The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is the unforgettable account of a town torn between racism and poverty. Through the eyes of a young girl, Scout, the reader is able to see life and everything it may bring. Scout, only eight years old, is able to gain that maturity that takes most people a lifetime to grasp. Everything in Scout's surroundings has a personal effect on her and contributes to her growth as a person. Harper Lee masterfully brings to life a story with an overwhelming amount of truth and realism. Throughout the novel, Scout matures from life lessons that teach her the unfairness of racism, the importance of kindness, and the value of education.

First, seeing first hand the unfairness of racism, greatly impacts Scout's maturation. For example, Calpurnia takes Scout and her brother to her colored church where they are made to feel...