Mockingbird

In many ways, Mockingbird is a coming-of-age novel. A young girl begins the novel with one set of assumptions about herself, her family, and her life and ends with an entirely new set of perceptions. The central idea that Caitlin struggles to understand is the concept of empathy—a concept more difficult for her because of her Asperger’s. How do Caitlin’s difficulties with empathy manifest early in the novel? How does Mrs. Brook’s advice help direct Caitlin toward change? How has Caitlin changed by the time the novel ends?

Teaching Suggestion: The Power of Empathy is a tricky theme that can seem trite depending on the life experiences and the backgrounds of students (to illustrate this, perhaps play for them John Lennon’s “Imagine,” which makes getting along seem easy, even though the theme is quite challenging). Caitlin’s difficulties with empathy are twofold; her Asperger’s makes it difficult for her to conceptualize other people’s points of view, but she is also a child and (like many children) tends to put herself first. The question therefore prompts students to think about The Loss of Innocence (or transition to adulthood) as well. You may find it helpful to have students reread the book’s dedication and to encourage them to think about situations at school or home where understanding another’s point of view might help resolve problems and ease anxieties.