You know what, I was about to put that book down and stop reading it. I heard so many people telling what a good book/movie it was so I was curious to find out why.

The first half of the book was really dragging and sometimes seemed irrelevant and boring, but it totally turned around starting at chapter 17 (I know, a loooong way to go, but don't give up). I was amazed at how well it ended, though.

I only give it 3 stars because of the slow-moving development of the plot. However, I still think it's worth reading.

If you think that the title and the star rating don't go well together, keep on reading...

To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel set in Alabama during the late 1930s. The novel has a first-person narrator who is a girl named Scout. The novel has two parts: Part 1 and Part 2.

In Part 1, Scout describes her ancestors, family at the time of the novel's setting, neighbors, early years in school, interactions with neighbors, and experiences with her brother Jem and her father Atticus.

In Part 2, a black man is accused of a serious crime and declared guilty by a white jury even though there did not appear to be any sound evidence that he was guilty. Atticus was the defendant's defense lawyer. I will not say what happens after this in case you want the climax to be a surprise.

Now, let's compare the two sections. Atticus denounces racism in both sections, and there are examples of racism in both sections. However, most of the characters mentioned in Part 1 do not have any involvement in the trial that I mentioned earlier, which I think is a key element of not only Part 2, but the entire novel. In Part 1, there was one particular character that got a few too many pages focused on her.. especially when taken into consideration that she died before Part 2 (the "important part").

Here is another problem: The novel is told from a child's perspective. Indeed, I did noticed well-presented character development in Scout's personality, but it's all about Scout. Everybody else is static. It is true that children have limited perception of adults, so the static presentation of the adult characters is definately realistic. However, this is not a "children's book;" there clearly are mature subject matters. The target audience would have to be teenagers or adults. With that in mind, the static presentation of adults does not correspond with the target audience.

Nontheless, my views of this novel are in a minority category. This book is a classic, and I can understand why. The author has an impressive understanding of the time and place in which this book is set. However, that does not mean that the book is a good NOVEL! A detailed setting is enough for expository text, but a NOVEL must take advantage of the elements of FICTION. When I said elements of FICTION, I meant a detailed, consistent plot, well-rounded characters, a broad range of perspectives, variation (but connections) in subject matter (all of which relates to the ENTIRE PLOT), a lot of characters that influence the outcome of the plot in their own, unique way, and so forth. To Kill a Mockingbird does not take advantage of the elements that NOVELS have to offer, and NOVELS can offer more than just a detailed setting. For this reason, I am going to give this novel a one star rating.

Now, as for the title of this review, the book did enhance my imagination. It inspired me to imagine... criticims.

1. Does the law treat individuals differently based on race? Yes. In 1836, Maycomb, Alabama is shock of talk of rape. The accused talk of rape of a white woman by a black man. The facts of the case were circumstantial and the jury strongly biased towards protecting a long standing ideology. Justice was far from equally administrated. Generally, a white mans word superseded a contradictory claim by a black man. Judge Taylor brought a bible tone overture to the court room and a eye contemptuous of Bob Ewelle. The incestuous probable, Bob Ewelle, states that he heard Mayella Ewelle screaming and peer through the window and saw Tom Robinson "rutting on Mayella". Atticus could not control the damage done, the court immediately erupted into a frenzy. Judge Taylor pound his gavel until exhaustion. Christian citizens declared with fervor a determination to protect their women from such beasts. Atticus revealed through cross examination that the attacker was left handed. If a court demonstation, Atticus requested that Bob Ewelle sign his name; Bob Ewelle was left handed; the attacker was left handed; and Tom Robinson had no use of his crippled left hand; and Mayella injury was to the left eye. The sheriff, Hector, tells the court that he say Mayella with injuries. Atticus disturbingly shows the jury that a weak crime scene procedure was follow with the absence of a doctor requested to verify rape. Mayella does not deviate from her claim that Tom Robinson raped her, family loyalty embedded in generations of disfunctional behavior, in such a manner, an innocent man faces the peril of electric chair and an incestuous father ridden with alcoholic stupor preserved like a saint. Tom testifies that Mayella invited him in the house to assist with chores; Mayella had sent the seven children to the store for icecream having saved for months to provide the money; Mayella then grabbed Tom and kissed him, tell him, that she never had been with a man and it might as well be a black man and her father sexual relations did not count; Tom attempted to flee but Mayella grabbed him around the waist; Tom escapes and runs out the back door, as Bob Ewelle burst in the room. Tom ran because he was afraid, but the jury believed, he ran because he was guilty.

Woman spoke critically within hearing of scout. Cast dynamics played a part in the trial. Maycomb families existed as a cast society: at the bottom of the cast hierarchy was the Ewelles, who lived on and near the city dump; next up the social ladder was the Cunningham's, who lived in the forests; and the church loving citizens of Maycomb, who lived a connected and intimate life in the small community. The Cunninghams despised the Ewelles. Cunningham was somewhat convinced of Tom Robinson innocence and held out on the jury decision, but finally capitulated with a guilty verdict.

3. If your black should you trust a jury to administer justice? No. Jem wanted Atticus through state congressional process in Birmingham to change the law, allowing a Judge to rule on case. Tom Robinson was not a slave. Yet, Tom seemed subservient in his manners and speech, unable to defend himself against sophisticated legalism. Should circumstantial evidence or preponderance of doubt be an adequate test for capital offenses? No. Retribution, anger, and self indignation can become the fuel that brings punishment. The lack of direct causal evidence replaced with moral condemnation of the accused. Someone has to pay and why not a black man.

4. What social order did Tom's conviction and eventual death serve? Tom attempted to escape from prison, climbed over a fence, and at the crest of the fence was shot seventeen times. If Tom had two arms, he would have escape over the fence into short term freedom. Tom provided a means to reinforce the barrier between white and black culture, segregation, and fear governing the cast. Interaction between black and white norms established in a secure manner of socastic long term social stagnation. Legalism does not transform social norms. Toms conviction reinforced the social norm of segregation, class distinction, and racism extremes.

