Caitlin Smith

Caitlin is a student at James Madison Elementary School when her brother, Devon, is shot and killed in a random outburst of gun violence at Thomas Jefferson High School. Caitlin has Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism that makes her unusually sensitive to noise, bright colors and a host of other external stimuli that don't bother most people. Because of the pain she experiences in the everyday world, Caitlin seeks quiet places to be alone. One of her favorites is being under the wooden chest her brother was working on at the time of his death. She is withdrawn in encounters with other students and teachers. After the shooting, she is assigned to a school psychologist who works with Caitlin to help her identify and discuss her feelings. Slowly, Caitlin evolves from fear and loathing of other people in the world to acceptance and openness. She...