To Kill a Mockingbird

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  • June 26, 2009 at 7:55 pm
    Angie
    Participant

    Our family is going to study modern history this year, and in compiling our books I realized that To Kill a Mockingbird wasn’t listed. Is there a specific reason for this? I read this book as a Senior in high school and read it at least once a year (literally!) so I was curious why it wasn’t listed.

    Thank you!

    Angie A in TX

    June 29, 2009 at 7:11 pm
    Sonya Shafer
    Moderator

    Great question, Angie. I’ve been uneasy with the whole rape situation included in the storyline. Do you feel that it is handled appropriately for children? I pretty much dismissed the book mentally when I read about that part of the plot, so I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on the matter. Thanks.

    June 29, 2009 at 8:50 pm
    Bookworm
    Participant

    I think this is going to be one of those issues that some people are going to feel one way, and some another. Mockingbird is widely touted as one of the finest novels of this century, and with some reason. I’ve read it several times and do love it. I would be pretty hesitant to recommend it to be used with children though. My oldest will be reading it this year, but he is an older teenager and pretty mature. I’m not at all sure I’ll be reading it with any of my others, and I’d defintely recommend caution before including it in a program. There are definitely very adult themes, and if I were recommending a list of books for wide use I’d never include it. For a child who could certainly handle the discussion of the rape, however, the book does contain one of the finest portrayals of pure character in modern literature in Atticus Finch. That is one of the reasons I think my oldest is up to the challenge of the book, also I know the book well and will be choosing some parts to skip. Incidentally, there are some pretty pro-CM style learning quotes in the book. 🙂 But I’d never push or recommend it for everyone in a high school program. To be honest, I did read it for the first time in high school and it was kind of traumatic for me. I couldn’t really appreciate it until years later.

    June 29, 2009 at 10:55 pm
    missingtheshire
    Member

    My 17 year old daughters and I read it together, we had discussed the harrowing material beforehand, and we discussed it at length before beginning the book. I chose to have them read it with me, so that we could discuss things as they came up, and that worked well. Had they said they did not want to read it knowing what was coming, we would not have done it, but they wanted to go ahead. I agree with Bookworm, it is one of those things that each family will have to decide upon for themselves, and I would not recommend it for younger teens – Bookworm is also on the mark when she says it is “one of the finest portrayals of pure character” – it certainly is, and that made it worth adding to our reading list. There are many books on various reading lists that I would not put in front of my daughters, but I think that this one deserved its place. Both of my daughters found the book riveting and went on to watch the Gregory Peck movie which they also enjoyed. I think they gained a lot in the way of writing and character from that book, and neither said they regretted reading it. Linda

    July 9, 2009 at 2:46 pm
    Angie
    Participant

    Thanks for the help….sorry I hadn’t responded but I had to leave out of town at the last minute and am just getting to this.

    I planned on using this book for my high schooler, who is pretty mature.  He is actually looking forward to reading it because as I mentioned, I have read and continue to re-read this book since the time I first read it at 17 (and I’m turning 40 this year!!) and he has seen me reading it practically since he was born.  (I have to obtain a new copy every few years.)

    I feel there is definitely more to this book than the rape.  The prejudice that led up to the rape is an example of how we should first of all not allow prejudice to seep into our own lives, but also that accountability, or lack of, has dire consequences (in this case, Tom dies).   Attituc Finch is an example of a man untouched by the hate around him and how he stood up for what was right even though he knew he was going to lose–he also knew the extreme hate Ms. Dubose had for him yet insisted his son see her as an example of a “great lady who would die beholden to nothing or no one.”  The Ewells are great examples of how not to think, be, etc.  Arthur Radley, the recluse, came out to fight for what was right even though he would be exposed to those he was trying to hide from (the children).  The book also does a great job of defining each character, with both their flaws & their strengths, and, in my opinion, you can be drawn in to actually feel what that person is thinking and their reasoning behind it.  Handled delicately, I feel it is not only a great look into the morbid history of our own United States, but also how far we have come.

    I had to stop and really think when I read Bookworm’s reply….is my son mature enough to glean from the book what is important….he’s a pretty mature guy and very responsible, but I really had to examine my own heart in how I saw my son….this was defintely a great way to do it!.  We will be using the book with lots of discussion, but defintely reserved for myself, my husband and my 17 year-old.

    Thanks for everyone who posted!!!!!

    Angie A. in TX

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