5. Will the black culture find the promise land? This is a compelling and dynamic questions with very complex implications. The church is the gather place, the songs, a cry for deliverance. Atticus was a hero, loved, and respected like a great leader for defending Tom Robinson. Gifts of food, a standing exit, and kind gestures implied appreciating for the defender of the faith. A man who follow his duty and followed his conscience. The children of the promise have journeyed for many years. The civil right act did not bring them into the promise land. The legal system did not bring them a land of milk and honey. The corporation did not offer a land of inheritance. If a black man is equal in the law today, he truly has entered the promise land. The constitutional privilege, the inalienable rights of divine law, and justice have been served.

"To Kill a Mockingbird", was a book that was required of me to read for school. I did not think that I would enjoy the book, but as I read more and more I just couldn't stop reading it. I would have to say the my favorite thing about the whole book is how Jem, Scout, and Dill are so curious about Boo Radley and think that he is this horrible monster of a person but really he ended up saving one of there lives and also kept Scout warm with the blanket he gave her when their neighbors house caught on fire. I would recommend "To Kill a Mockingbird" to anyone I know...that is if they haven't all ready read it.

This book has to be among the best in human history. Flawlessly written from the perspective of a child and full of wisdom. Everyone should read this book.

Pretty darn boring, if it wasn't required to read in English i would've burned it. This type of book isnt for everyone.

I'm usually concerned about purchasing items on line, especially books. I can honestly say that this experience was worth it. I would recommend this seller to anyone interested in purchasing good quality books at extremely reasonable prices.

Buy with confidence, I did!

I'm usually concerned about purchasing items on line, especially books. I can honestly say that this experience was worth it. I would recommend this seller to anyone interested in purchasing good quality books at extremely reasonable prices.

Buy with confidence, I did!

I would have thought more people would be rating the actual reading of this book, rather than the content. I have loved this book since I read it in high school and have read it several times since then. I have listened to it read by Roses Pritchard and now by Sissy Spacek. Sissy does a terrible job reading: no expression and several mispronunciations. I was embarrassed for her.

I would have thought more people would be rating the actual reading of this book, rather than the content. I have loved this book since I read it in high school and have read it several times since then. I have listened to it read by Roses Pritchard and now by Sissy Spacek. Sissy does a terrible job reading: no expression and several mispronunciations. I was embarrassed for her.

I never received this book. Today is July 20,2008. It was ordered back in June.

I love this story. The first I read this was in 8th grade. Years later, I read it again and it still moved me. A wonderful book written by a wonderful author. This is one of those stories that make you think and move you. It is so much more than it seems.

I had never read this book before, but it is awesome! I really enjoyed it and would suggest it to anyone interested in a captivating read.

This is my all time favorite book, wonderful on so many levels. At the end I cried for the loss of the characters in my life. Simply extraordinary.

Must have been the times in which it was first released because this book did nothing for me. I just don't get why people rave about this book. This is one of those rare cases where you should watch the movie and forget the book.

The novel is simply amazing! An amazing storyline to go along with a tremendous theme in human equality and rights. A must read for everyone who grew up in the south....actually a must read for every American period!!

Jean Louise Finch, better known as Scout, narrates this tale that covers roughly 2 years of her childhood starting from shortly before she started the 1st grade. The story is a mixture of many elements including a mysterious neighbor named Boo Radley, various coming of age issues regarding Scout and her brother Jem, and her father, Atticus, defending a black man accused of raping a white woman. As the story is set in Alabama in the 1930s, the rape case is particularly incendiary.

To Kill a Mockingbird is such a classic piece of American literature that most people read it in high school. I somehow missed that experience and curiosity prompted me to pick it up and give it a try. While there were a few descriptions of rural southern life that ran on a bit long for my taste, the novel was well worth reading. For sheer entertainment value, I enjoyed the Boo Radley subplot the most as it is both mildly suspenseful and immensely interesting.

Of course, the novel is most famous for the rape trial and this is also compelling in a fairly horrifying and very sad way. Harper Lee paints a vivid portrait of the extent to which African Americans were relegated to a status far below even second class in that place and time. Atticus Finch does a masterful job of defending the accused, but he knows that the all-white jury has practically cast their votes before ever entering the courtyard. The author uses the narrative voice of the children to highlight the blatant injustices and the outrage that any decent person would feel as a result. The technique is highly effective if not exactly subtle.

To Kill a Mockingbird is easy to recommend. The story is interesting, the characters substantial, and the subject is still relevant today. It's a shame that Harper Lee has not published a second novel but this single book is likely to ensure that her voice will continue to be heard fro many years to come.

Embrace The Light; a women's story through poetry to touch your heartThis book touched my heart. I highly reccommend it. A real classic. To foster peace and open the minds for others.

This timeless novel by Harper Lee is a semi-autobiographical story about a girl named Scout Finch growing up in 1930's Alabama. When her father, Atticus, is assigned to defend a black man on trial for rape, Scout must learn to keep her head high in spite of the taunting and threats of a town gone "stark raving mad". Scout's brother, Jem, represents adolescence and its uncertainty, while her friend, Dill, provides a more naïve and straightforward point-of-view; with Scout's tenacity they form a balanced perspective on the discord that surrounds them. Their distant communication and friendship with the hermit Boo Radley teaches Scout that people are not always who they appear to be.

The first-person narration by Scout as an adult is effective in making the reader feel like he or she has truly lived the story, and in allowing adults, as well as kids, to relate to the theme of growing up while facing adversity. Atticus, truly the model father, shows through example the values of courage, honesty, and respect. The different ways that Scout, Jem, and Dill, respond to the injustices they witness allow for great insight into the human character. To Kill a Mockingbird is known as a high-school staple for its message of courage and tolerance, but readers of all ages have been and will continue to be impacted by this poignant narrative.

