Erin lives at home with her father and two older brothers. Erin's mother died when she was a baby. Her only connection to her mom is a picture with her mother holding her. She feels disconnected to her father and brothers because they are interested in sports, and she does not share their interest. Erin discovers a novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird", in their attic. The novel belonged to her mom when she was in high school. Erin reads the novel several times trying to have a piece of her mother.
The day before her sixteenth birthday, Erin's father informs the family he will remarry. Erin is upset, but her brothers are excited. Seeing Erin's reactions, the father goes to comfort her. He gives her an item that belonged to her mother. Instead of being grateful, Erin questions the timing of her father's generosity. Erin's devastation leads her to taking a trip to Monroeville, Alabama to seek answers about her mother. During her journey, she meets several people who are key to her development. Does she get answers?
"In Search of Mockingbird " is a feel good book. The text moves at a good pace, details are vivid, and it covers more than one theme. It is an easy read for fifth to high school. Prior knowledge about "To Kill a Mockingbird" is needed.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
In Search of Mockingbird by Loretta Ellsworth
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11 comments:
Hi May! Thanks for your posting. This sounds like a very interesting book, one that would be very relevant for middle school students also reading To Kill A Mockingbird.
Maybe you could create a link to To Kill A Mockingbird, to flesh out this review?
Also, I removed some HTML code from your posting to make it appear better on the page. If you want to add something to this, go ahead, it should work better, now.
Maybe proofread again when you get a chance? And don't forget about the video link or digital booktalk.
Take care,
Tom
Hi May--here is one other thought--how do you think this book is connected to the contemporary world, the current age? It sounds like your book is about a search back into the past, and in particular the history of the 1960's and the civil rights movement. But I'm not sure if I'm reading too much into this--does this observation make sense? Is the book about the current age, in that baby boomers who grew up in the 1960's are now trying to transfer to their children the significance of that era?
Take care,
Tom
I would say the connections to the contemporary world would be fathers as single parents and remarrying.
The search back was Erin's need to have a connection to her mom. The father was unable to share his memories so as Erin got older she needed to fill a void . Finding the book in the attic gave her direction.
May I enjoyed your review. It was been awhile since I read To kill a Mockingbird- I enjoy these books that branch off from past books I have read in school. I'll look for this book. Thanks!
I have an urge to dust off my copy of TKAM and refresh my memory, and then read In Search... It actually sounds really good
May,
This book would be relevant for
any person at any age who loses
a parent or a loved one who is very
close - in this case, Erin.
I can appreciate Erin's annoyance
with her father showing Erin some
important rememberance of her own
mom with his impending marriage!
I enjoyed your review on "To Kill A Mockingbird," I haven't read it since I was younger, but the overall meaning/moral still remains. Good detail and definately a good choice for YAL!
May, as I read your post I immediately thought of the movie My Girl 2. The picture you painted made connections for me to the similarities the movie and this novel share. Good job!
In the movie a little girl (Vada) lives with her father and grandmother. Vada's mother passed away when she was a baby, so she doesn't remember anything about her and her memories are all based on a photograph that she holds dear. Her father is a mortician and the family home and business location are one in the same (creepy huh?).
Vada has to write an assignment on someone she most admires and she choses her mother. She travels a long distance (to Los Angeles) to stay with her paternal uncle as she searches for those who knew her mother and can give her more details about her life.
Like Erin Vada questions her father's love for her. She finds some of her mother's belongings like Erin and holds onto them in hopes that they will unlock the past.
The movie is a coming of age story about a 13 year old girl who goes in search of one thing that she never finds, yet finds something that she didn't know she was looking for (clever huh?) :)
Thanks Janine for sharing.I have to remember that title. It seems to compliment the book perfectly.
May, I really liked your summary of for this novel. Based upon your summary of the novel, I think it would be a great complement to the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Your posting makes me want to read the novel for a couple of reasons...
1. I would love to know if Erin does get her answers. I feel as though some of our students never get the answers they need or want about a deceased family member.
2. I really want to see how the author ties in To Kill a Mockingbird throughout the novel, since you said prior knowledge on Lee's book is needed.
Thanks so much for this posting, I can't wait to read the book, and maybe use it in my classroom next year!
Thanks Barb,
It is an interesting book. I enjoyed reading it. The book was not very predictable which is good because it held my interest. It is an easy read; it can be read by junior high students. Depending on the ability of your students "To Kill a Mockingbird" should be a first read or show the movie. There are references to the book; it would help to have the background knowledge.
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