‘To kill a Mockingbird’ explores key ideas for its contemporary audience: 1960s American society. By exploring the consequences of institutional racism in the legal system, Harper Lee showcases justice as being impossible for those coloured by stereotypes. 

She introduces us to a lawyer, Atticus, who defends an innocent black man who was charged with r*pe of a white girl. This made me feel really upset and frustrated for the black man,  Tom Robinson, as he had done nothing wrong and had always helped the white girl. 

Through Atticus’ children, Scout and Jem, Harper Lee shows the growth of the kids as they experience and see more of the world and have a better understanding of race and class. Atticus said, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” At the end of the story, Scout finally understands the meaning of this phrase. 

I think this books writing style is quite wordy and I wouldn’t recommend it to younger readers or people who aren’t as good at reading. I think it also isn’t suitable for people who like fast-paced interesting books as this one can be quite slow and boring at times. In my opinion I wouldn’t read this book again as it’s quite difficult and hard to understand. It can also be quite boring at times. However, this book has given me a better idea of what stereotypes and racism was like in the 1900s. 

By Yuki, Year 9.