TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee

Still brought me to tears on my third or fourth read. Thinking of teaching it this year… worried about some of the challenges it will present… As enlightened as Lee’s novel was when she wrote it, it’s nevertheless a reflection of its times, by a White, Southern Lady—caps intentional. This might engender exciting discussion, but also might get lost on the many 8th grade students who still think in a largely black and white fashion (so to speak), don’t read contextually… or don’t read books this long at all. I normally teach Part One of Richard Wright’s BLACK BOY instead—one of the best books in the English language, an easier sell to a group of students who read—and think—on wildly disparate levels, and an easier book to read in a spotty fashion without losing the main thread. Nevertheless, would love to sell this book—and rich discussions about language and society.