Summer Reading: To Kill a Mockingbird

Posted by SFleming on June 6, 2010

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird shows up on a LOT of high school reading lists, and with very good reason.  The book tackles racism, being a social outcast, and many other very deep subjects through the eyes of a child.  In between, there are themes of maturation and lost innocence.  The book will cause some deep thoughts about racism and issues of right and wrong both at the personal and at the community and societal levels.

The story is about a young girl growing up in the deep south in the 1930s, and is told through her eyes.   She and her brother ponder why some people are outcast from society, and look on as her attorney-father tackles the defense of an African-American man accused of rape.

Parents will want to be aware that there are some instances of bad language and references to rape, violence and racial injustice in the book, and might want to screen it before sharing the story with younger or more sensitive readers.

To Kill a Mockingbird is on classic reading lists for good reason.  Harper Lee was honored with a Pulitzer Prize in 1961.  The story boasts some outstanding depictions of life in the 1930s in the deep South.   The tone moves from childish joy and innocence to dark and almost frightening depictions of the town’s racism during the trial.  It’s truly a masterful work of art.

You can read To Kill a Mockingbird online for free at Goodreads.com.

You’ll find a few outstanding study guides and question sets for To Kill a Mockingbird at the following websites:

• SparkNotes: To Kill a Mockingbird
• Scholastic’s Book Wizard: To Kill a Mockingbird
• NovelGuide.com: To Kill a Mockingbird
• About.com: To Kill a Mockingbird Discussion Questions
• Quote Garden: Quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird

And as always, you’re welcome to sign up for the Book Report Workshop for $5.00.  This self-paced online class will guide your student through the process of writing an outstanding book report, and may be just the ticket to boost those English grades in middle school and high school.