Sunday, July 25, 2010

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is about, Jem and Scout, two children growing up in the South during the 1930's. They are scared from a local crazy, called Boo Rudley. Also their father protects and an African American in court. Even through the real rapist of the case is another person, the African American is accused from the crime. Chosen guilty, the guilty man is free from persecution. After the case, Jem and Scout are attacked and Boo Radley protects and saves them from harm.
The classic story, To Kill a Mockingbird teaches you many morales and is a great story. It teaches the way racism is terrible and how it was part of the Southern Economy. I deeply recommend that you read this book.
-Reviewd by Nate, grade 9.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, to me is mainly about appearance vs. reality. Some examples are: Scout's misconception of her father being old, tired, and never having time to teach her as she told Miss Caroline. And also the misconception of Boo Radley never leaving his home. Another is Jem's judgement of Mrs Dubose. He thought she was just mean but she really had an addiction to morphine.I thought it was okay, to me it was pretty difficult to follow along and I wouldn't want to read it again.

Samantha K, grade 12
Montrose

Anonymous said...

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is one of the most famous books in American literature. It is a novel based on a young girls childhood and the things she witnessed but never really understood until she was older. Scout, the narrator, and her family live in the South during the 1930's. They live in the small and judgmental town of Maycomb where they learn to believe in the rumors about others, such as those about Boo Radley. Scout's father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who soon gets put onto a difficult case that sparks controversy and makes life difficult for the whole family. It was bad enough that it was a rape case, but Atticus was defending Tom Robinson, an innocent black man.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee truly is a classic book as everyone says it is. When I started reading it, it didn't seem special to me, I didn't understand why it was so overrated and well known. When you start it, the book seems boring, but midway is where you begin to see why it's so widely acclaimed. It deals with two of the biggest problems in that time period, racism and the economy, which play huge roles in the plot. The book teaches many lessons such as accepting and listening to others. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone but mostly high school students because they'll be more able to understand the deeper meanings the book has to offer.

Reviewed by Nayri T., grade 10
Casa Verdugo Library


Teen Speak said...

The year is 1935 Alabama. A white lawyer named Atticus Finch decies to defend an innocent black man accused of a crime against a white woman. The lawyers daughter who is eight years old and her big brother Jem and their friend Dill are busy enjoying ther summer while their father is preparing for trial. The trial of Tom Robinson takes place when white and colored people were not segregated. A spooky house and the mysterious Boo brings these kids fun, mystery, and a lesson in how ugly racism and injustice can be during the Great Depression.

I feel like the book gives the people that did not live during these times a look at how bad segregation was and how some white people were very prejudice while the more educated white people knew of how unjust the colored people were treated. It talks a lot about how the legal system was not always fair in 1935.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 12
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

Taking place in old town Southern Alabama, with a little girl by the name of Scout, her brother Jem, and their friend Dill from Mississippi that spends the summer in Maycomb near their home, are curious about the rumors being told all over town. Scout, Jem, and Dill want to find out the truth of rumors being told about a man in their neighborhood that never leaves his house. Rumor has it that the man behind closed doors name is Boo Radley, once stabbed his father in the leg with a pair of scissors and is some type of monster everyone is so fearful over. So as the kids are just so curious and dying to know the absolute truth about Boo, they try to break this shell he hold up as his guard. They reenact each part of his life that they know about and try to get closer and closer to Boo to hear his story. The children try sneaking into Boo's property as they get caught by Atticus which so happens to be a lawyer and also Scout and Jem's father, gets very upset at the kids for making fun of this man that they don't have a clue about. They leave notes here and there around Boo's house and then Boo's brother, Nathan thinks he's this tough guy and shoots fire from his gun and scares the kids away but Jem is some trouble because he gets caught on the fence and loses his pants. Jem goes back later on in the day and returns to grab his pants but notices something very odd. Jem notices that his pants are neatly folded and sewn up where the rip had been. So many unsolved things happen on after that, the kids notice a tree near the Radley house has a hole that often presents seem to appear very oddly with them not knowing where all these gifts may be coming from along with an odd portrait carved into the tree of a little girl and boy that seem to represent Scout and Jem. Atticus went along to handle a case that had to be dealt with a black man named Tom Robinson who was accused of raping a white girl who had been poor, by the name of Mayella Ewell. As Atticus is defending a black man in this case, at a family get together Scout beats up her sibling Francis.

