I Am Scout

A biography of the author of To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman-adapted for young readers by the New York Times-bestselling author of Mockingbird. A 2009 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the YearTo Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most widely read novels in American literature. It's also a perennial favorite in high school English classrooms across the nation. Yet the author Harper Lee was a mysterious figure who lead a very private life in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, refusing to give interviews or talk about the novel that made her a household name. Lee's life was as rich as her fiction, from her girlhood as a rebellious tomboy to her days at the University of Alabama and early years as a struggling writer in New York City. Charles J. Shields is the author of the New York Times bestseller Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, which he has adapted here for younger readers. What emerges in this riveting portrait is the story of an unconventional, high-spirited woman who drew on her love of writing and her Southern home to create a book that continues to speak to new generations of readers. Anyone who has enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird will appreciate this glimpse into the life of its fascinating author. "e;Readers will come away with the sense not only that they know the writer of [To Kill a Mockingbird,] but also that she is someone that they would quite like."e; The Bulletin"e;An absorbing and easy narrative style."e; Kirkus Reviews"e;A fascinating look at the unconventional Lee."e; Booklist"e;A surprisingly fascinating read."e; School Library Journal"e;A page-turner."e; ElleGirl