Harper Lee's Pulitzer-prize winning novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, was published in 1960. The novel, set in 1930's Alabama, details the life of a young girl, Scout, and her older brother, Jem, as they encounter the prejudices of their small town. Their father, Atticus Finch, the town's lawyer, must defend a Negro male in a case that changes the Finch's lives forever. The book details Scout's period of self discovery & her exploration of ethics in a time of racial conflict in America's South. Scout, the narrator of the novel, is six at the beginning, but as she grows, so too does the novel's vocabulary. Words like "stricture" and "slop" turn into "ex cathedro" and "morphodite". The diction evolves in accordance with the development of the character changing to reflect shifting views & perspectives.

Although a great piece of literature, the novel does not contain similes or metaphors. This lack, however, does not detract from the literary experience, but rather adds to the book a refreshing element of honesty & innocence. A relatively new literary work, To Kill A Mockingbird is a masterpiece that will be enjoyed by adults, children and families for years to come.

Reviewed by: K. Klavon, P. Friedman, J. Quinlan, L.K., Mike Dalbello,
Max Holmes

One of the biggest daily challenges high school students face is the struggle to be accepted. As high school students reading Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird, we are reminded of the progressive thinking of the 1960s. Many of the lessons Atticus teaches Scout represent the values of this era. In the 60s, acceptance and love were upheld and the Civil Rights movement became apparent in everyday lives of Americans.
In TKAM, Atticus addresses these morals, such as when Atticus advises Scout not to call African-Americans the n-word. Atticus explains that just because people are different doesn't mean that they should be shunned and disrespected. This is an ideal of the 60s, as shown by the progress of the Civil Rights Movement.
Another of the 1960s values shown in Atticus' teachings is displayed when he says to Scout, "You just hold your head high and keep those fists down." The anti violence concept that Atticus preaches was prevalent in the 1960s culture. Many people advocated an anti-war stance which called for peace and unity over violence. We find that To Kill a Mockingbird manifests the ideals of the 1960s which are still valuable today.

By Louise G, Greg S, Talia M, Gabe P, and Larisa A

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, details the story of a young girl living in Maycomb, Alabama. this girl must learn to cope with the issues of racism and classism within her community. The novel accurately depicts the strong overtone of racism in the south. Little Scout, brimming with maturity beyond her young years, is faced with racial adversity when her father takes a case defending an African American.
Wee Scout is harassed by peers who call her strong, caring father a "nigger lover". Scout, being a rambunctious and feisty youngster, is forced to change her aggressive lifestyle due to constant teasing from her fellow classmates. She courageously perservered and sticks by her father's side throughout the trial.
This book, one of the first of its kind, shows the readers the true corruption of the time. Scout must come to terms with the fact that the society surrounding her is blinded by prejudice and stereotypes. Although her and her family know the innocence of Tom Robinson, Jem must face Scout with the unfortunate reality that "here are things [she] doesn't understand" about southern society.
the detailed accuracy of the racism and injustice within the court system at that time is astounding.

Harper Lee's literary masterpiece To Kill A Mockingbird portrays poverty during the Depression in an accurate yet somewhat negative light. The novel chronicles the childhood of Jem and Scout Finch, with their father Atticus, in the economically disadvantaged town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the 1930s. The decade brought increased financial hardships to much of America's muddle-class as racial tensions escalated in a nation struggling to achieve equality.
Although the majorirty of Maycomb residents faced a certain degree of poverty, Lee highlights extremely impoverished families such as the Ewells and Cunninghams. In a truthful rendition of the sacrifices many had to endure, Lee describes Walter Cunningham's lack of food. "He had no [lunch] today no would he have any tomorrow oe rhe next day," Lee writes and, "He had probably never seen the quarters together..."
Mockingbird also displays the respect and generosity with which most tried to lead their lives, despire the poverty all around the,. When Scout invites young Walter over for lunch, Calpurnia, the Finches' housekeeper, reprimands Scout, admonishing, "Yo' folks might be better than the Cunninghams, but it don't count for mothin' the way you're disgracin' 'em..."
Lee's depiction of the dirt-poor Ewells, whose alcoholic father uses his meager income to fuel his addiction , allows the audience to glimpse the bottom crust of Southern society. Of Burris Ewell, a permanent first-grader, Lee writes, "His neck was dark gray, the back of his hands were rusty, and his fingernails were balck deep into the quick." The poverty-stricken South is accurately exemplified in Harper Lee's classic tale To Kill A Mockingibrd.

The great American classic, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, is a heart-warming and insightful re-telling of one spunky, curious girl growing up in the racially-divided and old-fashioned South. The main character, Scout, was constantly reprimanded by her relatives, for being too "unladylike." She breaks through these gender stereotypes by refusing to adhere to this expected persona of a Southern Belle. Ever her brother and friend engage in sexist jokes and banter, and exclude her from certain activities because of her gender. Despite her dealing with the constant insults to her person, Scout blossoms into an upstanding and determined woman, partially because of her father Atticus's moral teachings throughout her development.

This book is considered a classic for a reason. Not only does it contain beautiful writing and meaningful morals, but it also has an entertaining plot. The book appeals to twelve-year olds and forty year olds alike, with a sweet and humorous story. All different kinds of people, from the more "involved" Stephanie Crawford's to the sassy and opinionated Calpurnias, can enjoy this wonderful tale of growing up, learning new things, and breaking boundaries that has entertained a nation for over forty years.

by ava, jenny w, lizzy, and rosalie.

Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird is a relief after the numerous tedious pieces of "classic literature" forced upon us by our county's curriculum. This book interlaces themes related to both adulthood and childhood which parallel the stage of our lives which we currently live.