In my personal opinion, How To Kill A Mockingbird is such a twisted story in the beginning of the book because it was just way too confusing for me to understand. As I read more into the book I obviously understood it more and started to get so interested to whom Boo may really be behind closed doors and if Atticus was going to do something to the children for lurking on a guys life and wanting to know so badly the truth behind the rumors being told. I'm not completely if I adore this book or not due to this not being my favorite categories in books, but I will admit I don't dislike it. It's such a wonderful novel that leaves you so suspicious and curious on what's bound to happen next! It's exciting, some parts definitely touches you emotionally, but overall it's such an amazing book and I do recommend to any reader or non reader out there to definitely give this book a try, it'll be worth a story to read. It definitely took a different way in the story than I expected but was so exciting to be left with so much curiosity and read so much about symbolism and how back then, things we're so incredibly different than the world we live in today. This book really symbolizes you never really know what happens behind doors in the house of somebody else and I believe that it also represents that you really shouldn't follow around with the rumors being said because I see it in the terms of a book that you should never, ever judge a person by their cover, if you don't know their stories, and honestly ignore the rumors being told. There's always so many rumors or different sides of a story, and only one story is the correct one that lies around but no one ever bothers to know besides the person that knows the truth and anything but that.

Reviewed by Vienna A., Grade 10
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a family of three in a southern town face the loss of innocence, racism, cruelty, and fear. Throughout the story, the children Jem and Scout Finch believe they are being stalked by a scary creature down their street. As their father deals with racist criticism from all of the white people for defending a black man in court. In this court case the man is being accused of rape and assault against a white woman. However, there is some proof that could prove him not guilty. Will Atticus be able to prove the woman and her racist father wrong?

This story was very interesting. I loved analyzing the situation with Atticus in court and proving that he was is telling the truth. I found it very exciting because the way he was being prosecuted was unfair and he deserved justice. i liked that atticus stood up for what was right and didn’t listen to the vulgar racist threats. I also found Jem and Scout to be very innocent and ignorant to many things. I think 10th graders should read this book as they learn about the abolition of slavery and to teach them of the racism in America back then. I mostly enjoyed reading this book because its an easy read and it’s not hard to understand.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 11
Montrose Library

Teen Speak said...

Scout, Jem and Atticus (their father) live in Maycomb, Alabama during the great depression. Atticus is a great lawyer and they are doing better then the rest of the town during the tough times. Jem and Scout befriend a boy named dill (who is their neighbor) during the summer. Dill becomes intrigued in a spooky house that is lived in by the Radleys. They become more intrigued by a boy named boo who has not left the house in years. When Jem and Scout come home from school one day, they see are tree hole is filled with items. They think that boo put the items. Atticus decides to defend a slave named tom of him accusing rape,did he rape her.

I like it because it was interesting and that i liked to learn how they lived back then and what they did. I would recommend this book to teenagers to reflect on and see how they lived. It made me feel good that i didn't live in that era of time where blacks were heavily discriminated on there color and how they looked. Also that i know living in this era that you can't judge anybody because of how they looked and what there skin is, you just got to treat them like any other person because at the end we all are human.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 12
Pacific Park Library

Teen Speak said...

