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How To Kill A Mockingbird
A how-to guide for readers who never knew they needed it. Or for Homer Simpson, who clearly thought he was buying this book in the first place.
15 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2012
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January 7, 2015very good book
May 19, 2017
How to kill a Mockingbird book review
If someone came up to me and asked for a book that I thought that would touch on how racially built America's past and even present was, I would direct them to “To Kill A Mockingbird.” This story will take you in the past and make you see what African Americans went through that most justice systems or even what your neighbor would keep hush. In this story, you will see the backstory of what a family went through to protect the rights of one single African American in attempts to make sure he sought legal representation in court.
The family that the story is revolved around are the Finches. The story is told in first person by a bright eyed 6 year old child named Scout. She's definitely a character and someone you enjoy getting to hear the story through. Her father is Atticus Finch who is the lawyer that represents Tom Robinson. He raised both Scout and Jem (Scout's older brothers) by himself seeing as his wife died early on when Jem was a young boy. The family is a southern family, that you'd think would be put in a racial category because of the small town they come from, but they are far from that. This is a story of a family overcoming that stereotypical racial memo and proving that their are decent humans around who won't judge because of skin tone.
WARNING: SPOILERS & DISCUSSION OF ESSENTIAL PLOT ELEMENTS FOLLOW…
Most of the exposition of the first half of To Kill a Mockingbird falls in the first chapter. The narration describes the Finch family history; background information about Maycomb and its newest arrival, Dill; and a thorough explanation of how Arthur Radley comes to be known as "Boo." There is further exposition in other chapters, primarily about Miss Maudie and the other neighbors of the Finches. The main focus should be in the beginning where it tells you and introduces you to who exactly everyone is and their role throughout the story.
I believe that the setting of this story plays a great deal in the turn out of the story. To Kill a Mockingbird is set in Maycomb County. The time is the early 1930s, the years of the Great Depression when poverty and unemployment were widespread in the United States. Without the key events going on such as the Great Depression and how common racism was I believe this story wouldn't of had a foothold in talking about the unfair treatment of African Americans
Scout is the protagonist because the story is told from her point of view exclusively. Jean Louise Finch is the young tomboy who is at the center of the story in To Kill a Mockingbird. The story is told from her adult point of view as she looks back, and we see the effects of the adult side of Scout sneaking in throughout the book describing her adventures. The story is also a coming of age novel, which focuses on how a child grows up. Scout does grow up over the course of the novel, and she learns the ways of the adult world. Things that confuse and surprise her at the beginning of the novel are not so confusing by the end. The story is based off her growing up through this era and seeing how she grew from it instead of letting it grow apart of her.
In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” you get to see if through Scout's eyes and you hear a lot of Atticus because they are two main characters throughout the story. One main Antagonist is Bob Ewell. Bob Ewell blames Tom Robinson for raping his daughter even though it's not true which they do find Tom not guilty of the crime. Shoutout to Atticus Finch but because of this Bob Ewell sets the main conflict of the story. He also attacks Scout and Jem towards the end of the story making him and antagonist towards them.
The main conflict in "To Kill a Mockingbird" is Atticus' decision to represent Tom Robinson after Bob Ewell accuses Tom of raping his daughter, Mayella. Atticus' two children, Scout and Jem, are taunted by other children for their father's decision. Some of the townspeople are also angered by Atticus' decision because Tom is a black man. The story is set in a segregated town.
Most of the rising action concerns the children's attempts to make contact with Boo, including the Radley Game, the raid on the Radley's back porch, the gifts found in the secret knothole, and Boo's presence on the night of Miss Maudie's house fire.
The climax to Part One is debatable. For me, it comes in on the night when Miss Maudie's house burns. When Atticus discovers the blanket placed upon Scout's shoulders and informs her that it must have been put there by Boo, it signifies the end of the Boo Radley section of the first part of the novel. Jem reveals all of their secret activities to Atticus, and both of the children realize that Boo's acts of kindness are not those of an evil man. Jem's promise that "I ain't gonna do anything to him..." shows an end to the children's attempts to "make him come out" and their invasion of his privacy, and Boo is rarely mentioned again until the end of the novel.