To Kill A Mockingbird centers around the lives of Scout and Jem Finch and their explorations of the facets of maturity. The two spend there summers with Dill, exploring their sleepy southern town and trying to coax Boo Radley out of his house. The siblings grow apart as the each begin their own transition from child to adult. Jem's changes manifest themselves in his habitual "maddening superiority", while Scout learns more about the intricacies of the more adult world. Their new found maturity is tested when Atticus takes on the job of defending Tom Robinson. Then they learn the true meaning of growing lies in making the right decision when faced with the wrong.

This novel resonates with teenage readers in a way uncommon to many of the books imposed upon us in school. Everyone should read this timeless classic because it is more that just a classic. It is a catalog of life lessons imparted to the reader through a collection of memories.

To Kill a Mockingbird
We just finished this book and were amazed at the incredible use of diction and tone words by the author to enhance the theme. Harper Lee uses the tone of mystery to enhance the reader's comprehension of the subtle complexities of the novel. To Kill a Mockingbird by following the life and adventures of a young southern tomboy named Scout Finch.
In the novel, one of the key aspects, which is a constant source of excitment and mystery, is the Radley house. In Maycomb it was "alien to Maycomb ways" to have ones shutters closed. Yet the Radley house was frequently seen with its shutters closed. Inside of the house lived a "malevolent phantom." " The house was low.. and had long ago darkened to keep the sun away." Incredibly enticing quotes are a frequent happening in this page-turning, plot packing, story filling filet of great literature.
After reading this book, one realizes that to fully appreciate the novel, one must place oneself in their environment and "stand in the characters shoes." The numerous opposing viewpoints within the novel help to expose the characters' flaws and their true qualities. Yet, this book turns out to be, a Pulitzer Prize, award-winning novel which will thrill and profoundly amaze readers for years to come.
Written by Gardi Royce, Benjamin Buchholz, Chris Hinton and Noel Barrymore.

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird exemplifies the feminist views of its time. The book tells the story of Scout, a young girl living in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, and her adventures with her older brother Jem and their summertime friend Dill. The trio's escapades are set against the background of a black man in their community, Tom Robinson, being tried for raping a white woman. Scout's father Atticus acts as a lawyer for the trial, bringing Scout and Jem ridicule from their peers. Throughout the novel, Lee conveys a feminist message.

Scout, the protagonist, is a rambunctious, tomboy who defies the expectations of women in the 1930s Southern Alabama society; for example, on page 22, Scout beats up Walter Cunningham, which is uncharacteristic of a "proper" lady. Scout spends her days "usually mud-splashed or covered with sand" instead of drinking tea with the ladies (Lee 131). Furthermore, Scout gets a gun for Christmas, thus engaging in a normally male-dominated activity. Scout is boyish, unruly, and adventurous; yet, she is perceived positively, as a protagonist of the novel. Lee shows that women can be self-sufficient and intelligent without being "girly."

On the other hand, the characters that conform to society by adhering to standards for women are often perceived as mean or shallow; for example, Mrs. Dubose is Scout's "gender appropriate" neighbor. Mrs. Dubose criticizes Scout for wearing overalls. "'You should be in a dress and camisole, young lady!'" Mrs. Dubose yells from her porch (Lee 101). Despite being feminine, a trait favored by society, Mrs. Dubose is also mean, sharp-tongued, and selfish. Scout's Aunt Alexandra is also a feminine character who is overly critical of Scout's wanton ways. According to Aunt Alexandra, Scout should fill her time "playing with small stoves, tea sets, and wearing the Add-A-Pearl necklace she gave [Scout] when [she] was born" (Lee 81). Aunt Alexandra further tells Scout that she shouldn't "be doing things that require pants," meaning Scout should act like a young lady, not a man (Lee 81). Aunt Alexandra's antagonistic nature shows that feminine qualities are not necessary to be moral.

Lee has written a spellbinding story that tackles the feminine stereotypes of the time. It parallels the heavy issues of women's rights with the tale of a young girl coming of age.

Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird is set in a rural Southern town during the Dpression of the 1930s. The story is told from the perspective pf Scout Finch, a school-age Caucasian girl from a struggling middle class family. She has many encounters with conflicting social pressures. Many are quick to point out the civil rights aspect of the novel; however, even deeper into is, the subject of feminism is also addressed. From a feminist view, this novel excellently portrays social struggles of women during the era of the Depression.

Throughout the novel Scout is faced with an interesting dilemma concerning her gender and feminism. She is continuously faced with conflicting messages coming from Jem and Dill and from the likes of Aunt Alexandra or Mrs. Dubose. Jem and Dill are constantly encouraging Scout to act less like a traditional girl, and to spend more time in overalls than in dresses; for example, Jem tells Scout, "I declare to the Lord you're getting' more like a girl every day" after Scout declines to accompany Jem and Dill to the Radley House.

On the other hand Scout faces intense pressure to act like a convention girly-girl from the likes of her Aunt Alexandra and Mrs. Dubose; for example, Scout says, "Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants. Aunt Alexandra's vision of my deportment involved playing with small stoves, tea sets, and wearing the Add-A-Pearl necklace she gave me when I was born."

In addition, Scout feels that she is isolated from other children by Aunt Alexandra as a result of her gender. She desires to "graduate to the big table" with the others, but she is not allowed to. Scout expresses that Aunt Alexandra "didn't understand girls much."

Overall, the book fully addresses the expectations felt by both children and women and offers a powerful commentary on feminism in the depression era of the South. It explains how the feminist influences affected growing up during this time period. This formula makes for a classic novel.
[...]

