I have reread To Kill a Mockingbird at least half a dozen times and each time I find something new: another layer to a character that previously had gone unnoticed, a nuance in the language that I somehow overlooked, and perhaps an understanding of the delicate subject matter that comes with age. The first time I read it, (thank you, middle school) I viewed this book as a young girl's memories of her adventures with her brother. It is certainly this, but it's so much more! The book tackles the topics of racism, ageism, and classism within a small community in the deep south. Though difficult issues, Harper Lee's ability to insinuate these topics within an engaging narrative make for a delicious read that leaves the reader warm, not chilled. This is the book that I compare all other books to: perfect in its characterizations of human nature, pure in its storytelling. For me it is the gold standard. I'm looking forward to rereading it again.
The explosion of racial hate and violence in a small Alabama town is viewed by a little girl whose father defends a black man accused of rape