5/29/2022: Graphic Novel Spotlight: To Kill A Mockingbird
- Sasha Wallace
- May 29, 2022
- 6 min read
I’ve been thinking a lot about fathers this week. What makes someone a Dad? It’s more than a DNA test. A good Dad is someone who raises his children to know right from wrong, who supports them unconditionally (& often to great lengths, like driving across town to get all the matching toys from the McDonald’s happy meals, or spending his entire weekend sanding down the doors in his son’s new house so they close properly). A good Dad protects his kiddos while also fostering independence & autonomy; gets them out into nature so they can commune with the Earth; loves on them quietly but firmly; speaks highly of others or says nothing at all; kills the bugs, fixes the toilets, binds the wounds; finds humor & patience even when reserves of each seem depleted; can cook a mean blueberry pancake or microwaved bacon; has a way with Mom that no one else does; & of course has remarkable & distinct eyebrows.
Yesterday, we held a memorial service for my beloved father-in-law, Karl. Many folks offered kind words & memories of him during the celebration of life, & I was struck by the common theme: he was a noble man who loved his family & lived his life doing good in his community. He will be sorely missed, yet his legacy of service & hard work lives on.
So this week’s blog post is dedicated lovingly to him. I tried to choose a literary father figure that I think emulates Karl’s best qualities. I can think of no finer, worthier representative than Atticus Finch.
When you think of trials, what comes to mind? Currently, Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard dominates social media. You may also recall the televised proceedings of Casey Anthony or George Zimmerman. Depending on your age, you may even remember the court case against O.J. Simpson.
But before we concentrated all of our waking energy on celebrities airing their dirty laundry or violent citizens justifying murder, the trial of the century was that of Tom Robinson, a husband, father, & law-abiding citizen accused of rape. His real crime? Being black in a predominantly white area. This week’s hard-hitting graphic novel suggestion is none other than the gorgeous adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird.
Is there a more beloved attorney than Atticus Finch? Is there a more perfect portrayal of innocence shattered than through the eyes of Scout Finch? I think not. Journey with me as our young protagonist comes of age in a town whose idea of justice is a lynch mob.
We are conditioned to believe in one’s innocence until guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Yet, this book is full of hypocrites & vigilantes whose warped sense of justice is the main antagonist. The truth no longer matters. In their bloodlust, the society craves a scapegoat, & they will stop at nothing to mete out punishment despite the allegations unravelling baselessly in front of them.
Time & again, this novel has been voted America’s Most Beloved Read. Generations of schoolchildren have experienced it as required reading. Audiences have held their breath at the reveal of the reclusive & fearsome Boo Radley. Teachers have used it as a springboard for deep dives into 1930s Southern society, analyzing the imagery & conversations within to provide a glimpse into the bigotry, poverty & small-mindedness that plagued the fictional town of Maycomb. Historically speaking, the context here is important – wedged between the Great Depression & World War II, the story depicts desperation, a breakdown in values that is haunting in its precision.
It is a classic underdog tale, a good vs. evil fight that, despite all of us predicting the ending, is fought with compassion & tireless determination all the same. It features a scintillating trial; friendships & loyalty; betrayal & misdeeds; addiction & abuse; a brother’s protectiveness, a sister’s inquisitiveness, & a neighbor’s intervention; a father’s entire career on the line; reputations built & toppled; communities rallying & rioting; mysterious objects in a tree; a calamitous death; a lasting sense of broken trust; crime & cover-ups; a moment in time whose implications will sweep the citizens like a shockwave.