The story is from a first-person point-of-view of Jean Louise Finch (or Scout), her brother, Jeremy Finch (or Jem), and a new, visiting friend, Dill. The plot remains in Maycomb County, Alabama, during the Great Depression. The three friends have a series to shenanigans mostly revolving around the strange Mister Nathan Radley, and his mysterious, hidden son, Arthur “Boo” Radley. Then, everything changes when Scout’s father Atticus, who is a lawyer, is given the case of a colored man who is to be tried for the attempted rape of the daughter of Bob Ewell; the man he worked for. The three friends secretly watch the trial, and afterwards, the results lead to chaos on Halloween night.

In my honest opinion, while the book reveals how the traits of an individual can result in conflict, it can teach you how to learn an entirely new perspective simply by putting yourself, (not literally) into another person’s shoes and looking at the world. The book teaches you the simple way of only ever being able to tell if a person was nice when you finally meet them. I, myself, think that a person who can seriously evaluate and hypothesize about scenes in books can be able to fully understand To Kill a Mockingbird.

Reviewed by Ally, Grade 8
Downtown Central Library

Teen Speak said...

This book is a true classic. Being placed in the town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression, Jean Louise Finch (also known as Scout) grows along the book from being six to nine. Her father, is a lawyer, and in addition hopes to continue teaching his children how to be just and empathetic. As for her family, living in Maycomb has always been hard because of a great amount to deal with, including segregation, (free) rights, fairness, justice, and more. One day, Tom Robinson, who is an African American in the town, gets accused of raping Mayella Ewell, who comes from a poorer family who deals with terrible living conditions like no other. What is shocking to us all is that Tom Robinson's lawyer is Atticus Finch, who is always trying to carry out his actions based on being just and for the better of everyone else. During this case, the children are non-stop dealing with prejudice and superstition about their neighbor Boo Radley, but throughout the course of the book, the characters learn that things are not always as they seem.

In my opinion, I started out by reading this book for a school assignment, but I began to enjoy it more and more as the book went along and then I would read it non stop. I liked the plot, the moral/theme of the story, and how some life lessons come out of this book towards being fair and showing kindness. I think that readers should be encouraged to read this book because like I learned while reading To Kill a Mockingbird, things are not always as they seem. This book made me realize that there is good in everyone and everything, even if one doesn't see it. I hope that most people can take into this book and enjoy it more than just a "school assignment," but rather a book that changes your perspective on the ways of life.

Reviewed by NG, Grade 11
Montrose Library

Teen Speak said...

The book, To Kill a Mockingbird, is written by Harper Lee, and it was published in 1960. The story is set during the Great Depression in Maycomb, Alabama. The narrator is named Scout Finch, her father is Atticus Finch, and her brother is Jem Finch. During this time, the African American community is facing major discrimination. Atticus, being a lawyer, is assigned to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. The entire Finch family is strongly hated among people in their town because of Atticus’s decision to protect Tom Robinson.

I enjoyed reading the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, for many reasons. I like the life lessons it taught the reader. This captivating novel taught me to never give up no matter what anyone says and even if no one is on your side. It also taught me about how much African Americans were discriminated in the past. For example, no one would believe Tom Robinson during the case. This book also made me think about what life was like in the past and how much it has changed. I would highly recommend this book to any teenage readers.

Reviewed by Alexander B., Grade 9
Downtown Central Library

Teen Speak said...

During the 1930s, in a small town called Maycomb in Alabama where racism and segregation were at their peak, we go through the perspective of a little girl named Scout Finch. Jem Finch is Scout’s older brother. One summer a boy named Dill comes to town. Together the kids are interested and amused by the Radley house. The Radley house is known for the rumours of a guy knows as “Boo” Radley, who stabbed his parents years ago. No one has ever seen him out of the house yet everyone in town seems to know their story. Scout’s father is Atticus Finch, a skilled and intelligent lawyer. He’s a controversial person in town because of his association with black people. Recently he was selected as a lawyer of a black man accused of raping a white woman. The difference between him and others in town is that he treats people of another race equally and respectfully. All together we see the Great Depression and segregation through the eyes of a white little girl.

