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To Kill A Mockingbird?
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Hi There,
I have never read this book but it has been mentioned lately several times around my 14 yr old daughter. She surprised me by checking it out of the library yesterday and declaring that this was going to be the next book she read after Mary Bunyan. That is quite a contrast. i did snatch the book and flip through it, and I know it’s a classic, but I see some swear words and mature content in it (rape).
For those who have read the book, would you hand this to a 14 yr old? What is the redeeming (if any) thing about this book that makes is a “must read” to so many?
I never read it nor did my husband, so I know you can survive without it. Is the movie better than the book in this case? I do recall seeing the movie when I was young, but I don’t think I really understood the movie or the message as much as seeing Gregory Peck perform (my favorite actor when I was young).
Thanks for any guidance!
Betty
I guess it would depend on how much your daughter knows about those mature themes. If she is not familiar with it, then definitely not, unless you are wanting to explain it to her (though this would not be a very pleasant intro to that subject). My children read it at an older age, once they knew the facts of life. It is a wonderful story about acceptance, not prejudging others, forgivenness, and doing the right thing regardless of the consequences.
Blessings,
Cindy
It was a public school read for me around 7th or 8th grade I believe. I think it’s the 50 anniversary of the release this year and that is whey we’re seeing all the hype. I remember that I liked it and that I didn’t understand all of it when I was reading it. I probably didn’t help you at all!
Betty,
Here’s a link to a previous thread about this book.
http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/topic/to-kill-a-mockingbird#post-9074
Thanks so much for that thread. So, it sounds like 14 might be a bit young? What chapters would you skip (or parts of the chapter)? My husband suggested me reading it to my daughter, but frankly there are so many other books I’ve already been wanting to read aloud but our summer has been so busy we have not had our read aloud time.
I appreciate the info and guidance. This forum is so helpful.
I think I’d go for something else, rather than try to skip parts. That sounds like it could get stressful and open up things you may not want to discuss right now. Sometimes we just have to say, ‘not now’ to our children. As you say, there are so many other books just itching to be read.
Blessings,
Cindy
I agree with Cindy. The book is definitely a classic and there’s SO MUCH MORE to it than just the rape scene. But trying to skip inappropriate parts may just leave your daughter baffled. My son read it as a 17 year-old and he gleaned so much from it that the rape was seen as the “incidental” in the book. Our co-op is reading it for our high schooler’s this year, so my next son in line will be reading it (he’ll be 17 this school year). Maybe, like Cindy said, this book can be put off for a few more years.
My 2 cents…Angie A.
I read this book at age 11 and thought it was wonderful (though I was a fairly mature kid). An alleged rape is a major topic in the book, but the incident itself is never described, except very briefly in a trial.
Other major topics include poverty (it takes place in the Depression), judging others who are different and racism.
Basically, it’s told from the POV of Scout, a young girl who’s growing up in Depression-era Mississippi with her brother and father. (Her mother has died.) When a black man is accused of raping a white woman, Scout’s father is the only lawyer who will agree to defend him. The father, Atticus, is an incredible character. He’s a very gentle, thoughtful man and one of my favorite literary characters of all time. Scout and her brother also form an odd sort of friendship with the town recluse. There’s also actually quite a lot of humor in the book as well (despite the subject matter).
Honestly, I think it’s an amazing story, and I wouldn’t hesitate to let a 14-year-old read it unless she was either extremely sensitive or totally unfamiliar with the facts of life.
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