To Kill a Mockingbird

Content Ratings

No Romance

There is no meaningful romantic content; an accusation of sexual assault is central to the plot but is discussed in a legal, courtroom context rather than depicted.

Intense Themes

The narrative centers on racism, racial violence, legal injustice against Black Americans, class prejudice, childhood exposure to trauma, and the loss of faith in community institutions; these themes are sustained throughout the novel.

Moderate Violence

A racially motivated murder of a falsely convicted man by law enforcement, a physical attack on children in the dark, and a history of violence and threat against Black characters are present; violence reflects historical reality and is not gratuitous.

Synopsis

Seen through the eyes of young Scout Finch in Depression-era Alabama, this novel follows her father Atticus's courageous defense of a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. As Scout and her brother Jem witness the ugliness of racial injustice and the complexity of their community, they also encounter unexpected kindness and moral courage. A deeply human story about innocence, justice, and the loss of childhood certainty.