Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.

First published in 1960 Instant classic – spent over 100 weeks on the bestseller list It was voted "Best Novel of the Century" in a poll by Library Journal Considered a masterwork of American Literature. 18 million copies in print Translated into 40 languages Winner of the Pulitzer Prize Classic that has withstood the test of time. History of the novel

History pt. 2 A 2006 poll of librarians — British librarians — put To Kill a Mockingbird atop the list of books every adult should read before they shuffle off. Ahead of the Bible. Ahead of Huckleberry Finn and Pride and Prejudice and even Harry "the Franchise" Potter. According to a 1989 study in this country, 69 percent of public schools, 67 percent of Catholic schools and 47 percent of other private schools teach the book, most often in the ninth grade. Modern criticism - Some see it today, ironically enough, as another example of how black people need white people to save them. This type of “subtle racism” is also the basis of criticism for books and films like The Help.

Harper Lee ( still kicking! ) President Bush presenting Harper Lee with the Medal of Freedom at the White House in Ironically, she lives a life of seclusion that seems to surpass that of her reclusive character, Boo Radley. Harper Lee with young Mary Badham who plays Scout in the classic movie version of To Kill a Mockingbird. Grew up in Monroeville, Alabama. She still lives there today. Monroeville is the inspiration for the setting, and her father is the inspiration for Atticus Finch, Scout’s father and the hero of the book.

Writing the Novel The novel was almost never published as in a fit of frustration Harper Lee tossed the entire manuscript out of her New York apartment window into the snow covered streets. She called her published shortly afterwards who convinced her to pick it up and let him take a look at it. The rest is history. To Kill a Mockingbird was the only novel that Harper Lee ever published. Her friend, Truman Capote, helped her with the book. Harper Lee returned the favor and worked as a researcher for Capote on his classic nonfiction novel In Cold Blood. Her second attempt at a novel came to a tragic end when the draft version was stolen from her apartment. (She has since published Go Set a Watchman)

Inspiration Monroeville Her father Her childhood The Scottsboro Trials Civil Rights Movement

Why she wrote it. Major themes Courage Racism/Judging others Empathy Justice Coming of Age Responsibility Boundaries/Lines

What to read for Yes, this means annotating your book. Favorite, most powerful passages that help define characters, settings, and themes. Powerful words that stand out to you, or words that you want to learn. Questions and Insights About the book, and about life that you want to answer or share. What realizations did you have while reading the novel? Evidence of a classic

Reading Schedule Chapters 1-2 by 2/2 Chapters 3-5 by 2/4 Chapters 6-8 by 2/5 Chapters 9-11 by 2/8 Chapters by 2/12 Chapters by 2/17 Chapters by 2/18 Chapter 22 by 2/19 Chapters by 2/22 Chapters by 2/26 Chapters by 3/1 The audiobook read by Sissy Spacek is the best of the audio versions.

He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem woke up in the morning.