Scan barcode
A review by belle_fiction
To Kill a Mockingbird: a graphic novel by Harper Lee
5.0
All the stars!
TW: racism, child abuse and sexual assault
This book was nothing short of phenomenal. It was heart-wrenching, soul-destroying and positively brutal in its portrayal of racial prejudice in 1930s America. I was disgusted and deeply saddened to read how black people were treated (and continue to be in some areas) by white people in a small town community, and how they were basically given no say and condemned purely because of their colour. Tom Robinson remains one of the characters in classic literature whose story (and subsequent trial) never fails to make me cry, and in this graphic novel, his facial expressions tore my heart in two. Similarly, when they inform his wife, Helen, of what happened to him, I was in a flood of tears. Tom’s story is an incredibly powerful and emotional one - talk about a miscarriage of justice, but sadly one that is all too frequent in society.
I am embarrassed to say that I have never read the original novel :( but I have seen the film, and on learning that this classic story was going to be adapted into a graphic novel format, I knew it was a must for me. Scout, Jem and Dill are fascinating yet complex characters who live in a society where racial prejudice and segregation is incredibly apparent, and where their lawyer father, Atticus, is referred to in a number of disgusting and highly-insulting ways. Honestly, their comments made my blood boil! I adored Atticus in the film, and I adored him here - he is a fine example of a respectable, intelligent and just man who treats everyone equally and sees them for who and what they are - human beings. However, I do think he was too lenient with the Ewells!!
TKAM explores the ugly truths of racial prejudice, the corrupt politics which underpin a society where the white man has all the say and how the colour of your skin determines whether you are innocent or guilty. It is not by any means an easy or comfortable read and will definitely anger and upset the majority of its readers but nevertheless remains one of the most important and influential books of its time. I strongly invite you all to read this poignant, tragic and heartfelt story, if you haven’t already done so.
TW: racism, child abuse and sexual assault
This book was nothing short of phenomenal. It was heart-wrenching, soul-destroying and positively brutal in its portrayal of racial prejudice in 1930s America. I was disgusted and deeply saddened to read how black people were treated (and continue to be in some areas) by white people in a small town community, and how they were basically given no say and condemned purely because of their colour. Tom Robinson remains one of the characters in classic literature whose story (and subsequent trial) never fails to make me cry, and in this graphic novel, his facial expressions tore my heart in two. Similarly, when they inform his wife, Helen, of what happened to him, I was in a flood of tears. Tom’s story is an incredibly powerful and emotional one - talk about a miscarriage of justice, but sadly one that is all too frequent in society.
I am embarrassed to say that I have never read the original novel :( but I have seen the film, and on learning that this classic story was going to be adapted into a graphic novel format, I knew it was a must for me. Scout, Jem and Dill are fascinating yet complex characters who live in a society where racial prejudice and segregation is incredibly apparent, and where their lawyer father, Atticus, is referred to in a number of disgusting and highly-insulting ways. Honestly, their comments made my blood boil! I adored Atticus in the film, and I adored him here - he is a fine example of a respectable, intelligent and just man who treats everyone equally and sees them for who and what they are - human beings. However, I do think he was too lenient with the Ewells!!
TKAM explores the ugly truths of racial prejudice, the corrupt politics which underpin a society where the white man has all the say and how the colour of your skin determines whether you are innocent or guilty. It is not by any means an easy or comfortable read and will definitely anger and upset the majority of its readers but nevertheless remains one of the most important and influential books of its time. I strongly invite you all to read this poignant, tragic and heartfelt story, if you haven’t already done so.