To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This story is a classic novel and movie, and I gave it a rating of five out of five. It is for mature readers. The plot follows Jem and Jean Marie (Scout) Finch as they grow up and deal with racism in Alabama during The Depression. Scout is an emotionally naive, young girl, although she has a fiery temper and narrates the story. The children are almost obsessed with seeing their mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley, and rumor has it that he almost killed his father with a pair of scissors. Atticus Finch, the children's father, is a lawyer and is appointed a case that will bring the town's emotions and anger to dangerous levels. Tom Robinson, a black man, is accused of raping a white woman, and the rage and bigotry of the some white citizens is almost uncontrollable. Through it all, Scout learns the lesson that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.

The plot moves back and forth from the simple, small-town lifestyle to the emotionally charged atmosphere of prejudice. The topic of racism is central to the plot and much of the language is very blunt, perhaps offensive. A major conflict deals with the uneasy relationship between whites and blacks, and the problem is compounded by the pressure of The Depression. Scout's innocence helps to address the serious issues in a simple manner, and this quality actually helps to ease some tense situations. This book won a 1961 Pulitzer Prize, but it's only for readers ready for some serious reading. It's my daughter's favorite book of all time.