To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee

Evan’s ESS = 8 out of 10

Erin’s ESS = 10 out of 10

Content = PG (Adult Concepts, Violence, Scary Neighbors, Childhood Mischief)

“Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.”

Why:  One of the Two Bibliomaniacs wants a dog… the other not so much.  That “dream dog in the future” WILL be named Scout, after the main character in this book.  (Perfect name for a dog, right?)  That being said, a certain friend of ours who will remain nameless (for now) knows this, yet when getting her most recent dog, decided to name it Scout. Hhmmm.  Does she even really care about To Kill a Mockingbird?  No.  Are we a little bitter?  You bet!

Anyhooooo, let’s just get a few things off our chest.  We aren’t impressed that you had To Kill a Mockingbird on your required reading list back in high school.  We aren’t even that impressed if you think you remember the plot and moral lessons it was trying to teach.  You were pimply, hormonal, and only cared about the opposite sex – be honest!  Now that your forehead has cleared up, go ahead and read it as an adult.  Actually, go ahead and read it once every year for the rest of your life.  You personally have our Two Bibliomaniacs iron clad guarantee that you’ll get something new out of it each time.

To Kill a Mockingbird accounts life through the eyes of a young girl, Scout Finch.  Our heroine is able to capture the mood of a controversial rape trial through the observations of her friends, family, and neighbors with a profound raw innocence.  She’s able to strike to the core of morality while at the same time humorously detailing the childhood games and mischief of her brother, Jem and their summer pal, Dill.   We love the entire cast of characters as if they were real.  Actually, don’t tell us that Atticus Finch ISN’T real, because he’s one of the most amazing dads ever written to life.

To Kill a Mockingbird will stick with you and change you for the better.  That is, except maybe when it comes to holding grudges against puppy name stealers….  

Editor’s note:   If you are actually trying to figure out how to kill a mockingbird, we recommend placing a bowl of sugar water in the middle of your backyard and patiently waiting behind a row of shrubs with a giant net.  Patience and speed are key.