Mockingbird

Ten-year-old Caitlin Ann Smith lives with Asperger’s syndrome in a world of black-and-white rules and literal interpretations. Following the death of her older brother, Devon, in a school shooting, her home life collapses into a state of frozen grief. Caitlin struggles to decode social cues and facial expressions while her father remains emotionally distant. She discovers the word closure in a dictionary and decides that finishing Devon’s Eagle Scout woodworking project is the mechanical solution needed to fix her family’s pain and restore order to her community.

This story serves middle-grade readers and educators looking for a first-person perspective on neurodivergence and recovery from collective trauma. It provides a technical look at how a child with sensory sensitivities processes a crisis without the standard emotional vocabulary. Readers see how direct communication and structured empathy allow a grieving community to move forward. The book leaves the audience with a practical understanding of how neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals find common ground through shared labor and clear language.

Inward-looking, contemplative, clear-cut and thought-provoking; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?