What kind of blog would this be if I neglected to discuss To Kill a Mockingbird, an American classic that practically everyone reads in high school? Written by Harper Lee, this book is generally well-liked, and it was definitely my favorite book I read in tenth grade.
That being said, since it has been so long, all I really remember about this book is that I loved it, so I had to look up a summary to refresh my memory on what happened.
One of the main things well-illustrated throughout this novel was the character development. This is most notable with the character of Scout, as the story is told from her perspective. Throughout the storyline, she grows up with Atticus as a wise father who guides her to become more open-minded and sympathetic about other people, regardless of what the majority of those in the town may believe.
When Atticus, a lawyer, agreed to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused to have raped a young woman named Mayella Ewell, he did something that was unheard of in the town of Maycomb, Alabama.
Atticus is my favorite character of this book. In my opinion, he is a role model for parents through his views on life and the guidance he tries to give his children. He is kind of like the “Albus Dumbledore” of the story, except he isn’t so old.
At this point in time, a white man defending a black man in court was unheard of. Many people were surprised that Atticus did not simply do this for the job; he did this because he believed Tom Robinson, and, despite the outcome of the jury decision, he even proved Robinson to be innocent.
With that in mind, this book does a great job of exploring the racial hardships faced by black individuals the 1930s, a time 60-70 years after the Civil War ended.
As the author also grew up as an African American in the South, her novel was able to educate readers about the injustices from which the African Americans still suffered. I think this significant because people often associate the passing of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments with putting an end to the unfair treatment of black individuals in America, but that is not the case.
I found this key concept to be a main reason why this novel was worth reading because it’s a part of America’s societal history that may not have been emphasized in many high school history courses.
Personally, I was able to learn more about these concepts by taking higher-level history courses, but I’m pretty sure that many regular-level history courses probably did not delve as deep into Southern America’s societal history during the early 1900s, especially since that consisted of a time of immense growth and progress in the country.
Overall, I would have to rate To Kill a Mockingbird as a 9/10. I felt as though the book provides readers with a great deal to learn, both morally and academically. I did not have an amazing English teacher in tenth grade, and this was one of the few books that made me forget how terrible she was at teaching.
I was actually really into reading the book, and I gained a great deal from it. Most other students in the class felt the same way, unless they were the type of person who just hates every book they’re forced to read. I’ll admit, even I was skeptical at first, but I definitely believe that To Kill a Mockingbird is worth taking the time to read.
Yasmin, I feel like I say this every week, but I LOVE this book! Most of your other books you’ve written about I had to read in my senior year when I had an amazing AP Lit teacher, but I read To Kill A Mockingbird in ninth grade, and my teacher was very dry. We didn’t delve into the material as much as I would’ve liked, and we didn’t digest the story enough. But, I enjoyed this book on my own, independently of the class. I loved the simplicity in the principles behind the book, and I loved the complexity of the way Harper Lee weaved the story together with such strong characters. Although Atticus was the main character, very much like Dumbledore as you say, I also like the fact that she write the book from Scout’s perspective. A child’s innocence is so unadulterated, it’s good to see the world through her eyes. I love Atticus so much. When I was preparing my college application essays, I read one sample essay by a student who got into Harvard. It was about how his role model was Atticus. It was a well-written essay, and Atticus really is the kind of person I would like to be when I grow up too!