Mockingbird

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with a profound loss or struggling to understand social nuances in a world that feels increasingly loud and chaotic. It is an essential choice for families navigating a recent death or for those seeking to build deep empathy for neurodivergent perspectives. The story follows eleven-year-old Caitlin, a girl with Asperger's, as she navigates the aftermath of a school shooting that took her older brother, Devon. Since Devon was the person who helped her decode the world, Caitlin must now find her own path toward closure. Through her eyes, parents and children can explore the complexities of grief, the beauty of art, and the importance of looking past the surface. It is a realistic, secular, and deeply moving portrait of resilience that provides a safe space for middle-grade readers to process heavy emotions while learning that the world is more than just black and white.