I Kill the Mockingbird

I Kill the Mockingbird
by Paul Acampora

Grades 6 & up

Realistic Fiction

How to Avoid Extinction
Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face

Book Summary:
Lucy, Michael, and Elena get their summer reading list, and, missing a favorite teacher who died unexpectedly, they wish their peers were more excited about To Kill a Mockingbird, which they have read, and which Lucy champions. Her mother is recovering from cancer, Michael's mother is a police officer and a baseball coach, and Elena's uncle owns an independent bookstore. Together, they decide they need a literary conspiracy to generate interest in the book - that sometimes, literature demands a little rebellion. They have good intentions, but how will they know if they've gone too far?

Book Review:
Acampora writes characters with smart, funny voices. There are also a few subtle references that might only be caught be older readers. Although the plot isn't full of action, at least of the sword-fighting or car chasing sort, the situations are realistic. Lucy is wondering if her long-standing friendship with Michael is something more, and she's worried about her mother's relapse. Adults are imperfect and human, which contributes to the authenticity. Lots of potential for discussion around what books should be on a reading list, and what kind of marketing for a cause is effective, and what the boundaries should be.

"You'd discover that there's some kind of mysterious plot going on that's supposed to prevent you from reading To Kill a Mockingbird. As a result, you'd really want to read it."
p. 54