I believe the final chapters of part one as the falling action. The action shifts away from Boo Radley and begins to introduce elements of the upcoming trial of Tom Robinson, the main plot of Part Two. Although Atticus's killing of the mad dog is one of the highlights of the first half, it still serves as a type of falling action, showing evidence of Atticus's past killing skills; deadly skills that he will be forced to show in a much different manner during his verbal assaults on Bob and Mayella Ewell during the trial.
The Resolution comes in when Atticus wins the court case. All his hard work and all the stuff his family got drug through was all for something. Tom Robinson was a free man, his slate was wiped clean. They won, they beat the racist. They beat the unjustified system! Another thing you could say was a resolution is when it shows the beginnings of Jem's maturity and the change that is about to occur within the Finch family. With the children's activities--and their false illusions; surrounding Boo at an end.
In To Kill A Mockingbird, the climax is the attack on Scout. The denouement features the Sheriff and Atticus trying to cover up for Boo Radley's stabbing of Bob Ewell. Jem comes to terms with the injustice of trial, Scout succumbs to sleep, and Atticus wraps it all up by repeating the famous line, “You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes.”
Two examples of secondary characters are Aunt Alexandra and Mr. Link Deas. Aunt Alexandra is Atticus's sister, a strong-willed woman with a fierce devotion to her family. Alexandra is the Southern lady, and her commitment to propriety and tradition often leads her to clash with Scout. She is constantly nagging Atticus about how he raises Scout because she's a tomboy. Mr. Link Deas owns the cotton fields that Tom Robinson worked in. He stood up in court after Atticus questioned Tom, and insisted that Tom was a good man who'd worked for him for eight years and never caused any trouble. His outburst, although meant to help Tom, got Mr. Deas thrown out of the courtroom, and his words were stricken from the record. In his willingness to look past race and praise the integrity of Tom's character, Deas epitomizes the opposite of prejudice.
“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.” This quote hits home because I feel it could be applied to anyone. You never truly will know what a person is going through until you put yourself in their shoes and even then sometimes you can't. You have those that say “I understand,” but do they truly understand or is it just something you say because it's usually what your suppose to say..
My overall opinion on this book, is I hope they continue making students read it. It not going helps you see what went on in the past but, it also reflects whats going on now. It a great story of a single man going against a whole town on one belief that every man and women should have proper representation in court. In this book you can pull so any lessons from it and I think it will help shape people's mind sets.
If someone came up to me and asked for a book that I thought that would touch on how racially built America's past and even present was, I would direct them to “To Kill A Mockingbird.” This story will take you in the past and make you see what African Americans went through that most justice systems or even what your neighbor would keep hush. In this story, you will see the backstory of what a family went through to protect the rights of one single African American in attempts to make sure he sought legal representation in court.
The family that the story is revolved around are the Finches. The story is told in first person by a bright eyed 6 year old child named Scout. She's definitely a character and someone you enjoy getting to hear the story through. Her father is Atticus Finch who is the lawyer that represents Tom Robinson. He raised both Scout and Jem (Scout's older brothers) by himself seeing as his wife died early on when Jem was a young boy. The family is a southern family, that you'd think would be put in a racial category because of the small town they come from, but they are far from that. This is a story of a family overcoming that stereotypical racial memo and proving that their are decent humans around who won't judge because of skin tone.
WARNING: SPOILERS & DISCUSSION OF ESSENTIAL PLOT ELEMENTS FOLLOW…
Most of the exposition of the first half of To Kill a Mockingbird falls in the first chapter. The narration describes the Finch family history; background information about Maycomb and its newest arrival, Dill; and a thorough explanation of how Arthur Radley comes to be known as "Boo." There is further exposition in other chapters, primarily about Miss Maudie and the other neighbors of the Finches. The main focus should be in the beginning where it tells you and introduces you to who exactly everyone is and their role throughout the story.