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is an accurate representation of the struggle for civil rights. One character, Calpurnia, particularly caught our eye as she was a respected figure in the Finch household even though she is an African American working for the family. Despite being a valued member of the family, and a mother figure to Scout and Jem, Calpurnia is looked down on by outsiders, the reserved citizens of Maycomb; for example, even Aunt Alexandra, sister to Atticus, is concerned about Calpurnia's place in the family, convinced that the household "[doesn't] need her now." It is evident that Calpurnia's right to be respected is disregarded by others.
While most Southern whites of the 1960s were racist, Atticus Finch, a white man, agreed to legally defend an African American, Tom Robinson. By doing so, Atticus becomes an object of ridicule and prejudice. Being called derogatory names such as "nigger-lover" and "negro trash," Atticus is threatened both verbally and physically. At one point in the novel, a mob arrives at the jail to attack him. He is saved only by his daughter, Scout, as she humanizes him. Atticus' loyalty and devotion to the civil rights cause is inspirational.
The average southern white is greatly contrasted by Lee's portrayal of Mr. Dolphs Raymond. He is a white man who feels more comfortable with blacks than with whites. This is a welcome juxtaposition as it creates a contrast between the average southern citizens and himself. Dolphus' character not only supports civil rights but opens readers to the possibility of peaceful integration. This book is recommended to readers interested in the 1960s civil rights movement.

Written By Nadia Kadry, Madeleine Varmer, Anna Rittman-Tune, and Caroline Kemper

To Kill A Mockingbird, J.B. Lippincott & Co., Harper Lee, July 11, 1960
Reading Level: Ranges: Young Adult, eighth grade, 13 years or so
Number of pages: 296
Genre: Southern Gothic drama
Synopsis of Plot:
This book takes place in a small town in the south; Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. The main character of the book is a five year old girl nicknamed Scout and she tells the story from her point of view. Scout and her brother Jem, live with their father, Atticus Finch, who is a prominent lawyer in town. In the summer, Scout and Jem become fascinated with a recluse neighbor, Boo Radley. Life is dramatically changed when their father, Atticus, takes on a controversial case. A white woman, Mayella Ewell, accuses an innocent black man named Tom Robinson of raping her. It is obvious that he is innocent as the trial goes on due to Atticus' questioning. Nonetheless, in a small southern town still full of prejudice, the all white jury finds Tom Robinson guilty. Due to Atticus taking on the case, his family and children are faced with many threats and scorn from the angry white people in Maycomb. Atticus stands constant in his conviction to fight racial inequality and teaches this good to Scout and Jem. Near the end Tom Robinson is shot as he attempted to escape from jail. This is a hard lesson for Scout and Jem to learn as they feel the injustice of Robinson's position. Mayella's evil father, Bob Ewell vows revenge on the Finch's since Atticus made him appear a fool during the trial. The book ends with him attacking Scout and Jem on their way home from a school play. The children are saved by their recluse neighbor, Boo Radley. Boo stabs Bob Ewell and is luckily saved from punishment by the police officer who claims that he saw Bob Ewell fall on his own knife. The Finch children, Scout and Jem grow up during the entire process of the trial. They are faced with many examples of evil and good in people and lose their innocence through the trial.
Address negative aspects of the book:
One of the main themes of this book is forgiveness. Atticus always forgives people for their evil traits. For example, Atticus is able to forgive people for being racist and chose to admire them instead for their positive traits, such as courage or love. While I think it is good that Atticus teaches readers forgiveness, I think that it can be frustrating. Some people and acts do not necessarily deserve forgiveness, like the character Bob Ewell. I think that it is important to make sure that the seriousness of the racism in the south during those times is not taken lightly and forgiven, but remembered for the giant mistake it was.
Your appraisal of the book:
I would definitely recommend reading this book. When I read this book in fourth grade, it changed my life. Being able to discuss such serious issues and get new viewpoints and a history lesson at the same time is an amazing part of this book. I think this book should be read by every student in America. We can only learn from our mistakes in history by discussing them and learning about them in literary works. This is a perfect book that can address that lesson for students today. Buy this book and read it for all of these reasons.

This book is one of the quintessential "high school classics." It appears classic and deep only to those who lack the art and intellect to grasp the shallowness of it. It seems like there is a lot there up until the point where you begin to understand it. Apparently, the vast majority of people never do. It is a shame really, but I suppose that is the way it is. So much time and energy poured into books which are simply bad.

Sorry to ramble like this, but it verges on heart-breaking to see so many good reviews for a book that barely approaches passable. Its imagery is poor, its premise is shallow, and the attempt to "enlighten the human condition" is a flimsy pretense to draw out the phony intellectuals who cannot see 10 inches past their own lies long to see that agreeing with the crowd doesn't make you an intellectual. The problem lies in the fact that the book is a triumph of vagueness. It has a certain undefinable characteristic that many mistake for art, but which is, in fact, a simple lack of talent. The reason it is vague is not because there is a truth behind the words, but rather that there is a *story* behind the words that the author lacks the talent to draw out. A bad story, by the way. A rambling, pointlessly morose, insipid story lacking any value either in entertainment or art. Let us not even approach any further the lack of intellectual content, or otherwise I fear I may vomit.

This book is, however, a certain kind of triumph. It is a triumph of marketing. It is a triumph in the manipulation of plebian minds yearning to appear, or perhaps be, more than they are.

I beg of you, do not deride your own intelligences by attempting to force them to heights they are not capable of. If you cannot go beyond a certain point, do not do so. If books like this continue to sell in such immense quantities, I fear for the fate of all art.

Harper Lee's 1960 novel, To Kill A Mocking Bird, is one of the most important pieces of American literature to date. Aside from being enormously important, it is also an excellent read. Every middle-schooler should read this book.

Lee's novel takes place in small-town Alabama during the Great Depression. The narrator is Scout Fitch, the daughter of Atticus Fitch who is a local attorney. Atticus is assigned to defend a local black, Tom Robinson, man who has been charged with raping a white woman. Much of the town disagrees with Atticus' decision to defend Robinson, and vehemently taunts Scout for his father's actions. Atticus is able to prove Robinson's innocence, but Robinson is convicted of the crime anyway. Robinson is later killed while trying to escape from prison. The alleged victim's father, Bob Ewell, is humiliated by the trial and menaces Atticus' family. In the end, Ewell attacks Scout and then dies in the confusion of the attack, probably killed by Fitch's mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley, who the children in the community have been fascinated by for years.

