To Kill a Mockingbird

Review by Mo 

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee

Publisher:  HarperCollins

Published:  1960

Quick Summary:

To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in a small county in Alabama in the 1930's. Maycomb County hasn't really changed in a while since it's a small county and it's isolated from the rest of the state. Scout, the main character, and her brother Jem, live with their father, Atticus, a lawyer. This book shows a few years of Scout and Jem's childhood, from a fire on a cold winter night, to dares with their friend Dill. African-Americans are discriminated against throughout their story, so when Atticus is asked to defend one in court, the town is plunged into discord.

Review: I enjoyed this book because I liked reading about this small town in the deep south during this time period. I liked witnessing the story through a young, naive girl's eyes. It gave the story a unique feeling that couldn't have been achieved had the story been told by someone else. Even though Scout couldn't understand some things, Lee made it possible for the reader to still understand. I was really surprised at the uproar that Atticus's decision to defend Tom Robinson, the African-American defendant, caused. It really shows how much things have changed since then. At some points, I felt like the story was kind of slow and didn't know where it was heading, but most of the story was full of twists that kept me reading. Overall, I enjoyed the book.
Rating: ****