In the Southern conservative town of Maycomb, adults strongly hold onto their preconceived ideas about race. Scout and Jem Finch, children of Atticus Finch, who is a respectable and honest lawyer, struggle to understand the hypocrisy, impetuosity and intolerance people have about class and race. This incomprehension becomes more confusing on the day when Tom Robinson, a black man, accused of raping a young white woman is taken to court. Despite the strong case in favour of the defendant, the verdict will leave a mark on Scoot and Jem’s childhood.

This classic visits the irrationality of adults through the eyes of two young, compelling and witty characters, Scout and Jem Finch. The narrative is captivating. It unravels the deep inner misconceptions of the people of Maycomb. Lee Harper uses the axiom “Children and fools tell the truth” for the readers to get a clear picture of every person. She tackles the difficult and sensitive topic of racism cleverly. She employs humour to highlight the foolishness of adults who unconsciously hide their prejudices behind irrelevant reasons and the fact that, as adults, they consider themselves as reasonable and fair.Atticus is one of the rare characters who is fair. Educated, he tries to teach his children human values and empathy. Lee Harper points out the difficulties of applying these values in a society that practices different ones. Atticus tries to manage Scout’s and Jem’s impulsiveness at people’s foolish remarks by telling them to keep an open mind to understand people and to do their “best to love”.

Quotes“You never understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

“It is never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows how poor that person is.”

I highly recommend Harper’s book. It provides a deep and clinical insight into human nature and its contradictions.

It deserves five stars in every aspect.