Very recently, the one-hit-wonder author, Harper Lee, announced that she is releasing the sequel to her award-winning book To Kill a Mockingbird.
Lee wrote the sequel, called Go Set a Watchman, in the 1950s before writing Mockingbird. However, her editor encouraged Lee to write a book about young Scout, who is an adult in the new novel. Lee had set the manuscript of Watchman away and thought it was lost forever, but to her excitement it was rediscovered last year.
“My editor, who was taken by the flashbacks to Scout’s childhood, persuaded me to write a novel from the point of view of the young Scout,” she said in her interview with CNN.
“I was a first-time writer, so I did as I was told. I hadn’t realized it (the original book) had survived, so was surprised and delighted when my dear friend and lawyer Tonja Carter discovered it. After much thought and hesitation, I shared it with a handful of people I trust and was pleased to hear that they considered it worthy of publication. I am humbled and amazed that this will now be published after all these years.”
Coincidentally, Grand Center Arts Academy’s 9th graders are reading To Kill a Mockingbird this year. Reading Mockingbird has been a tradition for freshman students since this years juniors were in 9th grade. But according to some of this year’s 9th graders, they aren’t excited about the book.
“I think [To Kill a Mockingbird] is overrated. Sure, it addresses real situations for the time period and moral lessons, but it doesn’t have a very exciting plot,” says Safa Caplinger, 9th grade.
“I most likely won’t read the sequel Harper Lee is coming out with, either. It’s not a very enjoyable book for me, so I doubt the second one will hook me.”
However, Galen Selligman, 9th grade, thinks something different.
“I’ve heard it doesn’t have the most extravagant plot, but it’s been called a literary art, so I’m willing to give it chance. It might surprise me,” Selligman commented. He also talked about how he’d give the sequel a chance as well, even if he didn’t like Mockingbird as he’s hoping he will.
“Maybe one year reading [Go Set a Watchman] will be required for freshmen as Mockingbird is. It’ll be interesting to see how everyone who read the first book reacts to Harper Lee’s new one.”