Celebrate ‘Mockingbird’ Online
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Readers nationwide are honoring the 50th anniversary of T (Lippincott, 1960). While author Harper Lee will mark the occasion quietly in her hometown of Monroeville, AL, teachers, librarians, and students can enjoy a host of celebratory events taking place around the country and online. HarperCollins, which is issuing a special anniversary edition of “Mockingbird,” is sponsoring several online activities, including a Ning site where educators can network and share resources. Students might enjoy an audio stream of actress Sissy Spacek reading from the book on the anniversary site, which also offers a calendar of local events. While beloved by many, the Depression-era story of a young girl named Scout and her father, Atticus Finch, a lawyer who defends a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, still sparks controversy. According to the American Library Association, “Mockingbird” was among the top 10 most challenged books in 2009. Another event will take place at the National Council of Teachers of English conference in November. It will feature author Mary McDonagh Murphy, who recently published Scout, (HarperCollins, 2010) and directed the documentary film . “Clips of the documentary will be shown,” says Diane Burrowes, director of academic and library marketing for the General Books Group at HarperCollins. “It’s a good way and a good place to end the yearlong celebration.”—
The Kanawha County (WV) Public Library is running an online book group throughout July, while the New York Public Library will host a September 21 forum, where noted critics and authors will honor Lee’s “modern masterpiece.”