I read this book as a school assignment, but as I was reading it I realized it’s a great book. Everyone knows about this book, whether they’ve read it in high school or for personal pleasure, even if they’ve never read it. This book is realistic fiction, I recommend it to everyone who enjoys knowing about the past and to people who want to see what everyday life was like for people from both black and white races. I personally enjoyed the book and the adventure of the kids and reading Scout’s thoughts of the unfair treatment of African Americans.

Reviewed by AK, Grade 9
Montrose Library

Melissa said...

To Kill A Mockingbird takes place in a small town called Maycomb. The main character of this novel's name is Scout Finch, also known as Jean Louise Finch. She has a brother named Jem, and her father's name is Atticus. Scout, Jem, and their friend, Dill, spend their summers trying to see what Boo Radley looks like. Boo Radley is Mr. Radley's son, also known as Arthur Radley, who hasn't been seen leaving his house for years. There are many rumors about him, and how his face looks like a skull, and how he eats animals raw late at night. They pester him to the point where Atticus makes them put an end to it. They eventually forget about him and focus at bigger problems at hand. In Maycomb racism is normalized, and they discriminate against black people every day. Atticus knows that being racist is wrong and unjust, so he defends an innocent black man in court. At first, Atticus was unsure if he could even win this case, but near the end he said a speech so full of passion that Jem was sure he would win. But, it was the jury's turn to decide.

At first I didn't like this book, I thought it was rather pointless chasing after Boo, and didn't really see the point in their actions. As the story progressed I realized that they were simply curious and acting as kids do. I started to get more immersed in their character development, and how their characters progressively changed as time passed. Though this book covers some serious topics it's written in a way that doesn't overwhelm you too much. This may be because we're seeing it from the perspective of a child, or it may depend on how someone interprets it. The book has lots of passion and emotion at times because the situation they're facing is a difficult one. Overall, it's a good book, I recommend people to read it.

Reviewed by Arpi, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

To Kill a Mockingbird is a book which is told through a young girl’s point of view about life in her town. This young girl, known as Jean Louise Finch or Scout, tells her story about her experiences while living in her small fictional town in Maycomb, Alabama. Throughout the book, she sticks with her brother, Jem Finch, and her father, Atticus Finch, as they try to solve mysteries surrounding their neighborhood, face troublesome times through the Great Depression, and face the strong southern mentality about racism in Maycomb.

To Kill a Mockingbird is a book that focuses on ideas such as prejudice, racism, the unfair treatment many black people had, and the hardships many people had during the Great Depression, through the lenses of a young girl around the ages of 6-7 years old. Even though this book is narrated by such a girl, I believe this book is suitable for young adults, as To Kill a Mockingbird includes many parts that include growing up, and talks about racism that was present in Maycomb. In my opinion, it is an awesome book to experience and read for yourself, and learn with Scout!

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grad 9
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

The theme of the story is mainly based on racism and injustice. If in the book, a man named Atticus tries to save an innocent black man from being accused of a horrible crime. The setting of the book is in a place called Maycomb and the time is during the great depression. The narrator is Atticus's daughter, Scout. We get to see everything from her perspective. In the story, a black man gets accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white girl. The words of a white person always overruled the words of a black person during that time. Atticus is willing to go all out to save the innocent man. Throughout the story, Scout learns many different things about how segregation works and how people were treated unfairly. Atticus is a wise man, and he understands that Scout and the other children must understand how the town of Maycomb has treated people of color for years. Scout and her brother's character develop the most throughout the story. With everything they learn and experience, they grow up to be more like Atticus.