I believe that the setting of this story plays a great deal in the turn out of the story. To Kill a Mockingbird is set in Maycomb County. The time is the early 1930s, the years of the Great Depression when poverty and unemployment were widespread in the United States. Without the key events going on such as the Great Depression and how common racism was I believe this story wouldn't of had a foothold in talking about the unfair treatment of African Americans
Scout is the protagonist because the story is told from her point of view exclusively. Jean Louise Finch is the young tomboy who is at the center of the story in To Kill a Mockingbird. The story is told from her adult point of view as she looks back, and we see the effects of the adult side of Scout sneaking in throughout the book describing her adventures. The story is also a coming of age novel, which focuses on how a child grows up. Scout does grow up over the course of the novel, and she learns the ways of the adult world. Things that confuse and surprise her at the beginning of the novel are not so confusing by the end. The story is based off her growing up through this era and seeing how she grew from it instead of letting it grow apart of her.
In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” you get to see if through Scout's eyes and you hear a lot of Atticus because they are two main characters throughout the story. One main Antagonist is Bob Ewell. Bob Ewell blames Tom Robinson for raping his daughter even though it's not true which they do find Tom not guilty of the crime. Shoutout to Atticus Finch but because of this Bob Ewell sets the main conflict of the story. He also attacks Scout and Jem towards the end of the story making him and antagonist towards them.
The main conflict in "To Kill a Mockingbird" is Atticus' decision to represent Tom Robinson after Bob Ewell accuses Tom of raping his daughter, Mayella. Atticus' two children, Scout and Jem, are taunted by other children for their father's decision. Some of the townspeople are also angered by Atticus' decision because Tom is a black man. The story is set in a segregated town.
Most of the rising action concerns the children's attempts to make contact with Boo, including the Radley Game, the raid on the Radley's back porch, the gifts found in the secret knothole, and Boo's presence on the night of Miss Maudie's house fire.
The climax to Part One is debatable. For me, it comes in on the night when Miss Maudie's house burns. When Atticus discovers the blanket placed upon Scout's shoulders and informs her that it must have been put there by Boo, it signifies the end of the Boo Radley section of the first part of the novel. Jem reveals all of their secret activities to Atticus, and both of the children realize that Boo's acts of kindness are not those of an evil man. Jem's promise that "I ain't gonna do anything to him..." shows an end to the children's attempts to "make him come out" and their invasion of his privacy, and Boo is rarely mentioned again until the end of the novel.
I believe the final chapters of part one as the falling action. The action shifts away from Boo Radley and begins to introduce elements of the upcoming trial of Tom Robinson, the main plot of Part Two. Although Atticus's killing of the mad dog is one of the highlights of the first half, it still serves as a type of falling action, showing evidence of Atticus's past killing skills; deadly skills that he will be forced to show in a much different manner during his verbal assaults on Bob and Mayella Ewell during the trial.
The Resolution comes in when Atticus wins the court case. All his hard work and all the stuff his family got drug through was all for something. Tom Robinson was a free man, his slate was wiped clean. They won, they beat the racist. They beat the unjustified system! Another thing you could say was a resolution is when it shows the beginnings of Jem's maturity and the change that is about to occur within the Finch family. With the children's activities--and their false illusions; surrounding Boo at an end.
In To Kill A Mockingbird, the climax is the attack on Scout. The denouement features the Sheriff and Atticus trying to cover up for Boo Radley's stabbing of Bob Ewell. Jem comes to terms with the injustice of trial, Scout succumbs to sleep, and Atticus wraps it all up by repeating the famous line, “You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes.”
Two examples of secondary characters are Aunt Alexandra and Mr. Link Deas. Aunt Alexandra is Atticus's sister, a strong-willed woman with a fierce devotion to her family. Alexandra is the Southern lady, and her commitment to propriety and tradition often leads her to clash with Scout. She is constantly nagging Atticus about how he raises Scout because she's a tomboy. Mr. Link Deas owns the cotton fields that Tom Robinson worked in. He stood up in court after Atticus questioned Tom, and insisted that Tom was a good man who'd worked for him for eight years and never caused any trouble. His outburst, although meant to help Tom, got Mr. Deas thrown out of the courtroom, and his words were stricken from the record. In his willingness to look past race and praise the integrity of Tom's character, Deas epitomizes the opposite of prejudice.
“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.” This quote hits home because I feel it could be applied to anyone. You never truly will know what a person is going through until you put yourself in their shoes and even then sometimes you can't. You have those that say “I understand,” but do they truly understand or is it just something you say because it's usually what your suppose to say..
