Though most of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird contrasted majorly with my life, I was able to make a connection with the theme of childhood innocence and how with growing up comes change. When I was in elementary school, I had a friend who lived right down the street from me. I basically had no homework, so I would go to his house and we would usually find something to do outside. His backyard was like the Finch’s, only half-covered with forest, so, like Jem, Scout, and Dill, we would spend hours playing games and exploring in his large backyard. Every once in a while we would have another one of our friends with us, which helped me create an even better connection with the trio from the book.
I always wanted a tree house then, but my yard didn’t have any good trees for a tree house. A few of my friends at that time did have tree houses, though, and those memories were brought back to me when I read the book. Like Jem and Dill, my friend and I would spend most of our time outside in the tree house if I was at their house during the summer.
I don’t spend any time playing “pretend” outside with my friends any more. Some of my friends have moved and some I just don’t talk to anymore. I guess that’s all a part of growing up. Through the fun I had with friends, I was able to make a connection with what Scout, Jem, and Dill did during the early summers of the novel, and the theme of childhood innocence and the changes that happen while growing up.
