To Kill a Mocking Bird, Harper Lee, 1960

To Kill a Mocking Bird, Harper Lee, 1960

The main characters of the story are Scout, Jem and Atticus. Scout is a playful troublesome, and boyish young girl. As she grows older in the book, she begins to learn the truths ways of life as her father depends a black man on trial. Jem is a young boy who slowly begins to grow up into a young man as the book progresses, Scout is usually seen describing him as "Difficult to live with, inconsistent, moody." Near the middle of the book showing the growth and change in his character, but also, she compares his personality to their father Atticus's due to how he " Had a natural tranquil disposition and a slow fuse." Atticus is Jem's and Scout's father. He is described as a very patient and gentlemanly in the book. As a lawyer he tries his best defending a black man (notice the book takes place in the 1960s) against a white man because he knows it's the right thing to do and tries to show his children his point of view on the matter leading into the plot of the story.

Jem and Scout describe the eerie neighbor "Boo" Radley, as a sort of phantom like person (along with the other neighbors) die to rumors about his disappearance and his household. The mysterious Radley household leads the children (Scout, Jem and their friend Dill) to become more and more curious and adventure off to investigate on the subject. In the end "Boo" becomes a hero to Scout and Jem, saving their lives.

I think Scout and Jem would think of Mar Vista High School as some alien place. Die to its modern surroundings, Scout and Jem coming from the 1960s would probably feel way out of place. Also, during their time, mixed races in schools were very uncommon, so for the first time they would probably see other types of ethnicities and black children and white children interacting with each other being friends. Even the technological and clothing differences would probably shock them.

The most vivid setting of the book was when they described the scene of Bob Erwell's attack on Scout and Jem. "I felt the sand go cold under my feet and I knew we were near the big oak. Jem pressed my head. We stopped and listened. Shuffle-foot had not stopped with us this time. His trousers swished softly and steadily. Then they stopped. He was running, running towards us with no child's steps. 'Run, Scout! Run! Run!' Jem screamed. I took one giant step and found myself reeling: my arms useless, in the dark, I could not keep my balance. 'Jem, Jem, help me, Jem!' Something crushed the chicken wire around me. Metal ripped on metal and I fell to the found and rolled as far as I could, floundering to escape my wire prison, From somewhere nearby came scuffling, kicking sounds, sounds of shoes and flesh