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Rishabh | Manalapan High School, Grade 9
Rating: *****
The classic To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a great in depth read that is a good lesson for all readers. It involves a time period in which racism and discrimination were very prevalent in the United States. The story is told through the lens of an innocent child named Scout, who does not know of all the hatred involved in her society. She is unprejudiced as all young children are, and begins to realize the injustice that black people face in her racist town.
The story begins as an innocent recollection of various childhood experiences, but then the tone changes completely. It tells the story of a black man accused of rape by a white woman, and how injustice fills his trial. Scout's father is the lawyer, and he is hated for defending the man.
This story takes its readers on an emotional roller coaster as they read about the racial injustice that once plagued America. I recommend this book to every avid reader, as its plot and story reveal a lot about history from an unusual perspective.
Laci | Howell High School, Grade 11
Rating: *****
To Kill A Mockingbird is a must-read for every single child in America. Scout Finch and her brother Jem, have a father, Atticus, who is a lawyer. One day, Atticus is defending a black man, Tom Robinson, being wrongly accused of r*pe of a woman. The evidence does not add up and Atticus must find a way to defend him. Scout and Jem want to help and find answers around town for why things are the way they are. Why is Tom being wrongly accused just because he’s black? Scout and Jem also try to interrogate their neighbor, Boo Radley, who is never seen leaving his house. Read To Kill A Mockingbird to follow on Scout, Jem, and Atticus’ journey.
I had to read this book for a school project and it did not disappoint. I read it again a few years later and picked up on so much more. This is one of the most educational books that schools provide. It provides a huge insight into racism and how bad racism was in the South back then. This book is so inspiring to fight for a change in the way that black people are treated. If you are above the age of 13 and want to get more involved in racial equality, this is a perfect start to see how bad it really was many years ago. This is one of the best books I have ever read and the story couldn't be written any more perfectly.
Madison | Holmdel High School, Grade 11
Rating: *****
Jean Louise Finch, also known as Scout, and her family live in a small quiet Southern town named Maycomb. Scout’s older brother, Jem Finch, will begin to mature and understand the world a little more. Scout’s father, Atticus Finch is a well-known lawyer in the town. He is defending Tom Robinson, a black man who has been accused of assaulting a young white woman. This battle in court will be a strong topic within the book because of the racism during this time period. Throughout the book, Scout will have many questions toward the Tom Robinon case. In addition to her curiosity, she will question her neighbor Boo Radley, who is very mysterious and hasn’t been seen outside in a very long time. Scout will start to see what the world is becoming.
Overall, this book was one of the best books I have ever read. Sometimes the book can be complicated to understand, but can also be very easy to understand. It will show the true definition of racism. This book will make you want to not stop reading. There will be curiosity, surprise, and happy feelings. I would recommend this book to anyone above the age of 13 who is interested in learning about racism that was in the past.
Jack | Biotechnology High School, Grade 10
Rating: ***
Set in a small rural town in Alabama during the 1920s, To Kill a Mockingbird follows Jean-Louise Finch (aka Scout Finch) as she and her brother Jem experience all that their town has to offer. Living under the success of their lawyer father, Atticus, they grew up pretty well off. What started with relatively normal childhood tales, the story starts to ramp up a bit. Slowly, more and more extreme events take place leading up to the infamous trial of Tom Robinson, who is a black man accused of raping a white woman.
Due to the time period, racial injustice and societal norms based on gender are rampant and are revealed to Scout throughout the story. Although confusing at times, To Kill a Mockingbird is a great read. Anyone interested in learning more about what it was like to live in the past would definitely enjoy the book. However, it would be beneficial if the reader was more mature because of some of the content and the complexity of some of the diction.
Alyssa | Marlboro High School, Grade 9
Rating: ****
This novel is about two children growing up in a small town during the Great Depression. Scout and Jem, the children, have to deal with living in an area where reputations precede people. They are fascinated by a man who keeps to himself and is known as the town’s loner. As the children grow up, they are exposed to different lifestyles and struggles that other people face.
I liked this book for the most part, but at times I did not like it. I thought that the beginning of the novel was boring and took too long to develop. I did enjoy, however, reading about the trial of a man in the town. I thought that was interesting and really demonstrated what life was like back then. Furthermore, in my opinion the novel had a great ending. It was exciting and tied everything together. I would recommend this book to people who like reading about different time periods and areas. It is a great story about growing up and changing, full of details that add to the vivid descriptions of life a long time ago.
Maureen | Marlboro High School, Grade 11
Rating: ***
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a book that deals with controversial issues through a nonconventional lense. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb, Alabama; a strict community where open interpretation and judgment is limited. Tom Robinson, one of the few Black residents in the community, was falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Atticus Finch, the best lawyer in the community and father of Scout Finch, accepts the case openly without any judgement. Through the book, Scout Finch, the narrator of the book, explains the events of the severe judgement from the community, as well as the childhood innocence perspective of the controversial events. Scout Finch learns more about her community as a whole, and uncovers the truth about the case against Robinson through his testimony.
Lee carefully curated the book to provide an unconventional lense of the world of Maycomb, Alabama. The narrator of the book, Scout Finch, was an interesting choice that added multiple layers to the book. For example, it presented a more innocent view of the world, thus illustrating the pureness of the community. Since the community is filled with white folk, or “white trash” who are not necessarily inclusive, Scout learns the different intricacies of the community and becomes more broad-minded. After the court case, she discovers the hypocrisy and prejudice that manipulates the community, allowing her to be heavily invested in the decision. Additionally, Atticus Finch’s articulate questioning and testimony throughout the court case brought a level of suspense to the novel. At this time, Atticus continuously questions all of the witnesses, Mayella Ewell, and Tom Robinson. His articulate questioning represented the breaking of superficiality and inevitable unveiling of the truth.
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