May is ‘Mockingbird’ Month in Malibu

This May in Malibu is dedicated to the 1961 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which is the 2011 selection for the One Book, One City-Malibu program. Written by one-time author Harper Lee, the novel tells the story of life in Depression-era rural Alabama from the point of view of six-year-old narrator Scout Finch.

Scout lives with her older brother Jem and father Atticus, an attorney who defends a black man accused of raping a young white woman. The siblings observe the trial, and must deal with others in the fictional town of Maycomb who do not approve of what their father is doing. The children are also fascinated by their mysterious neighbor Boo Radley. The book deals with issues of life in the rural South, racial injustice, gender roles and child development.

During the month of May, Malibu residents are encouraged to read To Kill a Mockingbird, perhaps for the first time—or maybe for the 100th time. Several events will take place in celebration of the novel, with the kick off on April 30 at  outdoor amphitheatre. Library and local dignitaries will be in attendance.

Also, the film based on the novel, which won three Academy Awards, will be screened May 1 by the Malibu Film Society at the and May 22 at Malibu High. Additionally, there will be a writing contest run by the gone-but-not-forgotten Diesel, A Bookstore.

This is the ninth year of the program. Previous One Book, One City-Malibu titles have included Catcher in the Rye, Gidget and Joan Didion's The White Album. For more details on the program, go here.