To Kill a Mockingbird Review

[Tori]

This book is full of emotions for me. For starters, it is very heartfelt. Reading it from the perspective of Scout, being the age she is, taking place in the south, makes it very heartfelt and nostalgic. I grew up in the south and I was a tomboy who played in the dirt and trees all day long just like her. That is one of the main reasons why I enjoyed this book so much. On the other hand, it is incredibly frustrating when reading this book for two reasons. One, being the obvious, is the cruelty that Boo Radley and Tom Robinson had to face. The second is because it was a little bit hard to start reading since Lee is so descriptive in her narrating. I feel like a lot of the verbiage could have been cut out. This book is definitely a young adult literature book because of the multiple significant themes that take place: Innocence, coming of age, racism, classism, etc. I think that it is important to read/cover topics like these because they are part of our history and even in todays world. I do think the book is racist more so than it had to be because of Atticus being the white hero. It was good that he defended Tom, despite what everyone thought, but perhaps if there was a shift in the story line where there wasn't a white hero then it wouldn't be as racist and it would be more inclusive. I think if I am allowed, I would teach this book to my high schoolers, but I would make it a point to talk about its racism and have open conversations about it -- it can't be avoided since it is part of our history, talking about it while reading it for the cannon might help educate people on the racism we see in the U.S.

[Lara]

I loved the book it! was very moving! It is definitely my new favourite!

[Lisa]

I thought the writing and storyline were good. I think it is important to note that Scout's perspective of the whole situation symbolizes how people are not born racist but racism is taught. One thing I did not enjoy was how this book is the model story of white saviors.

[sunflowerbooknook]

Most of my friends had read this book in school and for some reason I never did, I found this book exceptional, especially reading it as an adult. I did the follow up read Go Set the Watchman by Harper Lee. both books have become two of my favorites