Parents' Guide to

To Kill a Mockingbird

By Barbara Schultz, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Classic novel examines American racism and justice.

Book Harper Lee Literary Fiction 1960
To Kill a Mockingbird Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 25 parent reviews

TxDad
TxDad Parent of 9, 14 and 15-year-old
May 3, 2022
age 12+
An important book and one that shows the problems that plagued America. A child should be old enough to comprehend quite a few things before reading this book, or watching the movie. I completely disagree with the previous "teacher" reviewer, she is a great example of why we need parents to have a say in what kind of literature is available in our kids' schools, and NOT left up to administration, teachers, etc. I do not see this as "white saviorism", and since some wish to bring color into this; as a black man, I have never hesitated recommending this book to everyone I know.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
8 people found this helpful.
hollandh
hollandh Parent of 10-year-old
October 31, 2014
age 10+

So many levels to enjoy this book

I listened to the audio with my 10 year old (Sissy Spacek read it, yes please!!) Everyone thought she was too young. She absolutely was not. She learned so much from the book about history, empathy, human nature, and justice. Now, I cried like 8 times, she didn't get a lot of the tragedy or poignancy but she loved the adventures of Scout and Jem. And she has read it twice since, the narrative voice is so appealing and real. about the rape...thats what i was concerned about. I told her the yules (sp?) Accused tom of attacking maella (sp? Again....cut me some slack, it was the audio! ) and she was satisfied with that. However, of course scout asks calpurnia "what is rape?" To which cal ingeniously responds "ask your dad"...to which atticus tells her "carnal knowledge of a woman without her consent". Thats the extent of the graphic nature of the book. As for the N word, good opportunity to teach your kid how hideous the word is and how much painful history is bwhind a word thrown around so carelessly these days. And thats not enough to sway you from reading this with your child, letting them read it and reading it yourself as an adult. An absolute work of art. Perfection.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
5 people found this helpful.
See all 25 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Growing up in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, Scout Finch -- the narrator of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD -- and her brother, Jem, are being raised by their widowed father, Atticus. Some interesting characters live on their street, both seen and unseen. Dill Harris comes to stay with Scout and Jem's next-door neighbor Rachel Haverford every summer, and the three children develop a close friendship. Elderly Mrs. Dubose shouts insults at the neighbors from her porch. Miss Maudie offers the children friendly advice and baked goods. The young Finches are scared of the Radleys' house, as creepy stories are circulated about Mr. Radley and his sons, especially Arthur, also known as Boo. The children enjoy re-enacting make-believe versions of the stories they've heard about Boo. Scout goes through some growing pains in the story, as her first day of school goes poorly and Jem becomes less willing to play with his little sister. Atticus encourages his daughter to exhibit empathy and patience with others, and he warns both his children that tough times may be coming to their little family; they may hear things that upset them, and he wants them to keep cool. The children learn that Atticus, an attorney, has taken the case of a Black man who has been accused of raping and beating a White woman. The events that unfold surrounding the trial and its aftermath teach the children a lot about their father's inner strength and wisdom, and the effects of racism and poverty on their community.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (25 ):
Kids say (166 ):

Told through the eyes of a child, Harper Lee's magnum opus may seem to take a simplistic point of view, but Scout's world is rich and complex. And the author doesn't stint when it comes to the realities Black people face in a racist society -- and the pressures that poverty puts on the Maycomb community. All of that said, Lee's story is about a White family and is told from a White perspective. The reader learns much about the history of the Finch family and very little about Tom Robinson's life other than what's revealed through Scout and her father. This is a beautifully written book, with important lessons to teach, but readers should also be encouraged to read great writing by Black Americans, such as Richard Wright and Toni Morrison.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the prejudice exhibited by some characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. Could this story take place today? How have American attitudes about race changed since the 1930s? How have they remained the same?

  • This story is told through the eyes of a little girl. What does the author achieve by making Scout the narrator? How does this affect the way the story unfolds?

  • What does Boo Radley represent in the story? Why do you think the children enjoy re-creating stories they've heard about him?

Book Details

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