Back once again to thwart the efforts of people who enjoy censorship, here is another book that has been banned, and why you should read it.

To read Banned Books Part One, click here.

(2)To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

What This Book Is About
This book is a fictional story told from the viewpoint of a little girl who goes by the name of Scout. She lives with her big brother Jeb, and her dad, (who both the children call Atticus), and a maid named Calpurnia. Atticus is a lawyer, and he has just been appointed to defend a “colored” man who has been accused of raping a white woman. The town is small and southern, and the story takes place right around just before WWII started. The town has a very hard time dealing with the possibility that this man could be innocent, and many people make life difficult for not only Atticus, but also his children. Scout is at an age where she is just trying to figure things out. What does rape mean? Why are people mad at Atticus for defending this man, when everybody knows he was assigned to the job? Why do women have to wear dresses and act “lady like”? Why can’t she just wear the overalls she likes better? Why do people treat others badly when they think they are different from themselves? She is a smart kid, and has a lot of spirit. Scout is also trying to figure out just what happened to their mysterious neighbor, and why no one sees him. What did he do? She, her brother, and a good friend spend a lot of time trying to get “Boo” Radley to come outside. They are too innocent to realize they might be bothering him. This book is about tolerance, and about having respect for other people. It is about standing up for what you know is right, even if it’s difficult or unpopular to do it.

Why This Book Gets Banned
People tend to ban this book specifically because the “n word” is used. Some feel the book is degrading towards African Americans. It has been claimed that this book encourages segregation, or, at least, suggests that different races are not equals. Others want to ban this book because it deals with the subject of rape, and also because it implies that the woman who was raped might also be a victim of domestic abuse, or even incest, from her father. Often, people site these reasons to prevent a school or teacher from using this book in a classroom situation.

Here is my source.

Why You Should Read This Book
This are so many good things in this book that you miss out on if you don’t read it. The main character is a strong, confident, powerful little girl, who stands up for what she believes in. Not too many books show strong girls, particularly when you think about books published in 1960, (when this book was first published). Atticus encourages both his children not only to read, but also to think. Schools today do promote literacy, but too few value children who can think for themselves, who can argue well, and who can use what they have read in their arguments. Its refreshing to have that viewpoint expressed. This book points out that it’s not what people look like that matters, it is the kind of person that they are that makes the difference. People deserve respect, but this is in relation to how they treat other people. Many examples of this concept are given through the book, and its woven into the story very well. This book doesn’t make its points in an overt “After School Special” or “dumbed down” kind of way. It is a book for people who like to think, and the ideas expressed are just as relevant today as when the book was first written. Don’t miss out on this one.