To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

It has been ages since I read this book. It was definitely time to pick it up again. I remember liking it but I loved it so much more this time.

Scout and Jem live in Maycomb (a small southern town) in the early 1930's. They are being raised by their father Atticus and their black help Calpurnia. Atticus is a lawyer.
Scout and Jem meet Dill. A boy that moves to Maycomb every summer. They quickly become friends. They spend much of their time fixated on Boo Radley, the mysterious neighbor that never leaves his house and has become legend in their minds. The children make up skits about him, dare each other to enter his yard or peek through his windows. Once in awhile they find small gifts in a hollow tree, which they think are from Boo Radley.
As the years slip away, Scout and Jem are faced with the wrath of the small town as Atticus defends a black man accused of raping a white girl. Jem is turning into a young man and he always looks to Atticus as an example. Atticus tells Jem that defending this man is something he must do in order to live with himself.
As the trial approaches the children are accosted by one time friends and neighbors. Atticus is always wise and forgiving. He makes sure that Jem and Scout do not fight to defend him and do not speak unkindly to their accusers.
The trial plays out with Jem and Scout hiding in the balcony of the courtroom. Jem has a mind for law just like Atticus. He is convinced that the evidence proves Tom (the defendant) innocent of his charges. The jury returns a guilty verdict anyway.......despite everyone seeming to know that Tom is not guilty. Jem is bewildered and crushed. He cannot understand why the people of the town would let the accusation stand.
The father of the alleged rape victim is livid with Atticus for shaming him in court. He threatens to take revenge. Atticus however does not believe his threats will ever come to fruition once the anger ebbs away.
But Mr. Ewell bides his time and attacks Atticus' children on their way home from the Halloween pageant. In a wild turn of events their lives are saved by their legendary neighbor Boo Radley. Making their wildest dreams come true.

I cannot describe the emotions evoked by this book. I can see why it is so popular. As I read, I couldn't make myself understand how anyone could ever believe the things people used to believe about race. This book is so applicable even today, whether it is about race, religion or gender.

Rating 5
Rating PG Despite the accusation of rape it was never graphically described. I would probably read this to my nine year old or let her read it herself. Hard lessons must be learned. Well worth the read.

The Girl Who Could Fly

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester

This sweet little book was recommended by my neighbor and Stephenie Meyer. It brought to mind The Mysterious Benedict Society/X-men/with a dash of Little House.

Piper is born to a straight laced up tight farm family. She is their only child, born late in life. Not long after Piper is born, the McClouds discover that she is not as 'normal' as they are. First Piper can float and hover. By the time she is nine she learns she can fly. Once this discovery is made by the whole farming community, Piper is whisked away to a school for 'special children with special talents' where she can be kept safe.

Once in the new safe place, things don't go how you think they would. Instead of fostering their special abilities, they do the mundane. Why? It takes time but Piper finally makes friends and they help her shee what kind of 'special' place she is really in.

Sweet story that I think my nine year old would love. Also entertaining enough with foreshadowing and acceptance dilemmas that it also held me captive. I love to pick up a good clean book and this surely fit the bill.

Rating 4 Good story, good characters, not super fast paced.

Rating G Clean

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt

I grabbed this quick little read at a book sale. I thought it seemed intriguing because it had won a National Book Award. It was a quick read but I wouldn't rate it with any awards.

Toby's summer in Antler Texas has just begun. Zachary Beaver, billed 'the fattest boy in the world' has just rolled into town in a tiny trailer. Zachary is abandoned by his legal guardian and handler in small town Antler while he looks for other acts to add to the side show. Toby's life also revolves around sadness. His mother just left under the guise of winning a singing contest in Nashville. Toby soon finds that she has gone searching for adventure without him. Dad is quiet and likes the quiet life. Cal, Toby's best friend loses an older brother to the war in Vietnam. Toby's crush Scarlet gives her heart to another boy. Zachary, Cal and Toby become friends before the sideshow pulls out later in the summer.

I am sure this book was supposed to be about not judging by appearances. I didn't think it delved into that far enough. Also it was just strange the way things went with Scarlet. Yes it was plausible, just sort of pointless for me. The whole mother abandonment was glossed over and made to seem okay because she just needed something different. Toby spent a lot of his time wishing to be Cal. He wanted Cal's brother to be his and I think he wanted to be part of Cal's loving intact family. Basically he just had to suck it up that he was nothing but Cal's friend. The book was fine. I wouldn't mind if my kids wanted to read it. I question it as an award winner though. It didn't feel deep enough, nor did it feel resolved in anyway.

Rating 2.5 I struggle with this rating. I don't want to go higher because I felt like the book bordered on pointless but it was still an okay book and I felt for the main character. I would recommend it, I would just say be prepared for good but not great.

Rating PG Nothing too bad, just his desire for Scarlet was not really meant to be understood by the younger crowd.