To Kill A Mockingbird Read-Along, Part 2

Adam of Roof Beam Reader is organising a read-along for To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I got this book last Christmas but I haven’t read it yet. And since I’m not from an English-speaking country, we never had to read it in school. So here’s my chance to read and discuss it with others.

=== SPOILERS ===

For this second check-in, we read chapters 12-21.

This was a very quick and interesting part to read. I already loved the first part, but this second part was less peaceful – a lot more happened. First awful aunt Alexandra comes to stay and help out. She’s strict and wants Scout, who is eight years old, to behave more like a girl. Luckily, Atticus, Jem and Scout’s father, soon realises what is going on and insists that the aunt gives them some more freedom.

Tom Robinson is a black man who is accused of raping a white girl, and Atticus is the lawyer who has been chosen to defend him. When Tom is moved to the local jail, some people want to take “justice” in their own hands. One night, Atticus guards the jail when a mob of locals arrives. Jem and Scout wanted to know what their father was doing outside so late, and they followed him to the jail. Scout recognises one of the men and in her friendly and innocent way starts a conversation with him. He becomes ashamed of his involvement with the mob, and they all leave without doing anyone any harm.

The court case was interesting to follow, too, with Scout and her brother sit in the audience (on the balcony with the black people). I was wondering whether it would harm Tom Robinson’s case if the jury saw them there (being the children of the defence lawyer). It was great to see the court case through Scout’s eyes and the verdict was as expected.

Verdict: I’m very much enjoying this book and wonder now why I didn’t read it earlier! 🙂