Rating: 4/5
You can't go home again. In this sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout Finch returns to Maycomb after living in New York for a number of years. The town is both familiar and foreign to her as a result of her time abroad. Some of what she finds causes her to be disillusioned with her father and her entire upbringing as well. That disillusionment is at the crux of the story and the way that Harper Lee leverages it actually makes it strike a major chord with the reader as well.
I like the writing in this book. The tone of it and the perspective really make it come across as Scout's voice. She is the one leading the reader into the trap of disappointment that has outraged so many people. Coming from another character it wouldn't have the same impact. And I think the progression of the story happens in a very natural way. There are tangents into the past that come out of remembrance as Scout travels around her former home.
The social issues are as important as in the previous book, but they come from a very different place. There is fear and greed motivating the men of Maycomb and that is tempered by Scout's furious reaction. It doesn't go off the deep end or destroy a beloved character. This book is smart and well crafted, even though it is tonally different. Is it a must read? Maybe not, but I highly recommend checking it out to decide for yourself.
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