Last year I won a copy of the book Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine. It was a book I likely wouldn't have picked up on my own but am grateful that I read it! The main character Caitlin has Aspergers. You can read my review of the book HERE.
Welcome Kathryn!
Thank you, Kathy, for featuring MOCKINGBIRD on your blog in honor of the Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop! I thought I’d choose a couple of excerpts from MOCKINGBIRD that show the viewpoint of Caitlin, the main character, who has Asperger’s. It gives readers an idea of what it’s like to be on the autism spectrum.
Caitlin on books:
Sometimes I read the same books over and over and over. 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. You can open and close books a million times and they stay the same. They look the same. They say the same words. The charts and pictures are the same colors.
Books are not like people. Books are safe.
Caitlin on meeting new people:
I keep looking at the ground. Dad’s head comes down to my face. Remember to Look At The Person and say something nice.
I don’t Look At The Person but I say nice stuff. I’m ten. My birthday is next month. My favorite color is purple. My favorite game is Mario Kart but any video game is fine. My favorite video is Bambi except lately I don’t like it so much.
Oh . . . well . . . that’s nice, the voice says and the body moves away.
Dad says, Not so much about yourself next time.
I try to tell him I’m being helpful because I’m giving people information about what I want for my birthday in case they want to buy me something but Dad introduces me to another person.
This time I Look At The Hat which at least is close to The Person. The Hat is the size of an umbrella and that gives me an idea of what to say. When people say it’s raining cats and dogs it isn’t really. That just means it’s raining a lot. But it can rain frogs if they get sucked up in a storm and they plop down on top of your head. Also snow can be pink if red dirt dissolves in water that evaporates and—
Dad squeezes my shoulder. This means the conversation is over.
Another voice shouts Hi Caitlin! and a big hand comes into my Personal Space so I back up.
Say hello, Dad says.
Hello.
Look At The Person, Dad reminds me.
I keep my head down but tilt it enough to see one of his ears.
Dad says, Cait-LIN, in his warning voice.
What? That’s closer than The Hat!
Say something nice, Dad hisses.
When Dad hisses he is serious. He will not let me leave until I say something nice. I try to focus. I stare at the ear. What can I say that’s nice? Finally I realize and say it, I don’t think you’re disgusting just because you have hair sticking out of your ear.
Dad pulls me away by both shoulders which means the conversation is over NOW.
:o)
Thanks for stopping by!
Kathryn Erskine
Thank you Kathryn for sharing those excerpts with us.
Last month I was approached by Lindsay from Just Another Book Addict to see if I would help organize a giveaway hop to spread the word about Autism. One of my children although not yet diagnosed is likely on the Autism Spectrum. I'm not sure if he will be classified as high functioning or just has autistic tendencies but it is definitely a topic that has caught my attention.
I contacted a couple of my friends who are fellow book bloggers who I know have Autistic children and asked them to join Lindsay & I in hosting this giveaway hop.
Lindsay @ Just Another Book Addict:
http://justanotherbookaddict.blogspot.com/
Heather @ Fire and Ice Photo:
http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/
Pixie @ Page Turners:
http://www.pageturnersblog.com/
Kathy @ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer:
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/
I know the causes and treatment of autism can bring controversy. The point of this giveaway hop is simply to make people more aware about the subject by sharing information and experiences.
I for one wish I knew more about Autism when my son was younger. I've learned a lot recently especially that early intervention is important. Because my son is so high functioning I was unaware of what we were dealing with and I missed that crucial window of opportunity for early intervention. My hope is that at least one person who enters these giveaways will be able to help their child obtain the help that is available if you know where to look.
For More Information about Austism:
http://www.autismspeaks.org/index.php
http://www.autism-society.org/
http://autism-resources.com/
Now on to the Giveaways:
Each participating blog is hosting a giveaway. You will find lots of variety among the prizes. Some of the blogs are giving away prizes that relate to autism, other blogs are giving away gift cards or other prizes and posting information about autism to help make others aware.
I've got 2 great giveaways for you today.
Giveaway #1
A copy of Kathryn Erskine's book Mockingbird.
Mockingbird:
In Caitlin’s world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That’s the stuff Caitlin’s older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon’s dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger’s, she doesn’t know how. When she reads the definition of closure, she realizes that is what she needs. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white—the world is full of colors—messy and beautiful.
Kathryn Erskine has written a must-read gem, one of the most moving novels of the year.
Giveaway Details:
Open Internationally as long as the Book Depository ships to your Country
Giveaway #2
$10 Amazon gift card:
Giveaway Details:
Open to anyone who can use an amazon.com gift card
To enter the giveaways you must be 13 or older and fill out the form below. Giveaway closes at midnight on Thursday.
The hop officially starts at midnight tonight and is open through Thursday at midnight so come back and hop to another blog on the list and enter their giveaway:
A friend's son has Aspergers and my grandson has sensory disorders. Both these boys were born very prematurely, so we deal with these issues continually. It's been wonderful to have each other to bounce thoughts off of!
ReplyDeletethank you :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteWow Mockingbird sounds great! And it is so true. How her dad doesn't understand her, but to me it is all so true!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Book has an amazing story. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway...My son doesn't have this, but does have ADD..which is still a learning disability. He is now 15, but was diagnosed at age 7..We have taken him off his medication this past year, since he is older and aware of it, he can stap himself out of the distractions. Plus, he went threw this huge growing spurt, and the meds cause him not to eat, so I didn't want that to effect his growing..
ReplyDeleteThank you for doing this. As someone who works in the library, it's good for me to be able to recommend books that fill this need-fiction, non-fiction...and overall just be more aware of what is out there and how we can best build our collection (small town library) to meet our patrons needs. So again I say...thank you all!
ReplyDeleteMy older brother is autistic, and growing up, no one really knew what that was. I was constantly explaining what it meant for my brother and our family and it is incredible how much more awareness there is today. I am so grateful for the increased support and understanding of those with autism and can only pray that their lives will be greatly improved as awareness and help continue to increase! Thank you for your efforts in this great endeavor.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway, My daughter has an Autism Spectrum Disorder. My daughter was diagnosed at the age of 2 yrs old. As a parent with a child on the Spectrum, My Goal is Autism Awareness, for Parents to better understand about Autism. Get to know the signs of Autsim and talk to your childs doctor. I enjoyed parts of the story from the book and would love to hear more. I'm also coming out with a book at the end of this month talking about my daughter's Daily Routine, which is a very important part of a child with Autism's life.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this giveaway. In the past few years I've been diagnosed with mild Asperger's. As a child I knew I was different, but I didn't know what or why. Having an answer would have been great. I would have been able to understand myself. Autism Awareness is important. I think what most people know about it is the extreme form and that's not always the case. Even reading fiction on the subject can help people understand it. Plus, it's always great to find characters going through similar things as me. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your giveaway and for helping spread more awareness for autism. My son was diagnosed last spring and a friend who is an avid follower of your blog mentioned this to me. I think what you and your friends are doing is absolutely amazing!! Thank yo so very much!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway and helping to get the word out for autism
ReplyDeleteWow...can not wait to read this book! From what the author was saying she hit Aspbergers on the head! I could see so much of my son in her excerpt. Thanks so much for spreading awareness and hope. I have been having a great time being part of this Giveaway Hop and have "met" some really great people. These kids are awesome. Most are so intelligent and just want to be accepted for who they are. every chance I get I try to educate someone on the importance of acceptance. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThank you for helping to spread the word about Autism and for the chance to win!
ReplyDelete