Social studies teacher Joshua Reeves’ favorite book is “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. He has read the book multiple times, and is currently re-reading it right now.
“The best part of the book by far is when Atticus shoots the sick dog, Tim Johnson, in the street,” Reeves said. “It’s kind of like a kid realizing that his father is kind of awesome.”
“To Kill a Mockingbird” takes place in 1961, and follows the childhood of Scout and Jem Finch in a small southern town of Alabama. The Finch family goes through multiple trials as their father, Atticus Finch, defends an African-American accused of horrible crimes.
“I enjoy the law aspect of it, I enjoy the fatherhood part of it, I enjoy the kids growing up outside, and it just hits me in all the right spots,” Reeves said. “It’s not a feel-good story, but it has feel-good parts to it.”
Born in April of 1926, Lee is most renowned for her novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” published in 1960. She wrote a sequel to her famous novel, “Go Set a Watchman,” which was not published until 2015.
“I think it works for anybody,” Reeves said. “It’s not a coming-of-age story by any means, but it’s like a childhood story on top of making moral decisions…That’s a great theme for any book.”
Common themes in Lee’s novel include racial prejudice and family relationships. Throughout the book, Atticus Finch tries to fight racial prejudice, and his family learns they must stick together and support their father and one another, despite the backlash and issues it causes the family.