The book displays what Harper Lee saw and grew up around as a child. Racism is one of the things that connect history and the current. In history, many people of color were discriminated against and they had to face a lot of unfair laws. To Kill A Mockingbird openly and greatly describes the idea of racism. The knowledge I got from the book helped me understand more about the one thing that everyone avoids; racism. The book also shows the advanced development of many different kinds of thought. The book is extremely descriptive of the time and the idea of how segregation works. With this book, you can learn many different things such as fast development, more knowledge of the time during the great depression, and many more.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee takes place in Maycomb, Alabama back in the 1930s, during the time of the Great Depression. The Great Depression had a huge impact on many of the people living in that time period. People were left without money, food, or homes. The main characters in this book are Jem, Scout, and Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch is a lawyer in Maycomb and does his best to defend his clients in court. His two children are, Jem and Scout and the three of them live together as a small family. During this time, there was lots of racism and prejudice towards the black community and many of the characters undergo racism throughout the book. Atticus is assigned a case, to defend a black man named Tom Robinson from the false accusations made against him. Scout's father, Atticus agrees to help Tom even though he receives lots of hate from the residents of Maycomb from doing so. Even though Atticus gets hate from defending a black man, he will always have the support from his two children.

I really liked reading this book because it was very well written and helped you understand what life was like back then in the 1930s. I liked how it included lots of events and situations where characters were faced with racism or the main characters witnessed someone receiving prejudice. This book made me feel bad for the black individuals that had to experience this and be accused of something they did not do. The novel teaches about bravery, injustice, inequality, as well as racism through many of the main events, such as the Tom Robinson trial. I would highly recommend this book to a friend.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

To Kill A Mockingbird takes place during The Great Depression and the time of segregation. The book tells the story of how one innocent man ended up in a devastating allegation. The main problem that takes place in To Kill A Mockingbird is racism. It is a plague that has spread throughout the characters in the book. But one of the main characters, Atticus Finch is willing to stay away from the plague and stand up for a person of color. He defends a person of color named Tom Robinson by representing him in a criminal lawsuit. In conclusion, To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel where many characters are involved and portray the ongoing racism issue.

I enjoyed reading the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird. I enjoyed this book because of how beautifully crafted it is and how it shines a light on the ongoing problem of racism. The moral of To Kill A Mockingbird impacts many people and shows readers the problems faced during The Great Depression. The characters in the book played out their role remarkably. In conclusion, I certainly enjoyed To Kill A Mockingbird and I recommend it to anyone who wants to discover about the past. Amazing piece of work!

Reviewed by Alfred, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee. If you are aware of its symbolic significance and the breadth of its ideas, you have to look closely to see that every letter in this book serves a purpose and that the characters are well-developed. Scout and Jem are two siblings, and the plot revolves around their lives. While living with their single parent, Atticus, and caretaker Calpurnia, which results in surprising shapes. During that period of history, the author employs emotions, struggles, hatred, and dread.

An incredible and one-of-a-kind presentation of values and life lessons that can help you go through life with ease. The book not only depicts the difficult, profound, and terrible truths that people face but also how to overcome them and become a better version of oneself. The characters all have essential roles to play, and the author did an excellent job of allowing us to see things through other people's perspectives, to walk in their shoes, rather than just seeing things through the protagonist's eyes. I think Harper Lee did a favor for the people writing this book, it gives so many morals to learn from.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

This novel is about the growth of a little girl named Scout and her older brother Jem set in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. This book not only talks about the process of growing up but also emphasizes different perspectives. Scout, a little girl who is very curious and rather innocent learns what her environment is really like. Dealing and witnessing prejudice and racism at a young age changes her point of view but then managed to mature.

I'll say this is by far one of the most interesting novel I have ever read. At first, I was very skeptical about reading it because it seemed kind of bland but as I was scanning through every chapter, it felt like I was pulled into another world. I am honestly not a fan of books yet something about To Kill a Mockingbird made me even more interested in reading other realistic novels. This book has taught me how to look at the world from different perspectives and to open myself to my environment. Moreover, it showed me how to express thoughts and that it's not bad to be confused and curious. Thinking about it, people who may have a hard time looking at the world from different point of views may want to try and read TKAM.

