To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee-My Thoughts

Summary: A lawyer teaches his children some wisdom about life, while defending a black man accused of raping a white girl. The main character of the story is Scout. She is raised with her brother, Jeremy Atticus (“Jem”), by their widowed father, Atticus Finch. He is a prominent lawyer who encourages his children to be empathetic and just. He notably tells them that it is “a sin to kill a mockingbird,” alluding to the fact that the birds are innocent and harmless.

There are some stories that make you laugh, some have a gloomy feeling, some make you think and feel about a certain issue faced by a certain section of the society. Well, this novel had everything to offer. Told as a first-person account of a young girl, this story took me on a journey I had already been through years ago, our beautiful childhood. Reading this novel was an actual treat. The story goes through everything a normal kid’s childhood is composed of. Getting into school, meeting new people and making friends, doing mischief, getting scolded by elders, learning new things every day, playing, getting hurt, feeding small and cute curiosities and most importantly, having no worries. The novel traverses through the simple lives of Jem and Scout, while addressing the discrimination faced by colored people. Everyone seems to have a hostile behavior towards them. Even justice is a far cry for them. But Atticus teaches his children that one’s color does not decide one’s fate, and everyone has a right to be treated equally with respect. Give this one a try if you want to relive your childhood and learn about the wonderful teachings given by Atticus to his children.