Summary of the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Tamara Castleman

This book has two parts, so I’m going to tell each part in a different paragraph.

Part #1

1:

This story begins with a kid name Scout that remembers the summer a tragedy occurred to her
brother Jem broke, looking the past to remember what happened. That’s when he provided a part
of the story to the people in Alabama. The story starts when the two brothers meet Dill, a boy
from Meridian who spends his time with his aunt Miss Rachel. But from the children's point-of-
view, their most irresistible neighbor is Boo Radley, a recluse whom none of them has ever seen.
Dill's fascination leads to all sorts of games and plans to try and get Boo to come outside. Their
attempts culminate in a dare to Jem, which he grudgingly takes. Jem runs into the Radleys' yard
and touches the outside of the house.

2-3

Dill goes back to Mississippi for the school year, and Scout is going to start first grade. However,
Scout's first day at school was not good at all. Scout has a new teacher named Miss Caroline, were
it got surprised that Scout already knows how to read and write. When the teacher offers to lend
Walter Cunningham lunch money, Scout is punished for explaining Miss Caroline's false pas to her.
Scout catches Walter in the playground and starts beating him with retaliation for her shame, but
Jem stops her and then surprises her by inviting Walter to lunch with them. Scout is punished for
criticizing manners at Walter's table. Back at school, Miss Caroline discusses with Burris Ewell
about her lice and the fact that she only attends school the first day of the year. That night, Scout
tells Atticus about his day, hoping not to return to school, after all, Burris does not. Atticus explains
why the Ewells receives special treatment and then tells Scout: "'You never really understand a
person ... until you get on his skin and walk through it.'" (These words are passed in Scout's head
to follow Atticus' advice throughout his life)

4-5
The school year passes slowly to Scout, and the worst thing is that her qualification is published
half an hour before Jem's, so she must go alone at Boo Radley's house every afternoon. One day,
she noticed something bright on a tree in Radley's yard. When she returns, she finds a gum, so Jem
warns her for taking the gum, but continues to check it every day. On the last day of school, she
and Jem find some coins in the tree, which they decide to keep until the next school year begins.
Dill arrives two days later to spend the summer. After an argument with Scout, Jem introduces a
new game called "Boo Radley." They represent Boo's life with great enthusiasm until Atticus finds
out about the game, it is when the children played the game less frequently, and Jell and Dill
began to exclude Scout, but at least she had Miss Maudie's company. When Scout insists to
include her on their planes, they tell her they will deliver a note to Boo Radley asking him to come
and play. She and Dill are like the guards, while Jem tries to deliver the note, that is when Atticus
intervenes and tells the children to leave the Radleys alone.
6-7
On Dill's last night in Maycomb, with Jem he decided to look out the window to see if they can see
Boo Radley. It was when someone inside Radley's house shoots a shotgun. After listening to the
shots, the children run out of the yard, but Jem got caught in the fence having to leave his pants
behind to be safe. After a while the neighborhood decided to meet to discuss the shooting and
that was when Dill invented an explanation for Jem's lack of pants. Atticus tells Jem to take his Dill
pants and will return home. Already at home Jem tells Scout that he will return to look for his
pants, but literally Scout fears for his life, although Jem would rather risk his life than admit to
Atticus that he lied. After that incident the classes started again. This year, Jem and Scout walk
together at home and begin to find things in the Radley tree. After receiving several increasingly
valuable treasures, they both decide to write a thank you note to whoever is leaving the gifts.
However, when they try to deliver the note, they find that the knot was full of cement.

8-9
For the first time in several years, Maycomb receives snow, so the school is closed, making Jem
and Scout spend the day trying to build a snowman. At the end of the day, Miss Maudie's house
burns to the ground. That's why Jem and Scout are sent to wait in front of the Radleys while trying
to put out the fire. Seeing what happened, Boo Radley approaches and puts a blanket around
Scout, but she and Jem were both astonished with the fire to realize. The next day, Scout is
surprised to find Miss Maudie in a good mood, working in her yard and talking about expanding
her garden. When Christmas is coming a classmate makes fun of Scout because Atticus was
defending a black man, it is when Atticus asks a Scout to keep his head up, when he hears the
words Scout tries to keep the promise. Every Christmas Scout and his family spend Christmas at
Finch's Landing with Alexandra, all went well until Alexandra's grandson makes fun of Scout
because Atticus was defending a black man. Seeing this she attacks Francis and is punished by
Uncle Jack, who had told him not to fight. On Christmas night, she and Uncle Jack talk, and she
explains where he went wrong in his discipline.
10-11

