City News

“To Kill A Mockingbird,” a novel written by Harper Lee, is a story set during the Great Depression. The reader learns about the childhood of Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, and the different topics she witnesses during her time in Maycomb, Alabama. These topics include racism, the importance of perspective, and justice. The book reveals the challenges that African-American people face, especially during this time period. Scout learns about these challenges when her father, Atticus, a lawyer, is appointed to defend an African-American man named Tom Robinson. He is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father and an abusive man, is the one who charged Tom Robinson of committing these acts. Atticus Finch is put to the task of defending Tom and attempting to prove him innocent to an all-white jury, something that was seen as impossible in the town of Maycomb during this time. Because Atticus intends to do his best to help Tom Robinson, he is despised by many of the other white people in town, causing his life to be harder, as well as Scout’s and her brother Jem’s. The reader also learns about a mysterious character named Boo Radley. He is said to have gone crazy, and rumored to have committed actions like stabbing his father with scissors, as well as only coming out at night and eating squirrels and cats. As the story progresses, so does Boo’s, and the reader learns how he may not be all that he is said to be.

Harper Lee does a great job of engaging the reader with vivid details and descriptions of the characters and settings. She creates an attachment to the characters, causing the plot to be more meaningful and interesting. I enjoyed how well the author progresses the plot to allow the reader to fully understand the order of events that took place. Lee is great at providing deeper meaning to the story by including symbolism. She uses the mockingbird as a symbol throughout the story, and it allows the reader to have a better understanding of the characters involved in the story. The mockingbird is used to display innocence, a creature that simply wants to brighten someone's day with a song. This use of symbolism helps to enhance the literature, making for a more enriching read.

I would recommend To Kill A Mockingbird for teens interested in a book that teaches moral values, as well as simply a good story. One thing I would say before recommending it is that the book has some mature subjects and ideas, but I think that most teens can handle the content. This book is also great for readers who want to better understand how much they have in life. To Kill A Mockingbird reveals how many people may not be so lucky. It allows for readers to learn the importance of perspective, and how it may apply to their life today. I think that teens who read this book should attempt to figure out who the mockingbird(s) of the story are, which would make it a more enjoyable experience by reading at a deeper level.

Check out To Kill a Mockingbird from NBPL!