To Kill a Mockingbird

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Summary: Harper Lee's American classic
Review: Having re-read To Kill a Mockingbird several times since childhood (including this special edition). A southern tale of a widowed Atticus Finch raising his two children, Jem and Scout, in a community where people help each other and often times hurt one another. It is a beautiful story of family, childhood friendships, playful summers, injustice, hate, and love. Some have speculated that Truman Capote, cousin of Harper Lee, actually wrote this classic tale. I believe that Ms. Lee simply shared her wonderful childhood experiences with us. Thank you Harper! The writer Anais Nin has a wonderful quote that captures the personalities of Jem, Scout and Dill as portrayed by Harper Lee. "The people I find irresistable are those in whom the child was not killed. The qualities of openness, trust, inquisitiveness, tenderness, eagerness, enthusiasms...come from the child in us and are the source of charm. The laughter and smile that do not calculate, the spontaneity that is not arrested." For those who haven't learned why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird...READ THE BOOK.

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Summary: One of the best books ever written
Review: This book is by far the best one ever written. Taking place during the Great Depression, it shows how poor people can be, and how they repay others with what they have, and it didn't have to be with money. I read this book during my Language class and it was very rewarding for me. The vocabulary is amazing. I thought this book was going to be aweful because the movie wasn't all it was cracked up to be. This book teaches you the true meaning of courage, how hard prejudiciness was in those times, and how people fear what they do not understand. I would highly recommend this book to anyone--but don't watch the movie first!

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Summary: a classic BEST or BEST classic
Review: Having to read books in Mrs. Sewell's 8th grade english class is quite interesting. Her reactions and facial expressions kind of put YOU in the story and then when you ask her questions she's secrative about it and wont tell you it's all creepy. One day I couldn't stand it any longer I didn't sleep at all. I just stayed up and finished the book. it was FABULOUS. I was on top of the world. Thinking all day, daydreaming, putting myself in Scout's position or Jem's or Boo's or Miss Maudie's- I was everyone. It was also great to have been "let in " on my teachers secret-the end and I never tell secrets so that was fun and. (once everyone finished the book she showed us the movie, it was touching but the book changes your life with a MUCH deeper meaning) I found a deeper meaning to my almost 14 years. I knew that who I was and what I stand for should be known. I liked finally knowing the story but then... Mrs. Sewell told us that "the trial" (read the book to find out...) never happened TO Harper Lee - even though it really did happen. Then what was the purpose? how much really happened? the anger could be there, but the situations??????? I was confused. But Harper must have really met Boo and talked extensively or else why would she live the way she does? (if this is Harper reading this then I am a great fan or yours, yet still confused and I wish you'd email me, I wouldn't tell anyone, secreta are always honored...) if Dill was Truman Capote then what happened and Jem died? what about the older sister, she wasn't in the story.... This book is deep, but it keeps you hanging. WHAT HAPPENED? it is THE BEST book I've ever read and the unit my teacher did was pretty cool.The characters are so deep that they make you think more than any other book that I've ever read. But it was Harper Lee that touched, changed, nurtured, tought, strengthened, and marked my life, forever... This is the BEST book ever written.

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Summary: Very Weird
Review: The only good thing about this book is that the storyline os OK. However it is kind of retarded. What kind of person call there dad by there first name. Also who knows if Boo and his family are "strange" because no one will ever talk to them.

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Summary: I love it!
Review: I just reread this book. Early in my 6th grade year (this year) is when I orginally read it. I love it! I can relate to Scout so easily. She is bored in school, like me. We both have lawyer fathers and brothers like Jem. I can be considered a tomboy. I don't live in the South, but that is the only big difference. In fact, my e-mail nickname with my friends is Scout. I do have a friend like Dill. His name is David and we mainly see each other over the summer. My favorite part is when she has the whole ordeal with Francis. I also like the part when Scout says to Atticus, "Atticus, you defend niggers?" and Atticus replys, "Don't say nigger, it's commom...." The two people who put that the book sucks and it's boring on the book reviw, I hope you see the light

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Summary: Wonderful
Review: This is the only book that I have not regretted being forced to read in a high school English course. The language used is wonderfully expressive, and I finished the book the day it was assigned in my zealous race to see what happened. I was thoroughly disappointed the next day, when, asking what other books Ms. Lee had written, I was told that she had written no other books. I had to content myself with reading this one repeatedly, until I had committed entire scenes to my memory. I recommend this book to anyone, young or old, and I sincerely hope that they see in it what I did

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Summary: A compelling and emotionally-charged novel
Review: I picked up this book, thinking it was another boring English novel I was supposed to read. I was so wrong. Through the eyes of Scout Finch we gradually see how the prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy of one town is pricked by the strength of one man's struggle for justice, justice to free a Black man from being wrongly sentenced for a crime he most possibly could not have done. This book brings to surface, the idea of how unfair and cruel we as a society can be, and how this racism and bigotry can affect so many, in ways we cannot imagine. Harper Lee has written one of the few brilliant novels of our time. She brings into the characters the liveliest sense of life, and has brought into the world a most touching book...so likeable, so intense

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Summary: A purrrfect Jem! err..Gem, actually..
Review: I have lost count of how many times I've reread this gem of a book. Children will always be children but Scout, Jem and Dill are also `wise' beyond their years. I wonder if we adults will do the same thing, faced with the same situation. This book is crackling with humour and full of good lessons too. It's a `JEM'

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Summary: The book was excellent. I think everyone should read it.
Review: I feel the novel was well worth the time spent to read it. It tells a lot about how the blacks were treated against the whites. I also liked the way Atticus stood up for Tom Robinson in court (even though he had to.) It was kind of funny the way Dill, Scout, and Jem tried many ways to get Boo Radley out of his house. Especially when Jem got his pants caught on the Radley's fence. What Dill and Scout didn't know was that Boo knew about them the whole time when he left them treasures in the knot hole of the tree. What made the book so good was when Boo saved Scout and Dill's life when the two of them were walking home from school one night

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Summary: My favourite book
Review: I too reread this book every few years. It starts when some item in the news sends me looking up a turn of phrase (If he had shoes, he would have worn them on the first day of school and then not again until November.) Pretty soon I've turned back to, "I say it started the summer before but Jem says..." For every time I read it, some part strikes me in a way that it never has before and I get a little more out of it. A valued and wise friend for life