BY HARPER LEE

To Kill a Mockingbird

Nelle Harper Lee

Nelle Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926 to Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Cunningham Finch Lee.

She grew up in Monroeville, Alabama. Her father was a lawyer. Lee studied at Huntington College located in Montgomery,Alabama. (1944-1945) She got her law degree at the University of Alabama. (1945-1949) Lee worked for the Eastern Airlines in New York as a reservation clerk until the

late 1950s. Later decided to devote herself to only writing. She also worked for Truman Capote on his novel “In Cold Blood” as a research

assistant. (Truman Capote was her neighbor and friend when growing up and she based the character “Dill” loosely on him.)

Her book “To Kill a Mockingbird” was published in 1960 and sold over 15 Million copies.

Then she went on to win the Pulitzer prize in 1961. Later on she had a couple of short stories published. She is still living peacefully but prefers a quiet life.

Plot of To Kill a Mockingbird

Scout Finch, the main character, lives with her brother and her father in a quiet town called Maycomb, Alabama.

Atticus, Scout’s father, was a prominent lawyer who was defending a black man accused of raping a white woman.

The trials of Tom Robinson. “To Kill a Mockingbird” is loosely based on the people and events in Lee’s

childhood. Also takes place in the Great Depression. Challenged by Who and why  Eden Valley, Minnesota for use of words “damn” and “whore lady” (1977) Vernon Verona Sherill NY School District as a “Dirty, trashy novel”(1980) Warren Township Schools because it “does psychological damage to the

positive integration process” and “represents institutionalized racism under the guise of good literature”(1981)

Park Hill, Missouri Junior High because it “contains profanity and racial slurs”

It was removed from South Wood Highschool’s library because its “language and content were objectionable” (1995) 

My Reaction

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a book that people target when looking for something to ban. Because the book deals with racial issues and language, people think it will be easier to get taken out of schools and libraries. I honestly don’t see why the content is wrong. It is well written and comes from real experiences, truth.

When people challenge this book it only makes it more known and makes more people want to read what all the fuss is about. I do not think this book should have been banned or challenged.

No other books were challenged. “To Kill a Mockingbird” is the only book Harper Lee ever wrote.

Bibliography 

1. www.ala.org2. www.sparknotes.com3. www.lmdb.com4. www.gradesaver.com5. www.teensread.com