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.
Comments
Samantha K, grade 12
Montrose
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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