The other day, I curled up with my 13-year-old daughter, bag of chips and a drink by our side, and warded off the cold with a favourite woollen rug. We had been wanting to watch Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird for a while, so it was about time. The old black and white film transported us back to a time when the negroes were still easy prey, and to some extent one still wonders whether much has changed, thinking about the murder of Trayvon Martin in 2012, and the non-sentencing of his killer. But the charming, innocent, assured and loyal voice of Scout shines through as a beacon of hope and change. Innocence is always contagious and my daughter was certainly an instant admirer.
Whilst there is much about the film to be enjoyed, its timelessness, its themes and characters, its poignant but stoic depiction of a man whose only sin was to “pity” a white woman, it’s also an excellent way to ease younger 12 and 13-year-old students into the ageless classics.
Lee’s main themes about prejudice and quality leave a powerful legacy as do the characters: Atticus is everyone’s ideal father, Jem a great big brother, and Dill a fun-loving friend who breezes in for the holidays talking about the exploits of a father one can only ever dream of. But most importantly for young teenagers, who spontaneously identify with Scout’s and Jem’s thirst for adventure, it’s an ideal way to make the transition to more mature literature. One cannot help be enthralled by the very sentimental and heartfelt relationship between Boo Radley and Scout and even if the youngsters read Part 1, they will have been exposed to one of the most enduring characters in literature.
Other films such as Lord of the Flies and the Life of Pi can also help young and enthusiastic readers make the transition.
See FAQs for parents and please send in your queries.
