To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Chapter Book)

Challenged Book

This book is told through the eyes of a little girl named Scout who looks up to her father, Atticus.  Scout, Jem, and Dill fill their days planning a way to see Boo Radley.  This is how they spend most of their summer.  They do not realize that Boo is watching out for them and protects them from harm.    Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb who fights for racial equality in the South and is defending Tom Robinson, a black man who has been mistakenly accused of raping Mayella Ewell.  Mayella has actually been beaten and raped by her father, Bob Ewell.  Tom Robinson is found guilty of the crime although Atticus has clearly proven that Tom was physically incapable of committing it since he only has one hand.  At the end of the book Scout gets to meet Boo when he saves her and Jem from being attacked by Bob Ewell.  Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout because he does not like Atticus since he defended a black man. 

I really enjoyed reading this book.  To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books to read.  I get to teach this book at school, so it is always nice to be able to teach literature that I enjoy reading!  I thought Harper Lee did a great job of portraying the racial issue that was going on at this time in the South.  There are several parts in the book that are my favorite.  When Atticus proves that Tom Robinson could not have attacked Mayella in the way that was described because he is missing part of his arm is great part in the story.  Lee clearly shows that his case is a black and white issue and not about rape by Tom being convicted of the crime although he was physically incapable of doing it.  Another part of the story that is one of my favorite is when the Atticus is leaving the courtroom and the black people stand in respect for what Atticus stood for and what he tried to accomplish.  Although he did not win the case, he had the respect of the black people which was very hard for a white man to do during this time period.  At the end of the book when Scout meets Boo Radley and realizes that he has been watching out for them and is their friend shows the innocence of children in this day.