This incredible piece of literature broaches many important topics in our society: racial tensions and race relations(especially in the South), injustice in the legal system, class, sex crimes and the importance of courage and integrity. The book deals extensively with these issues, but is still very light-hearted and humorous.

Above all else, To Kill A Mockingbird, is a poignant reminder to all who read it about the importance of humanity and good will towards all. The book is one of my favorites because it reminds me of what is good and just in this world, and can be, even in our darkest hours of moral ambiguity. It is a reminder that there are always people out there, in the face of impossible odds and situations, striving to do what is right and just. I treasure this book and hope everyone reading this review will buy a copy and read it. It will better your soul!

Title: To Kill A Mocking Bird
Publisher: Warner Books
Author: Harper E. Lee
Date: 1960
Reading Level: 8th Grade Reading Level
Number of Pages: 281 Pages
Genre: Fiction


To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper E. Lee deals with issues such as, racism, innocence and empathy. Scout Finch and her brother Jem live in a small town in Alabama where they become obsessed with Boo Radley. Boo leaves present under a tree that Scout and Finch continue to visit until Boo's brother fills the hole with cement. At the same time as this story develops Attacus Finch (Scout's father) decided to defend Tom Robinson who is a black man who is accused of raping a white female. Racial tensions then develop in the story. Scout is then picked on at school and is forced to deal with racial issues at a young age. Tom Rabinson is later falsely convicted of the crime by an all white jury and tries to escape from jail and is shot dead. Later in the novel Tom Robinison's accuser is embarrassed because Attacus embarrasses him in the courtroom and harasses Jem and Scout when Boo comes to their rescue.
As a current teacher I firmly believe that this book should be read at the end of middle school. It is a fantastic novel that teachers young adults some very important lessons. It is a coming of age novel that provides very valuable lessons at a middle school age. The book provides characters that are very relatable and the reader develops strong feelings for the character. This is a book that should be read by people of all ages. This book is typically read by freshmen in high school, however, I strongly believe that this book can do a great amount of good if read at a middle school level. The books issues and themes are so prevalent to a middle school world. To see Jem and Scout grow up throughout the novel just as many young middle schoolers are.
The only negative aspect of this book for middle schoolers is that the characters in the beginning of the novel may be hard to relate to. Scout is too young and Atticus may be too old. However, I believe that the issues that are handled in the book are issues that typical teenagers care about. I have found that issues like racism always spark debate in the middle school classroom. Another problem with this novel is that despite the 8th grade reading levels it deals with a complicated plot and takes in-depth analysis to fully understand all of its meaning which may make it hard for a middle schooler to fully comprehend.

A friend in New York called to say, "I just listened to To Kill A Mockingbird on tape. There's a lot of funny stuff about education and John Dewey. I wouldn't have understood it if I hadn't read all those articles on your site."

Now I had to order this book. I had avoided it all these decades because it was such a Teacher's Pet; kids are made to read this novel because it says all the right things about racial injustice. Well, I read it, and enjoyed it thoroughly. It's good history (Alabama, 1935); good sociology; and good story-telling, lightning in a bottle, actually, But you probably know that. So let me mention a funny irony. Public schools make kids read TKAM, but TKAM is a touch critic of those schools.

My friend exaggerated; the bits about education hardly add up to three pages. But they are delicious! The set-up is that the narrator, Scout Finch, age six, is off to her first day of school on page 15, with this thought: "I had never looked forward more to anything in my life."

But there's a problem: she can already read, at a high level. The teacher, discovering this fact, looked at Scout "with more than faint distaste. Miss Caroline told me to tell my father not to teach me any more, it would interfere with my reading...'It's best to begin reading with a fresh mind. You tell him I'll take over from here and try to undo the damage...Your father does not know how to teach.'"

That's so pretty, you might want to cry. An entire cosmos of educational stupidity is right there. Scout goes on: "I mumbled that I was sorry and retired meditating upon my crime. I never deliberately learned to read, but somehow I had been wallowing illicitly in the daily papers."

At lunch Scout tells her brother she wants to quit school. He reassures her, "Don't worry...Our teacher says Miss Caroline's introducing a new way of teaching. She learned about it in college...It's the Dewey Decimal System." According to Scout, this consisted "of Miss Caroline waving cards at us on which were printed `the,' `cat,' `rat,' `man,' and `you.'" That, of course, is Whole Word; and we are still fighting this crabgrass 70 years later.

Scout is bored so she writes a letter to a friend. Miss Caroline catches her and says: "We don't write in first grade. We print. You won't learn to write until you're in the third grade."

You can see what a deft touch Harper Lee has. It's sweet, and sly, and scathing. Melvil Dewey, by the way, created the Dewey Decimal System. That little inside joke is one example of what I mean by "sly."

As for Professor John Dewey, he has caused a lot of trouble. I like to think that Harper Lee and I are in total accord about this guy. Discussing Miss Caroline's origins, Scout notes that the teacher was from a part of Alabama that was full of "Liquor Interests, Big Mules, steel companies, Republicans, professors, and other persons of no background."

I have read this book many times over the years since I was a child. It is a wonderful story with vivid characters and an engrossing plot. I read a lot- a whole lot. Probably 3 or 4 books a week since I learned how. This is simply my favorite book of all time- for too many reasons to tell. I haven't ever met anyone who DIDN't like this book. I can't wait to read it to my children- its well worth your time and money- even if you've already seen the movie.

I never saw the movie. I never read the book until this year. To think what I missed over the years almost makes me cry. The reader gets caught up in the family life of Atticus, Scout and Jem. You root for the underdog. Not a fast paced book, the reader is nonetheless caught up in the intracies of Southern living and Southern morals in the 1930's. It is not a book to be overlooked.

