22 Mar Book Review: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Some books feel like required reading, not just in school, but in life. To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those books. It’s a novel that has been studied, dissected, and praised for generations, but beyond the literary analysis and cultural significance, it’s just a damn good story. It’s powerful without being preachy, heartbreaking without being melodramatic, and so vividly alive that you can almost hear the rustling trees and the courtroom whispers as you turn the pages. If you’ve somehow never read it, or if you only read it when you were too young to appreciate it, let me tell you—it’s worth revisiting.

What’s it about?

Set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, To Kill a Mockingbird is told through the eyes of Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, a precocious and fiercely independent six-year-old girl. She lives with her older brother, Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus Finch, a respected lawyer who raises them with patience, wisdom, and a deep sense of morality.

Maycomb is a small, slow-moving Southern town, where everyone knows each other and life seems simple on the surface. But beneath the gentility lies a deeply ingrained racial divide, one that will become painfully clear as the story unfolds.

The novel follows two parallel storylines that eventually converge—the childhood adventures of Scout and Jem, and the trial of Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman.

For the first half of the novel, we’re immersed in Scout and Jem’s world—a world of lazy summer days, schoolyard brawls, and mystery surrounding their reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley. Boo is the town’s myth, a shadowy figure who never leaves his house and is rumored to be a monstrous recluse. The Finch children, along with their friend Dill, are both terrified and fascinated by him, daring each other to get close to his house and concocting wild theories about his life.

But as the seasons change, so does the tone of the novel. The carefree innocence of childhood is slowly overshadowed by the harsh realities of prejudice and injustice. Atticus, who has always been a moral pillar in the town, takes on the defense of Tom Robinson, a Black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell, the daughter of the town drunk, Bob Ewell.

It’s immediately clear that the trial is a farce. The evidence is flimsy, the accusations are full of holes, and Atticus methodically dismantles the prosecution’s case. He proves that Mayella’s injuries couldn’t have been caused by Tom, and he strongly implies that it was actually Bob Ewell who assaulted his own daughter and used Tom as a scapegoat to cover up the crime. But it doesn’t matter—because in Maycomb, a Black man’s word means nothing against a white person’s.

Despite Atticus’s brilliant defense, Tom is found guilty, a verdict that shatters both Jem and Scout’s belief in the justice system. Tom later tries to escape from prison and is shot and killed, another senseless loss in a world where fairness is nothing more than an illusion.

As the trial’s aftermath unfolds, Bob Ewell, humiliated by Atticus in court, seeks revenge. He harasses Tom Robinson’s widow, spits in Atticus’s face, and eventually attacks Jem and Scout on their way home one night. In a shocking twist, it is Boo Radley—Maycomb’s ghost, the man the children had feared and misunderstood—who saves them, killing Bob Ewell in the process.

The sheriff, knowing that dragging Boo into the public eye would be cruel and unnecessary, chooses to report Ewell’s death as an accident, allowing Boo to retreat back into the shadows of his home. For the first time, Scout sees Boo for who he really is—not a monster, not a myth, but a quiet, gentle man who has been watching over them all along.

In one of the novel’s most beautiful moments, Scout walks Boo home and, standing on his porch, sees Maycomb through his eyes. She finally understands what Atticus meant when he told her, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.”

What This Chick Thinks

A story that is both timeless and painfully relevant

There’s a reason To Kill a Mockingbird has endured for decades. It’s a novel about justice, morality, and the loss of innocence, themes that remain just as relevant today as they were when Harper Lee wrote them. The racism and systemic injustice that Tom Robinson faces might be set in the 1930s, but it echoes far too many real-world stories even now. That’s what makes it so powerful—it’s not just a historical novel. It’s a mirror.

Atticus Finch is the hero we all wish we had

Atticus Finch isn’t just a great character—he’s a blueprint for decency. He’s not a loud, fiery revolutionary. He’s quiet, principled, and unwavering in his belief that you do what’s right, even when you know you’ll lose. He stands up for Tom Robinson even though he knows the town will turn against him. He teaches his children to see beyond the surface of people, to look for goodness even in places where it seems absent. He is, simply put, one of literature’s greatest figures.

Scout’s voice is unforgettable

Seeing this story through Scout’s eyes is what makes it so powerful. She’s funny, sharp, and unfiltered, giving the book a warmth and humor that balances its heavier themes. Her childhood perspective lets us experience the slow realization that the world isn’t fair, and that people are often cruel for reasons that don’t make sense. Watching her grow, question, and ultimately understand is one of the most beautiful aspects of the novel.

The Boo Radley storyline is just as important as the trial

A lot of people focus on the trial as the heart of the novel, but the Boo Radley arc is just as significant. It’s about misconceptions and the stories we tell about people we don’t understand. Boo goes from being a terrifying ghost to being a savior, showing that sometimes, the people society fears the most are the ones who have the most to offer. It’s a subtle but powerful message about compassion and seeing beyond fear.

Final Thoughts

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those rare books that hits just as hard on a re-read as it does the first time. It’s a novel about justice, about the failure of justice, and about the small acts of kindness that keep hope alive even in the face of cruelty. It’s a book that teaches you something every time you pick it up—whether you’re reading it as a teenager, an adult, or years later when the world has changed, but its lessons haven’t.

If you haven’t read it yet, or if you last read it in high school and don’t remember much beyond Atticus’s courtroom speech, read it again. It’s worth it.

Rating: 10/10

Try it if you like

• The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead – A devastating novel about racial injustice in America, based on true events.
• A Time to Kill by John Grisham – A legal thriller that explores themes of racism, morality, and justice in the South.
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett – A story of Black maids in 1960s Mississippi, told with humor and heart while tackling heavy social issues.