My overall opinion on this book, is I hope they continue making students read it. It not going helps you see what went on in the past but, it also reflects whats going on now. It a great story of a single man going against a whole town on one belief that every man and women should have proper representation in court. In this book you can pull so any lessons from it and I think it will help shape people's mind sets.
December 24, 2022
This was worth a revisit from back in high school English class. This time, it was my choice to read.
This book makes me realise how racist we still are and that some of us have true empathy and compassion.
A good dose of humility
This book makes me realise how racist we still are and that some of us have true empathy and compassion.
A good dose of humility
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December 9, 2016 To Kill a Mockingbird is told through the eyes of a young girl named Scout. This book did not have me on my toes nor did it bore me it was pretty neutral and different for the other books I have read. The biggest conflict that I saw in the book was her father being accused of raping a white woman, which in return caused him to go to court to fight for his innocence or step up on his actions. And during that period of time in a small southern town it would make sense that there would be racial discrimination against a black man and a white man during trial. Even though, it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.
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August 17, 2017i personally found this book really boring. Maybe i am too young for it?!
November 18, 2019
The book How to Kill a Mockingbird was a pretty good book, usually I find myself hating to read but this book proved to be one of the exceptions. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars cause it had many entertaining scenes about Boo or Bob and didn't have many slow parts.I also really like what this book stands, but it didn't have enough action scenes which is why it fell short of 5 stars. The book was pretty difficult to understand some of the parts. But the rest Lee chose good descriptions to show things without being clear about it.
Throughout the book Harper gave us some sitting at the edge of the chair moments. Like when we figured out Tom died, or the kids heard footsteps on the way home. "He slowly squeezed the breath out of me. I could not move. Suddenly he was jerked back and flung on the ground, almost carrying me with him¨(Lee chapter 27). I think without those suspenseful scenes the book would not as good which is the same for any book.
In the book I could picture the scenes in my head cause the adjectives Lee included in her book.¨ The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he´ll never be like Jem. Besides there´s a drinking streak in that family a mile wide. Finch women aren´t interested in that sort of people¨(Lee 228). What Alexandria is saying is that you can´t change someone like Walter personality wise. You can change their appearance as much as you want they´ll be the same inside.
I do like what this book stands for cause color doesn´t matter what´s inside does. We see in the court the jury takes a longer time to decide if Tom´s guilty or innocent, they are changing slowly but still changing. ¨Secretly Miss Finch I´m not much of a drinker, but you see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that´s the way I want to live¨(Lee chapter 20). Dolphus, Atticus, Jem, and Scout are the few that are seeing through color and seeing whats inside instead.
Overall it´s a good book and is worthy of 4 stars probably even more jut my belief. It´s not to slow and is an entertaining book to read. It shows that not everyone back then was racist, but racism even continues to this day and it will not ever stop. I do recommend this book cause it´s very descriptive and has good imagery.
Throughout the book Harper gave us some sitting at the edge of the chair moments. Like when we figured out Tom died, or the kids heard footsteps on the way home. "He slowly squeezed the breath out of me. I could not move. Suddenly he was jerked back and flung on the ground, almost carrying me with him¨(Lee chapter 27). I think without those suspenseful scenes the book would not as good which is the same for any book.
In the book I could picture the scenes in my head cause the adjectives Lee included in her book.¨ The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he´ll never be like Jem. Besides there´s a drinking streak in that family a mile wide. Finch women aren´t interested in that sort of people¨(Lee 228). What Alexandria is saying is that you can´t change someone like Walter personality wise. You can change their appearance as much as you want they´ll be the same inside.
I do like what this book stands for cause color doesn´t matter what´s inside does. We see in the court the jury takes a longer time to decide if Tom´s guilty or innocent, they are changing slowly but still changing. ¨Secretly Miss Finch I´m not much of a drinker, but you see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that´s the way I want to live¨(Lee chapter 20). Dolphus, Atticus, Jem, and Scout are the few that are seeing through color and seeing whats inside instead.
