1st place. Everyone has a book (or more than one) that you look back on, and you may remember generally what the story was about, and even the characters, but you can't recall what made it so memorable. All you remember is that its beauty and its sheer magnitude nearly brought tears to your eyes. That's what "To Kill a Mockingbird" is to me.

2nd place (tie). Another favorite, I've read this one two or three times already. It's a strange piece of fiction but one that still gets me in its grips and doesn't let go until I've finished the whole thing. My life has been shaped in part by the ideas expressed in this novel.

Honorable Mention. I literally had no knowledge of who exactly Malcolm X was and what was important about him, and this book made me appreciate him for the ideas he stood for and the way he went about bringing them about. What an incredible story.

5 Stars.

3 Stars.

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5 Stars.

1 Star.

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3 Stars.

3 Stars.