Review: ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee

I recently finished ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee after my mum bought me a gorgeous copy of the novel. It is a heartbreaking, funny and well-written story of racism in the 1930s.

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee summary

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee follows the story of Jem and Scout, two children growing up in the 1930s American South. The book is written from Scout’s point of view, and her account of their childhood covers a time of intense racism.

During the novel, Scout and Jem’s father, Atticus, is defending a black man who has been accused of raping a white woman. Scout’s often naive narration gives a unique insight into the racial hatred of the American South.

As well as the backdrop of the court case, Jem and Scout also spend their time making up horror stories about the local “madman” Boo Radley, who is rumoured to wander around at night. These two elements of the book come together to create a brilliant, heartfelt narrative that has remained popular ever since its publication in 1960.

My review of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee

I loved ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee. It was a brilliant look at one child’s experiences living in 1930s America – and everything that came with that.

Scout’s narration

The personality and voice of a narrator can make or break a book. Luckily, Scout’s narration made this novel. She is a typical tomboy, brought up by her father and brother after the death of her mother.

She is scorned by all the women of her small Southern village, told that she should wear dresses and “act like a lady”. This makes her a lovable character, and her narration offers a child’s perspective on the horrific events of the novel.

Scout can’t understand why a black man who has clearly not committed a crime is still convicted. This reflects the true absurdity of the situation for adult readers. Scout’s narration is the perfect choice for the complexity and severity of the racial hatred of the 1930s.

Characters in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

As well as Scout, I also loved the other characters in the book. I liked looking at Jem through his sister’s eyes, seeing how he is changing from a young child to a young man.

Atticus, their father, is also an interesting character, especially when viewed from Scout’s position. He takes on Tom Robinson’s case because he sees it as the right thing to do, despite the hatred it incurs from some of the local people.

Calpurnia, the Finches’ maid, is a complex character and a welcome addition to the family. She works for the family and develops a close friendship with Scout, who sees her as a kind of mother figure.

She is a fantastic character in her own right, reflecting the suppression of black people in the South, as well as the complexity of race relations for those growing up and living there.

Final thoughts on ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee

Overall, I really enjoyed ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. I thought the messages relayed in the novel were very profound, and Scout’s unique narration added a light tone to this otherwise serious account of life in the deep South.

As a history lover, I enjoyed learning about 1930s America, although it wasn’t easy to read at times. The account of growing up – and all the fun, anger and hope that comes with it – is narrated beautifully by Scout.

I would definitely recommend ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ to anyone looking to learn a little more about American history. There’s no wonder it’s still a fan-favourite among readers of all ages!

After finishing ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, I now want to check out ‘Go Set a Watchman’, a sequel to the novel published in 2015.

Did you enjoy my review of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee? Have you read this modern classic? Did you enjoy this book?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x

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