Overall it´s a good book and is worthy of 4 stars probably even more jut my belief. It´s not to slow and is an entertaining book to read. It shows that not everyone back then was racist, but racism even continues to this day and it will not ever stop. I do recommend this book cause it´s very descriptive and has good imagery.
December 8, 2020
In the event of the book, it takes place in the great depression time period where it was hard for people to find jobs. a person whose name is Atticus finch is a lawyer who helps people out. One day, a guy named Tom Robinson, a black resident, is falsely accused of "raping" a white woman. Even though everyone threatens him about this he still decides to defend him because he knows he's innocent. The theme of the story is to always help out people even if it looks impossible. I like the way how they portray the great depression and how it shows how corrupt society is.
January 3, 2021
A read worthy of anyone's time!
With all the exposure and light shed on many past and horrific events of unfair treatment, this book only but adds to what we all know
But creating and developing a love, and understanding for the ways of the Finch family, makes you realise there has always been hope in the world and those who demand change for equality!
The first part of the book sets up and aide track, while preparing you for what the book is really about (second part)
You see the book through the eyes of 'Scout'!
Anyone who is seeking a read with great literature, a fantastic story and a powerball, look no further, this classic will savour all three of your desires!
With all the exposure and light shed on many past and horrific events of unfair treatment, this book only but adds to what we all know
But creating and developing a love, and understanding for the ways of the Finch family, makes you realise there has always been hope in the world and those who demand change for equality!
The first part of the book sets up and aide track, while preparing you for what the book is really about (second part)
You see the book through the eyes of 'Scout'!
Anyone who is seeking a read with great literature, a fantastic story and a powerball, look no further, this classic will savour all three of your desires!
August 15, 2025
This book really delivered such a strong message and is written amazingly. I loved reading it since it was so intriguing and had a lot of important moments throughout the book. You follow the journey of a young girl who learns important lessons about right and wrong, seeing how cruel the world can actually be. It touches on themes like racial bias, racism, innocence, and courage. This story is very meaningful and teaches lessons that still matter to this day.
November 9, 2021
I love How To Kill A Mockingbird. I read it in high school and also saw the play and fell in love with it. This book takes you on a literary journey in the best way possible. With highs and lows, this book will have you engaged and wanting more. I highly recommend this book to anyone.
December 23, 2017
Good book
October 11, 2018
The characters all felt genuine and the controversial topics were cleaverly integrated.
Read
August 24, 2019Saya hampir tidak percaya bahwa isi buku ini sangat bberbeda dari judul itu sendiri, buku yang sangat baik.
September 4, 2019
I liked it.
September 26, 2019
I don't really like this book
February 25, 2020
I like this book a lot its very interesting a fun to read .
December 25, 2020
favorite book of all time. so eye opening
January 5, 2021
there is a racial slur in book
April 20, 2021
HAHA YOU DID SO WELL
July 6, 2021
so good
November 29, 2021
It was good book it had lots of spirit.
December 27, 2021
This book is truly amazing. It’s so educational and important. Although I wish white teachers didn’t feel it was ok to say the n word but oh well
December 29, 2021
I gave the book up. Honestly i just did not understand it. What do the writer want me to think ? What is the history ?
I will try again later and see if i can grow with the book ?
I will try again later and see if i can grow with the book ?
January 3, 2022
profound writing
February 15, 2022
“thanks you harper lee for writing this book”
sinceramente solo lo he leído porque leí un pasaje en clase de ingles y ya quería saber mas, no me arrepiento de nada
sinceramente solo lo he leído porque leí un pasaje en clase de ingles y ya quería saber mas, no me arrepiento de nada
February 19, 2022
Incredible book with an engaging story. The story helped me to understand past racism better!
March 18, 2022
I would give it 0 but I cant.
Folded when I saw the white woman writing nigger💀 I dont like it, argue w ya mama not I.
Folded when I saw the white woman writing nigger💀 I dont like it, argue w ya mama not I.
August 29, 2022
twas ok the charas were kinda boring but it had a good meaning or sum
October 22, 2023
This book very well define the racists thinking of the society and how we judge and punish someone just based on their looks.
February 10, 2025
Very funny and loved reading it! Loved the part about the alien war!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews