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Apr 16, 2021TEENREVIEWCREW rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is a largely rewarding novel that succeeds on multiple counts. The premise is quite fascinating in theory, as it combines the concepts of white supremacy and racism into the format of satire. What's more likeable than that, however, is the way the narrative progresses. The character study-like treatment of it really helps us to connect with the protagonist, who is a remarkably well-written character. It's an achievement that the novel, without tons of exposition, manages to present to us a realistic depiction of the time and place - this gives the novel lots of punch, as does the astounding amount of sensitivity. The dialogues in the novel are quite hard-hitting, and they thankfully aren't sentimentalized at every juncture. The world-building is impressive, as is the intricate detailing. The pacing of the novel is impressive, and it allows the narrative room to breathe. TKAM does have flaws, though. The ending fits as it's a character study, but I wanted one that was more interesting. Many characters are underwritten, and some are practically written out as the novel progresses. . Yet, TKAM deserves its acclaim, and this is certainly an achievement for writer Harper Lee. 3.5 stars. @SSGDP of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a coming-of-age story told in a southern gothic style during the great depression. To Kill a Mockingbird brings up powerful and essential topics like race and decency. This story always makes you wonder what you would be doing in the given situations; it allows you to think more deeply about human character. The best part about this is that it does not force you to think a certain way; it never feels like you are being preached to or persuaded to think a certain way and I utterly love this approach to writing. Moving on to the characters – my favourite part about this novel - it has one of the most iconic and respected characters in Atticus Finch. Harper Lee does such an excellent job at humanizing Atticus and making him a perfect role model. I recommend to all students that you pay attention when reading this novel in class as it’s a masterpiece! 5/5 stars @ojke of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board As one of the most recognizable novels in literary history, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee explores prejudice and stereotypes from the perspective of a young girl in the 1930s. The book has a very nostalgic feeling to it, with the youthful curiosity of the main character, Scout, making it a more enjoyable read. However, there is something to be said about the whiteness — for lack of a better term — of the book. The white-saviour storyline and lack of development for Tom Robinson -- a Black character that the story heavily revolves around -- make for a very disappointing read. While on the surface, it’s a book that wonderfully tackles the topic of racism, at the core, it perpetuates a lot of racist behaviour. Therefore, I would rate it a 2.5/5 @MythicalDreamer7 of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library To Kill A Mockingbird was incredible. On the one hand, this book is a fairly simple age story about life in a small town in Alabama during the Great Depression. It has great saviour enthusiasm and simplicity, which I think has resonated with many readers. This is of course related to me. I think the adjective "charm" may have been invented to describe novels. Despite the ease of the narrative, this book is extremely deceptive in discussing race, tolerance, and human etiquette. Most importantly, this book shows us the courage to stand bravely on the grill of injustice by setting an example. This is a lesson we should all learn. In general, I will give it a rating of more than 5 stars and recommend that everyone around 15 years old read it so that they fully appreciate it. @Leafyreads of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board