To Kill a Mockingbird

[MintyCan]

My ten year old wants to read To Kill a Mockingbird is she too young ?

ok thanks so much !

I don't think it is unsuitable but obviously an alleged rape is the catalyst for the main action so you may want to chat through some of the issues with her before or after she has read it.

I'm planning to read it to DS (11) soon - although he's more than capable of reading it himself, I think it would be a good opportunity to chat through issues of racism.

DS1 read it when he was about 10 and it remains a favorite book.
You do need to make sure that she understands the discussion of the rape allegation masking the 'shame' of an inter racial relationships

It's very slow going at the beginning, a lot about The Finch antecedents which might put them off. Although there is a rape trial it's not too salacious and the truth of the matter is well-enough hidden that most of that age won't spot it (was edited out of the film)

It was the rape that bothered me really. We have never discussed rape. We have discussed the history of interacial relationships a great deal. I agree it will need some discussing if she goes ahead and reads it. Thank you so much for your help.

I did for o'level so 15/16, because of the rape i wouldn't be that keen for my dd 12 to read it yet.

The trial makes more about Mayella having the audacity to kiss a black man, and is what Atticus focuses upon in his summing up as well as the lack of evidence due to a doctor never being called. The only overt crudity comes with Bob Ewell using the word "ruttin on my Mayella". Attitus also gives Scout a legal definition of rape a few chapters ahead of the trial. Mayella inadvertently alludes to the truth of the situation but you have to be eagle-eyed at that age to spot it.

But it is a good half-way to two-thirds through the book. But I do think it's more a book for 13-14 yr olds and, even then, quite a lot of the subtleties pass them by.

My dog is called atticus.

Totally off topic but thought you may be interested

Great name ! I always wished I could marry Atticus. Not your dog the one in the book

Thanks Heated that is a very thorough summary of the bits I was worried about. I will be able to find them and discuss them more easily now.

My older dd has read it (13) and understood it well. It is now her favorite book. I also love it and this is why middle dd wants to read it. She has always mainly just read fantasy books and is totally away with the fairies. This is why I was a little concerned she is quite young for her age in some ways.

She has started it now and has already asked loads of interesting questions. I think it will be fine as long as it has nothing "overt" in it as heated said.

You're welcome and hope she enjoys it, it's one of my favourites, but it only became so when I was older. For my class it was the racism that was more contentious than the rape case.

Great name for a dog btw!

And Gregory Peck as Atticus - just lovely!

mmmmm Gregory Peck its the voice it makes me go weak at the knees.

We have discussed racism a lot. She has a best friend who had a problem with racism at school. Another child was calling her a particulaly unpleasant word.

dd asked us about it and we have been through the whole history etc she has read books about Rosa Parks, Martin Luther etc so it should be good for her to read and talk about it all again.

It's total liberal fairyland bollocks (as anyone au fait with the statistics of violent sexual crime in the USA, in particular the race of perp and victim, could tell you), so he/she might as well read it now to get it out of their system.

GYF that is a bit harsh!!

OMG loon alert.

Nonsense Grumpy, it's an incredible book.

Just read this in the last year.
Just got the film on dvd.
Adored the book.
Adored the film.
Adore Gregory Peck.
I would.

DD1 read it at twelve and loved it. Depends I guess but personally I would have some concerns re: a ten year old reading it.

I am concerned about calling a dof atticus. The dog in the book didn't have too good a day.

( I will put so that people know I am joking and not some strange ranting rabid sort)

( rabid sort not good here either)
(poor doggy)

Depends on the child.
As other posters have said, she may need pr-warning about the rape aspect.

I did it for O'level (showing my age) but I have just ordered a copy for DD - A youngish 12 year old.

She is currently reading the Noughts and Crosses series and thoroughly enjoying it. I've not read these, but sounds like a racism plot without the politics.

I remembering reading it at 10 in the summer holiday before I went to secondary school, and I loved it.

Ive just seen that the Gregory Peck film is showing on TV this weekend in NSW, Australia (where I am) so I am really looking forward to watching it again.

I am not sure when I read it but was definitely secondary school and I remember being a tad confused about what was really going on in the book - it didn't distress me, I just didn't quite get it, iyswim. If your DD wants to read it, I think she'll probably be all right with it - if it were my daughter, I'd probably wait to see if she asked any questions about the Bad Thing rather than drawing attention to it beforehand - just in case it "passed her by" like it did me.