Reviewed by RK, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

To Kill A Mocking Bird is a story about the impact of racism. The story is told through a little girl named Scout Finch who is not as educated about the topic. There are many people in the town of Maycomb in Alabama who are racist. This problem then gets worse when Scout and Jem's dad Atticus Finch who is a lawyer is asked if he can defend Tom Robinson a black man, in his trial. Tom was accused of raping a white girl and since the town was so racist before the trial even happened everyone already knew who would win since it was a black man's word against a white girl. As the story continues on Scout and Jem both realize and learn new things and they start to truly understand the treatment that was given to certain people and they do not agree with it at all.

To Kill A Mocking Bird was definitely one of my favorite books I had read in eighth grade. There were many things I liked about the book because I felt the story sent a really big message to everyone who would read it. This message of being respectful to everyone and how everyone should be treated as equal in all societies really makes you change your perspective of others and you then start to realize that we should all care for each other and nothing else about the person should be as important because we are all the same in the end. I think teens would definitely enjoy the book since at that age is where I feel is most important to learn the message the story is giving to respect all types of people. The book made me feel like we should all be in the same position as others and I think that just being respectful and caring towards someone who maybe is not the same as you can really make an impact on them. I feel it would make me feel good about myself as well.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

To Kill A Mockingbird is a book that takes place in Alabama during the early 1930’s. The story follows the Finch family which consists of Scout, a young girl and her perspective on everything around her, her brother Jem who is four years older than her,Calpurnia the black family cook, and Atticus the father. Atticus takes on a case where a black man was accused of raping a white woman. The story shows racism, sexism, childhood, growing up, and standing up for what’s right.

I had to read this book this year for an English class. In my opinion the book shouldn’t be read in a school because of how offensive it is to the black and female community. If it wasn’t so insensitive with the usage of slurs and sexism it would be a good plot. If you like books about different periods and struggles that minorities face then this book would be great for you. If you’re sensitive about the topics such as rape, incest, racism, usage of the N slur, sexism, and physical abuse, you should definitely not read this. Overall I wouldn’t read it again because it didn’t spark my interest and it doesn’t really get interesting until chapter ten.

Reviewed by Savannah N., Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

To Kill a Mockingbird is a story about two kids, Scout and Jem, who, throughout the book, realize how their society truly is like. Through many experiences, they learn about topics such as racism, feminism, and prejudice. Events such as the Tom Robinson case and interactions with Boo Radley have provided lessons that Scout and Jem both learned. In the beginning, they were innocent children who went along with what they’ve seen and heard. Towards the end, Scout and Jem have gained the knowledge and experience to be able to understand the world a lot better.

To Kill a Mockingbird was a novel that I really enjoyed. I like how the book demonstrates what it was like in the 1800s. How racism, prejudice, and feminism was like back then. The book provides many lessons for people to learn. One lesson that I learned from this book was that being surrounded by certain people can affect the way a person think of things. As people mature, they will be able to develop their own thoughts and question ideas that may seem “normal” in society. I think that younger kids would benefit from this book as it teaches many lessons about people and life in general.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

To Kill a Mockingbird is a thrilling novel full of plot twists and interesting characters. Scout is a bright young girl who is noticeably intelligent for her age, with an older brother named Jem and an amazing father called Atticus. The story follows Scout as she tries to adjust to a society that is unsuited for her, while unraveling the mystery of the residents of a neighboring house. Watch Scout get exposed to the ugly sides of the real world, and see how the story pans out.

To Kill a Mockingbird was an extremely entertaining book. Despite Scout being young, she explains things with a thought process beyond her age, and she can even see things that I wouldn't notice. Atticus is an amazing character who steals the show. He has a presence that's just captivating, and his scenes are suspenseful and fun. The mystery was tense, and every extra part that was told made it more and more great. My only problem was that the reveal was a bit lackluster and the aftermath felt weak. Overall an awesome book that I would recommend to anyone who is eager.

Reviewed by Abraham, Grade 9
Montrose Library