Even if you haven't read To Kill A Mockingbird, you've at least heard of the 1960 bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning classic (which also inspired a 1962 Oscar-winning film). Set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, it tells the childhood tale of one Jean Louis ("Scout") Finch, her brother Jem, her friend (and crush) Dill Harris, and most importantly the courageous story of her father Atticus and how he stood up to an entire town for what he believed in, defending a black man despite the high level of racism the town displayed. It is one of the most timeless novels of all time, due mostly in part to its universal themes and lessons (love, family, acceptance/tolerance, and kindness towards humanity).
Whether you were required to read it in school, or just chose to because it's an amazing novel, you'll be thrilled to know that Scout's story is about to be continued. That's right, Harper Lee just announced that she is planning to release a sequel to her bestseller that will detail an adult Scout's return to Maycomb to visit family and old friends. We'll get to see Atticus, Jem and the whole cast of characters one more time, thanks to the recent discovery of an old manuscript entitled Go Set a Watchman.
Written even prior to To Kill A Mockingbird in the mid 1950s, it was the basis for what was to become To Kill A Mockingbird, and was promptly forgotten after the book was published. But it was unearthed, found fit to publish by Harper Lee's friends, and is now in the works for publishing.
Lee, now 88 years old and deaf, blind, and in poor health, nevertheless released a statement detailing her excitement and feeling of gratification for the novel's upcoming release in July. We, too, can't begin to express how excited we are for this one to come out.
"It's a sin to kill a mockingbird," Atticus said to Scout and Jem. Well, we think it would be a sin to miss out on this book!