The Reason we Read

By Ki’ara Tarver

Librarian Valerie Sivil shared why she loves her favorite book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Mrs. Sivil first read To Kill A Mockingbird in High school. She read her aunts copy. She explained that the book was 46 years old. It was voted best book across the country by Librarians, and has been translated in more than 40 different languages. Also, it has sold more than 30 million copies. Mrs. Sivil said that she read this book more than once.

She explained that To Kill a Mockingbird is a heart-warming book and that once you’ve read it you could never be the same. Mrs. Sivil very clearly verified that the reason she loved this book is because a father alone stands up for what is right, while society looks the other way. She said it was very powerful because the father did not see color; he saw man-kind. She also thought it was written beautifully.

She explained that the main characters were Attichus Finch who is a lawyer and dad, his little girl Scout, and his older son Jem. The climax of the story is when a lynch mob shoots James Robinson. Mrs. Sivil expressed that it was a very sad part of the story. However, she explained that her favorite part of the book was when Attichus walked out of the court room after losing his case. Everybody stood and honored him as he walked out. She said she would really recommend this book to another student. Her eyes teared as she said, “it is a very touching book.”