Harper Lee

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It's taken me a while to be able to pull my thoughts together about this amazing author, who passed away on Friday.  Even after multiple revisions, I really can't write an homage to her that is worthy of her writing, her ability, and her passion.  For me, her work defined my ninth grade year of high school.  Out of all the books we read that year, Mockingbird still stands out as THE book of that year.   I loved Scout's family, and I loved Atticus and the impact he made on the world around him.  She made it seem as if we could change the world - one person, and one battle at a time, by standing up for what we know to be right. 

image: amazon.com

To this day, To Kill a Mockingbird remains a literary milestone.  Set in the South in the 1950's, Lee explores race relations from the point of view of a young child whose father is defending a black man in a racially charged case.  In the year 2016, this book is still as relevant to American Society as it was when it was originally published.

I've done research about Harper Lee over the years.  Up until last year, she had only ever published one book.  Did you know:  she grew up across the street from Truman Capote?  Did you know: she helped write and do research - but never received credit for - In True Blood, Capote's seminal work?

I have said for years that she probably has many other books that she has written, but was afraid to release because of the fear that she would not be able to live up to the success of Mockingbird. If they are squirreled away somewhere, I hope that the estate will look seriously at the works and consider publishing them. 

In the meantime, I leave you with her own words:

Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.   -Harper Lee


My Reviews on other books written by or about Harper Lee:
On this blog: Go Set a Watchman

On my Books for Teens Blog: I am Scout, the Biography of Harper Lee