To+Kill+A+Mockingbird+Nonfiction+Resources+(Fladhammer)

Nonfiction Resources for //To Kill A Mockingbird// (Lee)  Compiled by M. Fladhammer //To Kill A Mockingbird// by Harper Lee is a sophomore level unit. The book details experiences in the life of Jean Louise (Scout) Finch, who learns a great deal about herself and her town along the way. Students who read this book may also be interested in the following resources to clarify various ideas and concepts. __Books:__ Bartoletti, S.C. (2010).//They called themselves the KKK: The birth of an American terrorist group//. Boston, MA: HMH Books for Young Readers. This book describes the formation of the Ku Klux Klan, which is mentioned in the novel and always intrigues students. It is recommended for readers from 7th grade to adult and has a Lexile of 1180L. Beals, M.B. (1995). //Warriors don’t cry: A searing memoir of the battle to integrate Little Rock’s central high//. New York, NY: Washington Square Press. Beals describes her experience as one of the first black students to integrate Little Rock’s Central High School. This book is recommended for students from 7th grade up and has a Lexile of 1000L. Carter, D.T. (2007). //Scottsboro: A tragedy of the American south.// Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press. This book was written by one of the preeminent experts on the Scottsboro trial, so will also be more challenging for readers. It was originally published in 1970, but was updated and republished in 2007. Crowe, C. (2003). //Getting away with murder: The true story of the Emmett Till case//. New York, NY: Dial Press. This is a nonfiction account of the Emmett Till case, which has strong parallels to the case against Tom Robinson. It is recommended for readers from 7th grade up and has a Lexile of 1210L. Griffin, J.H. (2010). //Black like me//. New York, NY: Signet Classics. This book details the experience that the author gained in understanding the role of the African American in the American South. This could give students a better insight into the role that Tom Robinson, Calpunia, and Dolphus Raymond played in the novel. It is sometimes taught in high schools, and should be about a 9th to 11th grade reading level. Kennedy, S. (2011). //Jim crow guide to the U.S.A.: The laws, customs, and etiquette governing the conduct of nonwhites and other minorities as second-class citizens//. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press. This semi-mocking account of the Jim Crow laws seen in the American South would be interesting for students to see. It is recommended for students from 9th grade and up. Levinson, C. (2012). //We’ve got a job: The 1963 Birmingham children’s march//. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishers. This book looks further into the Civil Rights Movement from the eyes of children who were involved in the Birmingham Children’s March. It is recommended for readers ages 10-15 and has a Lexile of 1020L. Norris, C. and Washington, S.D. (1979). //The last of the Scottsboro boys: An autobiography.// Kirkwood, NY: Putnam. This is an autobiography written by one of the Scottsboro boys, who have a case very similar to that of Tom Robinson in the novel. This book would most likely be a little more challenging than the rest of the offerings, as it is written in Norris’ vernacular as transcribed from tape recordings. It also contains trial transcripts. Partridge, E. (2009). //Marching for freedom: Walk together, children, and don’t you grow weary//. New York, NY: Viking Juvenile. This book also considers the Civil Rights Movement from the perspective of the children involved. It also features photographs, songs, quotes, and poetry. It is recommended for readers from 6th grade to adult and has a Lexile level of 960L. Williams, G.L. (1996). //Life on the color line: The true story of a white boy who discovered he was black//. New York, NY: Plume. The author recounts his discovery that his “white” father was really African American. Williams struggled to discover which race he would identify with and shares his challenges along the way. This book has a Lexile of 920L. __Websites:__ American Art Museum. //The 1930’s//. Flickr. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/americanartmuseum/sets/72157614238464621/ This link accesses a series of photographs that depict the 1930s. It would be a good discussion and visual for students to experience. Bolton, C.C. (2004). Farmers without land: The plight of white tenant farmers and sharecroppers. //Mississippi History Now//. Retrieved from http://mshistorynow.mdah.state.ms.us/articles/228 This article posted on an online publication of Mississippi History Now considers the role of the poor white farmers in the South. This could give students further insight on why the farmers from the area were so bitter. Braziel, J.E. //History of Lynching in the United States//. University of Cincinatti. Retrieved from http://www.umass.edu/complit/aclanet/USLynch.html This site looks at a statistical analysis of lynch mob numbers, as well as the reasoning given. This would need to be a site that students and teachers visited together, due to the sparse amount of explanation on the site. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Northern Mockingbird. //All About Birds//. Retrieved from http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_mockingbird/id Students often want more information about the title bird and the Cornell Lab has pictures, information, and examples of bird calls. CBS Sunday Morning [AnnaM1975]. (2011, July 14).Monroeville, Alabama – To Kill A Mockingbird. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHpuMF0iMx4 This excerpt from CBS Sunday Morning celebrates the 50th anniversary of the novel with a glimpse at the town’s celebrations. It also reviews some scenes from the movie of the same title and looks at a documentary about the book. It should be viewed after reading the novel because there are spoilers. Harper Lee. (2013). //The Biography Channel website//. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/harper-lee-9377021. Students express interest in Harper Lee, especially after learning that this novel was the only one Lee published. Biography has basic information about Lee, including her connections to other famous writers. Narconon International. //Effects of Morphine Abuse//. Retrieved from http://www.narconon.org/drug-abuse/morphine-effects.html Students are often curious about the effects of morphine addiction after they read about Mrs. DuBose. This website gives a reasonable explanation of the effects, with little jargon to confuse readers. PBS. Works Progress Administration. //American Experience//. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/dustbowl-wpa/ This article on the PBS American Experience page explains the basic information about the WPA, which is mentioned a few times in the novel. Premier Internet, Inc. //Civil War//. Retrieved from http://www.civilwar.com/ This website has a large amount of information about the American Civil War, which is frequently referenced in Part 1 of the novel. Students may want to use it just to review certain concepts, but it does have interesting features like an interactive map. Welner, M. (2011). Mob violence: Psychological myths, facts, solutions. //World News//. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/london-riots-2011-psychological-myths-facts-solutions/story?id=14276532 Students often wonder about the strength of mob violence following the mob that attempts to attack Tom Robinson before the trial. This site offers a video, as well as the transcript of the video, in which a doctor considers mob violence.

Nelson, M. (2005). //A Wreath for Emmett Till//. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. * A Printz Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor Book.