Book review: To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird is a fictional book which was published in 1960- now known as classic of modern American literature- by Nelle Harper Lee. With its instant success and being translated in almost 40 languages it has been read in many high schools in America and other countries as well. Harper Lee's book has been greatly recognized for its delicate treatment of a child’s awakening to issues such as racism, class and prejudice during the Great Depression (1929–39) in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. 

This extremely thought-provoking story is mainly centered on the trail of a black man that Atticus Finch is defending who is being accused of sexually assaulting a white girl. In the course of the trail and through her mischievous adventures like the exciting visits they make to Boo Radley who is seen as odd but is he really … and observing her small town, Scout learns that everybody deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and justice regardless of their skin. 

Under the care of Atticus Finch, a well-respected lawyer in the community of Maycomb, two very profound people in the book are raised - Jeremy 'Jem' Finch and Scout Finch.

Atticus Finch is an honorable man who always leads by example; teaching Jem and Scout the importance of understanding and sharing the feelings of another person. He stands firm in his moralities and this is one of the central themes in the book. This book successfully takes the reader on a trip back to their innocent self, their experiences of sympathy, sadness, love, malice, humor this is depicted through the eyes of Atticus’ children.

This coming of age introduces Scout Finch is as the first-person narrator at the age of six. She is quite challenging for Jem as he tries to always protect her and be the calm to her fierceness. A clear representation of these kids’ views and experiences of the Alabama is seen when their childhood friend Dill comes to visit for the holidays. Scout is a young girl who thinks she doesn’t need to go to school because her father teaches her everything. She truly adores her father and initially thinks that there is nothing more to him than being old and boring. As the story matures, there is much beauty in slowly seeing Scouts transitioning from her initial thoughts to appreciating the character that Atticus is.

Instilling the saying; “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” To Kill a Mockingbird successfully made us stare at social issues of prejudice and injustice in the face, and made us want to aspire to be an Atticus Finch, this is what makes the book the beautiful piece of work that it is.