To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee published in 1960. Instantly successful, widely read in high schools and middle schools in the United States, it has become a classic of modern American literature, winning the Pulitzer Prize. The plot and characters are loosely based on Lee's observations of her family, her neighbors and an event that occurred near her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, in 1936, when she was ten.
Despite dealing with the serious issues of rape and racial inequality, the novel is renowned for its warmth and humor. Atticus Finch, the narrator's father, has served as a moral hero for many readers and as a model of integrity for lawyers. The historian Joseph Crespino explains, "In the twentieth century, To Kill a Mockingbird is probably the most widely read book dealing with race in America, and its main character, Atticus Finch, the most enduring fictional image of racial heroism."[1].
Scholars have noted that Lee also addresses issues of class, courage, compassion, and gender roles in the Deep South. The book is widely taught in schools in the United States with lessons that emphasize tolerance and decry prejudice.[2] . In 2006, British librarians ranked the book ahead of the Bible as one "every adult should read before they die".[3] (Wikipedia)
Verdict of IrishParents: Excellent choice for study in the classroom at Junior level.
A compassionate look at the issue of racism in the context of 1930s America.
I love that my kids get to study this book!
Julie l. Co.Waterford
I have always enjoyed the reaction of my students when we finish up this novel and they
are shocked and sad that Harper Lee hasn't published more books.....
Helen G, Teacher