Young Adult Fiction Book Review: To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird

"You never understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." - Atticus Finch, To Kill A Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee

Publisher: J.B. Lippincott

Copyright Date: 1960

Number of Pages: 281 pages

Reading Level: Grades 9 – 12

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Southern Gothic

Awards: Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1961), Audie Award for Classic (2007), National Book Award Finalist for Fiction (1961)

Cost: $5.89 (Amazon)

Rating: ★★★★★

To Kill A Mockingbird is a story that takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression and a time of great segregation in the South. Atticus Finch is a lawyer in this small town, so he and his family are better off than most, but times are still hard for the Finch family when Atticus takes on a case to defend Tom Robinson, a black man. Robinson is a black man who has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman, and many people in the town do not understand why Finch is defending a black man. Told through the eyes of young Scout Finch, this book tells of a time filled with segregation and what it cost those who tried to stand up for equality. 

To Kill A Mockingbird is a great book to use in the classroom, even though some schools have banned it due to language. It is a genuine story that tells about the time of great segregation in the South, and it could be used while talking about the times of segregation in a history class. Students could read this book, in addition to what they are learning in history, then analyze the book and compare what was written to what happened in history. They could also analyze the major themes in the book and tie those themes into what they are learning about in history or things that are happening currently. Some of the themes they could discuss include goodness and evil or morality. 

Book Rating:

	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★	★	COMMENTS
PLOT	Plot is well developed with all five elements of a good plot structure (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution).	Plot is developed, but lacking one of the five elements of plot structure.	This book has a decent plot, but is lacking two of the five elements of plot structure.	This book has a weak plot that is lacking three of the five elements of plot structure.	This book does not have a defined plot, and is lacking four or more of the five elements of plot structure.	★★★★★ I give To Kill a Mockingbird five stars for its plot because it uses all five elements of good plot structure to tell the story of the Finch family and the events that take place when Atticus decides to defend Tom Robinson.
CHARACTER	The characters are well developed, have personality, and are believable.	Characters are well rounded, but lack in personality or they are not totally believable.	Characters are somewhat developed, and lack in personality or they are not totally believable.	The characters are underdeveloped, lack in depth and are not believable.	The characters are not developed so the readers cannot connect to the book.	★★★★★ I give To Kill a Mockingbird five stars for its characters because all of the main characters are well developed through the eyes of Scout Finch, which makes them believable.
PACING	The story flows freely and is not rushed or slow.	The story moves freely for the most part, but there are a few spots where it feels rushed or slow.	The story moves freely for about half of the book, but the other half is rushed or slow.	The story often moves too fast or too slow and does not move freely.	There is no pacing in the story, which makes it difficult to read.	★★★★★ I give To Kill a Mockingbird five stars for its pacing because, throughout the book, it moves at a constant pace that keeps the reader engaged in the story.

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Young Adult Fiction Book Review: Counted Worthy

Counted Worthy

"I clenched the Bible until my hands ached. These pages held the words of life, but how many would have to die to preserve them?" - Heather Stone, Counted Worthy 

Author: Leah E. Good

Publisher: Leah E. Good

Copyright Date: 2014

Number of Pages: 248 pages

Reading Level: Grades 9 – 12

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Christian Fiction, Science Fiction

Cost: $12.95 (Amazon)

Rating: ★★★★★

Counted Worthy is a story about the challenges that Heather Stone, a sixteen-year-old girl, has to face as she tries to keep her faith in a society that has made being a Christian, or having anything to do with religion, illegal. Being a Christian was risky enough, but in an attempt to spread the Good News, Heather stole Bibles from the government sorting center that were supposed to be burned, and one of the Bible’s that she took could change her life forever. After her mother was killed for her faith and her father was arrested for his, Heather Stone has two options: fight for her dad and keep her faith, or give up so she doesn’t hurt anyone else. Throughout this book, you will see what choice Heather makes and how her friends and the rest of society react to her decisions.

This book has a lot of religious aspects tied into it, which could potentially make it difficult to use in the classroom. The dystopian setting could be one that creates good discussion about whether or not the students believe that something like that could happen in our society though. They could also compare the society in Counted Worthy to today’s society and determine what the similarities and differences are. 

Book Rating:

	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★	★★	★	COMMENTS
PLOT	Plot is well developed with all five elements of a good plot structure (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution).	Plot is developed, but lacking one of the five elements of plot structure.	This book has a decent plot, but is lacking two of the five elements of plot structure.	This book has a weak plot that is lacking three of the five elements of plot structure.	This book does not have a defined plot, and is lacking four or more of the five elements of plot structure.	★★★★★ I give Counted Worthy five stars for its plot because it is an intriguing story that shows the challenges that Heather Stone faces. It does so using all five elements of good plot structure.
CHARACTER	The characters are well developed, have personality, and are believable.	Characters are well rounded, but lack in personality or they are not totally believable.	Characters are somewhat developed, and lack in personality or they are not totally believable.	The characters are underdeveloped, lack in depth and are not believable.	The characters are not developed   so the readers cannot connect to the book.	★★★★★ I give Counted Worthy five stars for its characters because they are well rounded and believable. Heather stone is facing one of the most difficult times in her life and it is easy to have sympathy for her and to feel the emotions of the other main characters as well.
PACING	The story flows freely and is not rushed or slow.	The story moves freely for the most part, but there are a few spots where it feels rushed or slow.	The story moves freely for about half of the book, but the other half is rushed or slow.	The story often moves too fast or too slow and does not move freely.	There is no pacing in the story, which makes it difficult to read.	★★★★★ I give Counted Worthy five stars for pacing because the story moves freely and does not feel rushed or too slow at any point. The plot is laid out well and it draws the reader in so they will want to continue reading.

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