Morgan on 50 years of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of To Kill a Mockingbird. Next Chapter bookseller Morgan K. is the biggest fan of the book many of us on staff have ever met, so we asked her to tell us a little bit about why Harper Lee's classic means so much to her.

When I first read To Kill a Mockingbird in 6th grade, I knew immediately that there was something special and different about it. It quickly became my all-time favorite book. What made To Kill a Mockingbird so special to me was the way Harper Lee, through characters like Scout, Jem, Dill and Tom Robinson, gave voice to people whose voices were often were silenced by the society they lived in. I loved the way Atticus Finch taught his children to be independent and learn from their mistakes; I loved that he listened to them and valued their opinions. Atticus treated his client, Tom Robinson, the African American character falsely accused of a terrible crime, in the same fashion. He understood the situation for Tom as an individual, and on a larger scale as a man in their society, and believed it was his duty to help Tom be heard. In 6th grade, while I had learned about segregation and Jim Crow laws, I hadn't yet heard many stories set in that era where an African American man was treated kindly and fairly by someone whose society says he should be treated otherwise. I think Harper Lee broke many barriers in her writing while pushing readers to confront their own prejudices and take a look at how we can influence those around us.

Since I first read To Kill a Mockingbird, I have of course read and loved many novels, but to me, none of them have come close in importance in terms of shaping the way I see the world. Scout, Jem, Atticus, Boo, and every other character Lee created are held close to the hearts of many readers and I am no exception. I love that the book has been inspiring readers for 50 years, and I hope it continues to inspire them for at least 50 more.

- Morgan K., Next Chapter bookseller

Find out more about the book, Harper Lee, and the anniversary at the book's 50th anniversary website.