About To Kill A Mockingbird
The story is narrated by Scout, the nine year old tomboy daughter of Maycomb County lawyer Atticus Finch. The story takes place during America's Great Depression in the 1930's where money is scarce. The novel begins one summer when Scout and her brother Jem make friends with the nephew of one of their neighbours who's spending the summer in Maycomb. The following summer the trio, fed up with acting out their usual stories, decide to act out a story of one of their neighbours - the hermit "Boo" Radley. The children, and especially Dill, have a fascination with Boo that continues right through the book.
Scout and Jem's peaceful existence is disrupted when to the disgust of the community, Atticus agrees to defend a black man - Tom Robinson - who's accused of the rape of a white woman. The children suffer abuse from their schoolmates, and even some adults, for their father's decision. The young Scout cannot understand the injustice and manages to shame several adults. The following summer the trial begins and the children sneak in to watch.
What happens then? Well, if you don't already know, you'll have to read the book to find out! Even though the outcome isn't just, this book leaves you filled with hope that justice will one day prevail because men like Atticus are devoted to the cause.
Novel & Motion Picture
Published in 1960, To Kill A Mockingbird has won many awards including the Pulitzer prize in 1961. The film adaptation, in 1962, starring Gregory Peck as Atticus saw resounding success - including 3 Oscars.
About the site
This fanlisting for the novel was opened in September 2006, then it was approved to be in the TFL Movies category in January 2007. It is owned by Ruth of StoleMyHeart.net.
The site title, Innocence, comes from a major theme in the book. After receiving rifles Scout and Jem are eager to shoot, but are told by Atticus, "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird". When Scout later asks Maudie Atkinson why she tells her, "Mockingbirds don't so one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird". The title also encapsulates the innocence of Scout and Jem and they have to deal with their father's involvement in the Robinson trial.