To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes place in Maycomb County, home of the Finch family. Atticus, a widow and father of his two children, Jem and Scout, is a well-known lawyer in Maycomb County, and has lived in Alabama all of his life, abolishing all obstacles with an attitude that I deeply respect and have attempted to inherit. As time goes on, Atticus teaches his children to never judge a person by their wealth nor culture, but rather their inner feelings and beliefs. Placed in the heart of the Great Depression, racism tears Maycomb County apart when Tom Robinson, an African American man, is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Atticus Finch is forced to rise up against a racist community in order to attempt to save the life of an innocent African American man. While Atticus does not win his case due to a biased jury, Atticus teaches his children to always commit to what they believe is right, even if it means turning their backs on what your community believes is proper. Tom Robinson ends up dying in prison, after losing hope that his life will ever be the same again, as he was sentenced to death, with little chance of an uplift of the rule occurring. In October, long after the trial occurred over the summer, Jem and Scout are mysteriously attacked in the woods by Bob Ewell, who is found dead after Boo Radley delivers the children back home to receive treatment, and turn out fine. I view Harper Lee’s masterpiece as a guide that explains how to conquer life properly. I love it for its importance in my life as a guide and the lessons it has taught me as a person. To Kill a Mockingbird truly shaped who I am today by teaching me to cherish every moment by knowing that you are doing the right thing and making knowledgeable choices. I know that novel will forever be in my heart, and will most definitely be useful to remember in years to come.