Yet it is also, when distilled properly, a tale of a father trying to make a better tomorrow for his children. Even on his worst days & during his most trying moments, he patiently answers Scout’s manifold questions & admonishes Jem for misbehavior. Without a mother to assist him, this single father doesn’t lament his lot in life, but rather, finds appreciation in little wonders. Like my father-in-law, he is a pillar of quiet strength. Despite a guilty verdict, he finds hope in that it took the jury hours instead of the usual mere minutes. When Scout & Jem get bullied at school, he urges them to hold their heads up high & “not let anyone get your goat”. When Bob Ewell spits in his face, he allows it, because he knows he’s the bigger person & “It may save Mayella one extra beating”. We are so quick to throw hands & be aggressive when we feel victimized. Yet Atticus never once stoops to the level of his foes. A classier, more likable role model can’t be found in literature. The tagline on the film poster below says it all:
I remember reading this in Mr. Haffner’s ninth grade English class. I had seen the movie, so I was seriously contemplating just Sparknoting the chapters so I could concentrate on my geometry assignments. But as Haff read to us, I was sucked in. I could not believe that he felt we were mature enough to have class discussions about race & assault. I learned about the KKK in that class, something I had never known about until then. I learned about prejudice, relief checks, alcoholism, poaching, & so many other facets that expanded my universe. Those were the most intellectually stimulating talks of my schooling. The story itself was written so ethereally, so simply, that the ugliness it portrayed became more sinister. In a way, it is Southern Gothic, made more enigmatic by the secrecy of its author.
I kept praying the ending would be different, that the movie was a fluke, that good would prevail. It didn’t. Don’t go into TKAM looking for resolution. Part of the absolute beauty of this literary juggernaut is that it is unflinchingly accurate. Life isn’t fair. It starts, it finishes, & along the way, it can be both beautiful & ugly. But maybe, by having us read about it & react to it so powerfully, we prevent such ugliness from manifesting in our future. People like Atticus Finch, people like Karl Wallace – they help you see the good. They create good in their communities. That good is so strong & indefatigable that even when the wave of disaster pummels the house of truth, the foundation remains unscathed.
***TRIGGER & CONTENT WARNING – This adaptation contains the use of the “N” word. Additionally, testimony gets somewhat graphic as Tom Robinson’s accuser goes into the details of the alleged rape. Parental discretion is advised***
Graphic Novel 1
Title: To Kill A Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Illustrator (& Adapted by): Fred Fordham
Recommended for: Grade 7+ (I recommend Grade 9 though)
Basic plot: A white lawyer defends a black, disabled man during a clearly biased trial. The trial impacts the way both men & their families are treated by the townspeople.
Why I love it: It isn’t that I enjoyed TKAM, because I didn’t. It’s not something you feel uplifted or happy after reading. Rather, this is one of those books that you tell yourself over & over “This is important” as you read it. It SHAPED me. I looked at the world differently after reading it. I love that this graphic novel makes the sometimes dense language more accessible. I love the characters. It is infinitely quotable, relatable, & tragic. The story is woven so deeply into the fabric of American cultural history that it cannot be unassociated.
Where can you find it? Amazon, eBay, AbeBooks, Thriftbooks, OverDrive (cheapest $10.99 on Kindle & up, used).
Extension activity: First, I’d read the poem “Incident” by Countee Cullen. It pairs nicely with Tom’s perspective & seemingly unclimbable mountain. Have your kiddo do a journal entry about the poem, explaining the gist, how the stanzas shift to portray new meaning, & how the author reflects on their experience in Baltimore years later. I would even analyze Langston Hughes’ “I, Too” in conjunction with this.
This packet is a comprehensive chapter-by-chapter question guide that will require critical thinking & recall for each segment. I don’t recommend the ENTIRE packet unless you really hate your kiddos, but it is worthwhile to pull some Exit Tickets from:
Lastly, & I know I’m getting maudlin here, write a letter to your own father. Tell him the things you admire about him & have your kiddos do the same for their Dad. There’s a scene in TKAM when Scout is urged to stand because her father is walking by in court. This letter is YOUR version of standing up. Gift the letters or keep them forever – the important part is in appreciating the qualities you hold dear.
Hug your Dads close, everyone. <3
Thanks for tuning in! Keep the pages turning until we meet again.
Love,
Sash
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