Jem and Scout lament that Atticus was weak because he was almost fifty years old, that's why
children believe that old age prevents him from doing the kind of things that other children's
parents do, until his way of seeing his father changes when he Come shoot a crazy dog. As Tom
Robinson's trial approaches, Jem and Scout make more insults against their father. When her
neighbor, Mrs. Dubose, makes a particularly sharp comment, Jem retaliates by destroying some of
her flowers. Of course, Atticus heard what happened and makes Jem apologize to Ms. Dubose,
letting her decide her punishment. Jem is sentenced to read Mrs. Dubose after school for a month.
Scout chooses to accompany Jem. Shortly after Jem is relieved of the service, Ms. Dubose dies.
Only then did Atticus tell the children that Ms. Dubose was very sick and fighting an extremely
brave battle against addiction.
Part #2
12-13
When summer begins, Jem was now too old to be bothered by his little sister, which causes Scout
great terror. Scout was very disappointed, and to add Dill it wasn't that summer. With Atticus in a
special session of the state legislature, Calpurnia takes the children to church with her. Upon
returning from the church, we found Aunt Alexandra waiting for them on the porch. She
announces that at Atticus' request, she comes to live with them for a while. Aunt Alexandra works
hard to educate children about the importance of Finch's rearing, getting Atticus to deliver an
unusual speech, a speech he finally recants, to Scout and Jem.
14-16

While they spend time with their aunt, Scout recounts his trip to the church of Calpurnia, but
concerted Aunt Alexandra rejects Scout's request to go to Calpurnia's house where he
recommends that Atticus let Calpurnia go. Upon hearing Aunt Alexandra's words, Jem and Scout
withdrew to let the adults talk, but end up in a fight between them.
After the fight the children noticed that the mother of Dill gives him permission to spend the
summer in Maycomb, to enjoy with his friends. The same night the sheriff passes by the house to
tell Atticus that Tom Robinson is being transferred to the county jail and may have problems.
That's why, on Sunday night Atticus goes to the city, which gives the children curiosity, that's why
at bedtime, Jem, Scout and Dill walk towards the center to see what happens, is when they find
Atticus sitting outside Tom Robinson's cell and head home when a group of men arrive to face
Atticus. Without realizing the danger of the situation, Scout finds himself in the middle of the
mafia. After a few moments, a conversation begins with Walter Cunningham's father, which
causes men to withdraw, and most likely saves Atticus' life. The next day the trial began, that's
why Atticus asks the children to stay away from the court during the trial, but at noon they can't
stand it and go to the court. Finding no seats in the courtroom, Reverend Skyes offers them seats
on "the colored balcony," which they gladly accept. Finally, Judge Taylor is introduced, who the
children discovered, to his surprise, designed an Atticus to defend Tom Robinson.

17-20

The trial begins and the first witness is Heck Tate, where under interrogation, he admits that you
never call a doctor to the scene to examine Mayella Ewell. That's why Bob Ewell takes the next
position and causes a stir in the courtroom with his bad attitude and rude language. Mr. Ewell is
not shaken from his story, but Atticus plants the seed that Mr. Ewell himself could have defeated
Mayella. Although Atticus believes she is lying, she treats with courtesy and respect; Mayella
thinks he is mocking her, but her testimony soon shows that Mayella is not accustomed to
kindness and common courtesy. Atticus asks Tom to stand up so Mayella can identify him; While
doing so, Scout realizes Tom's left arm is withered and useless: he could not have committed the
crime the way it is described. Atticus calls a single witness: Tom Robinson. Tom tells the true story,
being careful all the time not to go out and say that Mayella is lying. However, Tom makes a fatal
mistake when he admits under questioning that he, a black man, is sorry for Mayella Ewell. Dill has
a very emotional answer to Mr. Gilmer's questions and leaves the room crying. Scout follows Dill
outside, where they talk to Dolphus Raymond, who reveals the secret behind his brown bag and
his drink. Scout and Dill return to the time room to hear the last half of Atticus's passionate speech
before the jury. Just when Atticus ends, Calpurnia enters the courtroom and heads towards
Atticus.
21-23

24-26

27-28

29-31