Now that we’re all in high school, our childhood is just a thing of the past. All of those things we did as kids might be just a memory to us, or we could still even exercise them today. Either way, being a kid is awesome! And what a better way to sort of relive your early childhood days of friends and backyard adventures than Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird.

I’m sure many readers have heard of this novel before, as it is very famous and has received much acclaim from critics and readers. To Kill A Mockingbird has around 300 or so pages and was originally published in 1960, a full 15 years before Animal Farm was. As you have probably inferred by the intro, the story is about children living out their days and hanging out together, but there’s a lot more to it than that…

The story is told through the eyes of young Scout Finch, a tomboyish girl who is a free spirit. She, her brother Jem, and their friend Dill live out their days in a humble town called Maycomb during the 1930’s. The story might start out slow, but as the novel presses on, they begin to witness the horrible racial tensions between the citizens of the town as well as having to witness the trial of a black man who is accused of raping a white woman. It is a powerful book filled with memorable characters, moving moments, and a riveting story to boot!

For our cast of characters, we begin with the previously mentioned Scout. She is a very young girl who is adventurous and likes to pick fights. She always tries her best to avoid the social norms of what girls are supposed to be like as she hates being proper. Her brother Jem is a good lad, but picks on his sister sometimes. He is very curious, enjoys fooling around, and sometimes might get himself into trouble! Dill is a kind young boy who likes to hang out with Scout and Jem. There’s also Scout and Jem’s father Atticus; a man who is one of the only non-racists in the town and is willing to stand up for what’s right no matter what anyone else thinks. And one other character that I found very intriguing was Boo Radley. He is like that one neighbor who never goes outside. He is rumored to be an insane, violent lunatic… or is he? With these characters, the story becomes a lot more powerful and moving, as well as much more enjoyable to read.

If you’re looking for an extremely powerful yet equally entertaining read, look no further than Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. It is filled to the brim with moments that you’ll always remember. Feel free to stop by the library and check it out. I can guarantee that it will be one of the greatest books you’ll ever read. Indeed, it is an oldie but a goodie!

And more for fans of To Kill a Mockingbird … check out
Go Set A Watchman – The original manuscript for To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird, the movie – It’s pretty true to the novel and is an enjoyable film to watch.