Review: To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Told from the perspective of young Scout, the story focuses on the key events of her childhood. Along with her older brother Jem and their friend Dill, they try to find out about mysterious reclusive neighbor Boo Radley. Raised by their widower father, Atticus, they also remember the summer of his most important case, defending a wrongfully accused African-American of raping a white girl.

Interspersed with these larger stories are other random vignettes from childhood, including summertime and school tales and a surprising account of their father shooting a rabid dog in the street at the request of the sheriff. Through it all, the deep-rooted fairness and tolerance that Atticus displays in his unorthodox approach to parenting, especially in that era, consistently shines through.

View all my reviews