her teachers are awful at treating her with respect - one refers to her as autistic in front of the class and at another time she is shaken by a teacher. I understand that the author may have chosen to portray imperfect teachers, but I felt it was incongruent because it talked a lot about how it's such a small community, how it's so close. The author also says that this was supposed to show her receiving early intervention, but if that were the case these things would not have happened. I give some leniency due to ‘Unreliable narrator', but these were out of line.
Caitlin's (mis)understanding of working in a group project irritated me, she's at least ten and has a ridiculously high reading level. She knows what group means.
Short read about a girl on the autism spectrum coming to terms with grief. If you enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant or the Edward series, you'll like this one.