It says TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD - HARPER LEE. And there is a picture of a mockingbird flying away from a tree that has a clock and a ball of string in it. Ha!

Oh, this is literary perfection. There is no more beautifully simplistic portrayal of childhood and its inherent responsibility to understand the complicated adult world that surrounds it. In my estimation, we will never surpass the moral tale in this treasure. It makes me want to be Atticus, Jem, Scout...even Tom, because of the self command that he portrays, or Boo, because of his ultimate normality and heroism...each charactar is rich and worthy of our attention, love, admiration. This is my all time favorite American classic.

I recommend To Kill a Mockingbird on the basis that when searching for a good fictional piece to read, I think its necessary to find a complex story combined with articulate writing for it to remain engrossing. Lee achieves this by offering a narrative filled with multiple story lines as well as frequently dealing with adult concepts depicted through the mind of a eight year old.

To Kill a Mockingbird offers some consideration to the notion that the nature of one's choices does not necessarily encompass one's true worth. To draw such a conclusion from the unbiased naiveté of a child is a mere example of the eloquent and perceptive nature of this book.

I would recommend reading this book to anyone with an open mind and a sincere interest in human reflection.

I recommend To Kill a Mockingbird on the basis that when searching for a good fictional piece to read, I think its necessary to find a complex story combined with articulate writing for it to remain engrossing. Lee achieves this by offering a narrative filled with multiple story lines as well as frequently dealing with adult concepts depicted through the mind of a eight year old.

To Kill a Mockingbird offers some consideration to the notion that the nature of one's choices does not necessarily encompass one's true worth. To draw such a conclusion from the unbiased naiveté of a child is a mere example of the eloquent and perceptive nature of this book.

I would recommend reading this book to anyone with an open mind and a sincere interest in human reflection.

All the best.

X

My daughters are reading this book for a school assignment and they are finding it as relevant to them today as I found it when I read it at their age. A classic...

This truly is the most beautiful, profound,brilliant, redolent with meaning book i have ever read. Harper Lee's candid statement that, i quote, said" i intended this to be a simple love story" amuses me . it is so much more, exemplifying racial inequities, preconcieved notions and their detrimental effects on society, A keen love with the disabled, and so much more. This novel is what stimulated me to read every possible erudite literary work in existence. lee's cadence resonates throughout every page of the book. a must read.

I loved re-reading this book. It has been and always will be one of my favorites. All the characters are so rich and memorable.

To Kill a Mocking Bird

Being recognized as one of the greatest pieces of American literature in the twentieth century, stating To Kill a Mocking Bird is fantastic, should go without saying. I recommend whoever is considering reading this doesn't try to figure everything they can about the book before they do so. It's better to into on a clean slate. Some references and lifestyles may be shocking but one must remember where, and when it takes place. Reading novels from today's biggest names in literature, its clear many are influenced by Harper Lee. Lacking clear violence, true love, and other huge themes seen in books and movie now a days, some may say its boring but reading thoroughly, one can see the painful conflict and romance in its pages. In summary, this piece may in some ways be offensive, but it reflects history, unjust prosecution, and the truth of the world.

This book came out at a time when "civil rights" was first beginning to seep into mainstream American conversations. It was an uncomfortable subject, and had to be addressed with tact and diplomacy.

I feel that due to the publication of this book, and its rapid transformation into a feature film, the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964.

To Kill A Mockingbird was a striking statement made by Nelle Harper Lee, an Alabama native whose father was for most of his life a typical Southerner with typical Southern attitudes towards African Americans, According to Lee, this novel, her only one, is to remain a snapshot of the South, as it was during her youth, on the verge of it's first reluctant steps away from the shadows of its past.

Part One of the book is purely expository. All of the characters and the tenor of Maycomb, Alabama are thoroughly established. Part Two deals with a trial that laid out the basic injustice being practiced on a daily basis by the townspeople, and the epiphanies experienced thereafter by the narrator and her young brother.

In the end, this book is about compassion. The acquisition of compassion, in my opinion, is the litmus test every young adult must pass in order to reach a productive and happy adulthood. This book, taken with the right context, is a wonderful stepping stone for anyone needing an introductory course in compassion.

After reading this book, everyone would gladly have Scout as a friend, and Atticus as a father. The author outdid herself with this contribution, and that fact, sadly, made To Kill a Mockingbird, her only contribution to the Great Conversation.

If you're looking for a fast plot, kick a$$ characters who overcome insurmountable odds, then you should look elsewhere.

If you're looking for the gritting truth, set at a Southern pace (i.e. slow), where things are never quite what they seem on the surface (i.e. small towns), and good does not always prevail (i.e. what ever happened to Dill and why did it have to happen to Tom), then I recommend this American classic.

I've read a few of the reviews and was actually surprised that some didn't like it. While I understand that nothing appeals to all audiences, it was still a shock to me. And the reason for that is that when you love something, it's hard to see why other's don't.

A small percentage of reviewers said that nothing happened and the characters are one-dimensional. While this feedback is obviously valid for those who made it, I have to disagree. The women in the town (esp the Auntie and Miss Maudie) were perfect examples of complex characters living through a very changing (and challenging) time. If you read a bit below the surface, I believe the average reader should be able to pick that up.

Jem was another example of a complex character. We watched him cross that threshold from a little boy to a young man. To me this was proven by his periods of quietness and his behaviors.

Because the story was written to reflect, as closely as possible, true life during a particularly period in American culture, it may seem a bit slow to those accustomed to and prefer contemporary/speculative fiction.

I'm was born in the South and therefore found the dialogue to be quite accurate of how we spoke during my childhood. This helped me to relate to it and build more of a bond to the characters.

