Title: To Kill a Mockingbird Author: Harper Lee
ISBN: 978-0-445-08376-9
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: 9th and Up
Publisher: Popular Library
Media Type: Book
Copyright: 1960
Genre: Fiction
Reader's Annotation: Through prejudice, cowardice, and bravery, a young girl is able to see that some things aren’t always what they seem.
Plot Summary: Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winner has become a standard on school reading lists across the country. To Kill a Mockingbird is filled with powerful issues such as racism, rape, and injustice and equally powerful lessons and insights. This novel is from the perspective of Scout Finch, a young African American girl in Alabama. As a child, Scout is able to provide an innocent point-of-view on the activities of the town and its citizens. While simple and childlike, Scout is arguably wise for her age as she contends with prejudice and intolerance and is the daughter of a lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman. With her astute sense of awareness and understanding, Scout’s account makes for an interesting and inspiring read.
Evaluation: (A+) It is evident why To Kill a Mockingbird is a required read for high school students across the nation. From the plot line and the characters to the lessons integrated into the novel, this book has appeal. The storyline, set in a racially charged south in the 1930s, is believable. The idea that Atticus Finch is defending a black man on trial and the notion that Scout is fascinated, yet frightened by Boo Radley is realistic. Furthermore, Lee does an excellent job at intertwining the plot and the subplot in order to bring together a suspenseful climax and a realistic resolution. Lastly, the author’s ability to subtly incorporate meaningful, timeless lessons such as, “you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them,” (p. 282) gives the novel depth that is critically important to many lesson plans and is thought provoking and relevant even in today’s society.
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