To Kill a Mockingbird - A Short Review

Nearly all of students in the United States at some time or another will be made to read and understand the American classic "To Kill A Mockingbird." Whether the students enjoy it and learn from it is another story! I personally read the book and saw the movie when I was in the eighth grade, and I just watched the movie again for the second time as an adult so I am giving a quick review. Much to my surprise, I understood the movie just about the same as I had when I had first seen it.The movie begins in a small town called Maycomb, Alabama and is set in the depression era. At the time, the South was still deeply divided, very much prejudiced and divided. The story follows three years in the life of one family, consisting of 8 year old Scout Finch, her brother Jem and their father Atticus, a lawyer. The plot thickens as a white woman accuses a young black man of rape. His subsequent arrest and trial provides the backdrop to the story. The author chooses to show much of the story through a child's point of view and somehow manages to weave in the tough themes of race, class, and justice.The story takes its time and progressively builds its substance. The story begins in the summer, just before Scout is off to her first year of school. Scout get used to school quickly and along with her brother Jem, she likes to fantasize about going over to the scary Boo Radley's house to get a peek at him. After much talk and no action, Jem gets curious enough and gets the courage to go see Boo Radley for himself.All the while, the town is getting geared up for the trial of the accused rapist Tom Robinson and Atticus Finch is appointed as his lawyer. The kids continue to play in their own world, oblivious the the serious situations around them until things get so hot that they become involved in events beyond their understanding. The trial begins and the circumstances reveal the towns dark and ugly side. Being an honest and good man, Atticus is forced to fight the odds to defend the truth. He goes against overwhelming odds to try to save the man he knows is innocent of the charges. His heroism is evident and teaches a hard lesson.Young Scout learns a good lesson and sums it up when she says, "most people are essentially kind when you really see them." This story can make you laugh and cry through its ups and downs, twists and turns, and teach you a good lesson all the while. The great American classic "To Kill A Mockingbird" still resonates today as much as it did when it first was published in 1960. dr seuss book collection