Every now and again, I find (as I get older -- not sure how relevant that is for the younger audiences) you want to read a book that stays with you. You're not in the mood for a Stephen King (tho he is a master story teller). Instead you want something slower, something with a little more meaning to it so that you when you put it down, you have to sit in silence and reflect on what you've read and why you liked it so much.

This is not a book that I would've read in high school (cliff notes was my preferred method). Unfortunately I did not have the patience nor the maturity (that adjective is reflective of me only) to understand how good people can make bad decisions and still not be bad people. One of the toughest things to do is to stand up in front of an angry mob and tell them that you don't agree with. This, I think, is one of the crucibles of the novel.

For me, this is one of the best books I've read and completely understand why it has won a Pulitzer. She deserves it.

Ever since Harper Lee published her only novel, she has remained as reclusive as J.D. Salinger. Sadly, she has accomplished the almost impossible by writing the great American novel of all times. The characters become multi-dimensional and alive at times. Set in the deep South, the story is told from Scout's point of view. Scout has been named on countless girls ever since the publication of the book. Atticus Finch is an unforgettable character immortalized by Gregory Peck in the movie version. One of the main reasons that I read this book is to see where Mrs. Dubose played by actress Ruth White's character in the film was about. At first, I thought it was a small part but boy was I wrong. Mrs. Dubose becomes an important figure in the lives of Jeremy "Jem" and Scout Finch as well as the other Finches. The story of a rape and trial is sadly but in the end of America, Scout is like Anne Frank who provides hope in times of hopelessness and revives the hope for a better world in the Deep South where prejudice and racism runs deep alongside lynchings and cruel treatment of African Americans after slavery was abolished in 1865. Since she won the Congressional Medal of Freedom for her services to literature, Harper Lee has still maintained her reclusive nature.

What can possibly be left to say about Nelle Harper Lee's classic tale of tolerance and pain, of justice denied and served, of childhood innocence lost to adolescent understanding? Surely it has all been said before in analyzing Ms. Lee's sole published novel, a surprisingly autobiographical recounting of small town Southern justice at the dawn of the pre-civil rights era - the strong sense of tradition and place, the parallelism between Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, the alternating flashes of humor and tragedy, the implicit pleas for social justice.

A work that stands as revelatory for high school freshmen necessarily loses some of that power on later rereading. However, the directness and simplicity of Harper Lee's writing, her ear for the Southern voice and eye for the telling detail, and her remarkable ability to realize memorable characters continue to impress even the mature reader. Atticus Finch stands as an archetype of the righteous but humble man seeking to serve justice and the common good, whatever the cost. Scout is the eternal tomboy, the adventurous young soul grappling with the implications of racial prejudice and injustice while experiencing and conquering her own version in Arthur (Boo) Radley. Boo himself stands as the "unknown other," the feared immigrant or differently colored whom, as Atticus says, we can never know until we put ourselves in their skin. Then there's Dill, the summer neighbor so clearly modeled on the author's own childhood neighbor and lifelong friend, Truman Capote. These are joined by an entire townfull of supporting characters, each memorable and each an archetype in his or her own right.

Lee's master stroke as a writer was to view the events surrounding Mayella Ewell's alleged rape and Tom Robinson's trial through the eyes of a child just emerging into adolescence. Scout struggles to interpret the lives, actions, and attitudes of those around her through the lens of naïve childhood, yet her budding adolescence places her on a cusp. One day she is beating up boys and catching frogs, the next day she's being groomed for Southern womanhood. Nevertheless, Scout forces us through her questions and reactions to confront the inherent irrationality in racial and class prejudices. If it's a sin to kill a mockingbird, as the story's underlying proverb asserts, then who is Harper Lee's mockingbird? At one level, the answer is obviously Tom Robinson, seconded by Boo Radley. Yet perhaps the true mockingbird, sinfully slaughtered, is indeed that very childhood innocence, forever destined to suffer that tragic fate at the hands of incipient adulthood.

To a far greater extent than one might imagine, Harper Lee drew much of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD's material from her own life. The lawyerly and reserved father, the small town life (hers was Monroeville, AL), the deceased mother (hers was emotionally distant and psychologically troubled), the scarily unseen neighbor's grown son, the cranky, busybody neighbor, the oddly effete childhood friend - these and numerous other story elements came from Ms. Lee's direct family and childhood experiences. Ms. Lee even borrowed the theme for Jem and Scout's climactic school pageant, "Ad Astra Per Aspera," from Kansas's state motto, a little fact she picked up there while assisting Truman Capote with his research for IN COLD BLOOD. I highly recommend as a companion piece to this novel Charles Shields's MOCKINGBIRD: A PORTRAIT OF HARPER LEE.

Most of the time, I get really pumped about reading books. And most of the time, I get so frustrated and don't finish them. That, however, was not the case with this book!!
Usually, my decription of "great" literature means a bunch of long words scrambled together into a sentence leaving the reader to meditate a REALLY long time and figure out what it means. I was SO excited to find out that this book wasn't like that!! This book was so much fun to read because I didn't have to stop and think every two seconds!
The characters in the book are so...real. Atticus reminds me SO much of my Dad in the sense that he will think things out, and when threatened, he doesn't get all worked up. I actually got a kick out of the story being from Scout's point of view. The world is a completely different place in an eight-year-olds eyes, and that's what made so much of a difference in the way this book was written. So, I say, give it a read!! It's worth the time.

I didn't get to read this in highschool because we moved around so much. I waited until just recently to read it. I think that aside from some of the obvious themes in it, it is a superbly constructed novel and deserves to be called "a masterpiece of American literature." Atticus, Scout, Jem, & Calpurnia will live on in my mind just as vividly as some of the people from my own past. It isn't often that I put a book down and feel this way. I laughed and cried while reading this book. Don't even question whether you should read this if you haven't, just get it and read it. (As an aside, I can't help but wonder if some of the richness of this novel is lost on some highschool students; I'm actually glad I waited to read it until I was older although some of the lessons of the book are good for young minds, to be sure.)