To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I hadn't read Harper Lee's classic since high school, so when I heard her new book was coming out later this year, I decided it was the perfect time to re-read To Kill a Mockingbird. I've always counted it as one of my favorite books, so I was curious to see if that sentiment would hold true 15 years later, now as an adult and mother.

I was sucked in from the very first page. It's a shame Lee never really wrote anything else. Her writing is captivating. The characters are so rich. And I have a confession to make. I. LOVE. ATTICUS. FINCH. He strikes a perfect balance of tirelessly sticking to his guns while being the most empathetic person in Maycomb County. His ability to stay cool under pressure speaks volumes about his personal integrity.

One of my favorite things about this book is that it's told from Scout's perspective. The events of this novel would be interesting regardless of who's narrating. But having the whole thing told from a young child's perspective brings a certain clarity and naive honesty to the story. Atticus often has to reign in Scout's temper and teach her the very principles that make him such a respectable man. Scout is also proof that the racial prejudices at the foundation of the story are culturally imposed, not something we identify with as children. Scout, who has been raised by a black nanny, can't understand why the white people in town are so willing to believe a lie about a black man when there's a pretty questionable white man tied to the problem. I would guess this fact may be the reason Lee chose Scout as the narrator. By examining racial prejudices from a child's perspective, Lee illuminates just how unjust things were in segregated communities not so long ago.

I'm glad I took the time to re-read Mockingbird and plan on doing it again a few years down the road. It's a literary masterpiece that examines issues that, although removed in time and place, still exist today. It's a good reminder to try to look at things objectively and not let our own prejudices create blind spots.

Overall Rating: 5 stars

Content Warning: Occasional language. Sensitive subject matter for children (the central point of the story is a lawsuit alleging the rape of a white girl).

Target Audience: Anyone high school age or older should read this book at least once in their lifetime. If you've been putting it off, go pick it up and read it!

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

I'm usually not much a non-fiction reader, so to say this is one of the best books I've ever read is really saying something. Louie Zamperini's story could be told by pretty much anyone and would garner a lot of attention and awe. However, Laura Hillenbrand artfully chronicles Louie's life, from boyhood to old age, while inserting background information that helps you truly appreciate how incredible his life was. The book reads with the ease of fiction while telling what might be one of the most heroic, death-defying stories ever to be told.

If you've seen the movie and think you know the story, stop right there and go grab this book. The movie skims over his boyhood and trip to the Olympics, tells about a third of what happens to him while at war, then doesn't cover his later years at all. As I watched the movie in the theater, I kept whispering extra details to my husband. I just couldn't help it!

Hillenbrand provides just the right amount of detail to help you understand how miraculous Louie's story is without boring you. In order to grasp just how dangerous his last rescue mission was that ended him up at sea for 47 days, you have to understand the historical and technical background of the plane he was flying. Seeing footage of POWs being treated horribly is bad, but when you know all the illnesses they had on top of that and how sickly and starved they really were, you'll struggle to understand how any person could treat another human being that way. Hillenbrand weaves this details into the story perfectly.

The crowning moment of Louie's story, and the inspiration behind the title, comes from his life post-war, as he struggles with PTSD and finds God. By the end, this book paints a beautiful picture of the power of forgiveness and the resilience of the human spirit. Don't put this on your "want to read" list. Drop whatever you're reading a go grab it now. It's a must read.

Overall Rating: 5 stars (can I give it 10?)

Content Warning: Louie experienced some horrible things as a POW. Some of the content it quite violent. There's also a bit of strong language throughout the book, but not an overwhelming amount. There is a YA version that is tamed down and has more photographs. I haven't read that one, so I don't know the exact content, just that it's supposed to be a little less intense.

Target Audience: history buffs or anyone who loves a good human story (not for the faint of heart or young ones)