• To Kill a Mockingbird

  • By: Harper Lee
  • Narrated by: Sissy Spacek
  • Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (46,543 ratings)

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To Kill a Mockingbird

By: Harper Lee
Narrated by: Sissy Spacek
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Editorial review


By Mysia Haight, Audible Editor

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD REMAINS TIMELY FOR CONFRONTING THE REALITIES OF RACISM, BRUTALITY, AND INJUSTICE IN AMERICA

I first read To Kill a Mockingbird when I was a 'tween for an English class assignment. As a bookish kid, I remember being struck by Harper Lee’s writing—the vivid sense of place (small-town Alabama) and time (the Depression era), memorable phrases like "the head-shaking, quelling of nausea and Jem-yelling," and casual remarks rich in wisdom. And, of course, I was awed by Atticus Finch. What girl wouldn’t want this wise, calm, quietly righteous man for a father? His unshakable conviction and courage in the face of prejudice, cruelty, and injustice was inspiring. Thanks to Atticus Finch, I became obsessed with a real-life legendary lawyer, Clarence Darrow, and devoured every book written by or about him I could find. For a minute, I contemplated pursuing a career in law. Then, I got called for jury duty, realized that gripping courtroom drama was rare, and channeled my fascination into reading legal thrillers by John Grisham.

For me, Mockingbird was all about Atticus. Even though I was a voracious reader from a young age, I didn’t connect with Scout, a precocious 9-year-old—until my daughter, a tomboy, became a 'tween. As a white mom to a Black daughter, I have always been conscious of race. But in 2012, when Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African American boy, was fatally shot on a street in Florida for looking suspicious—and his killer was acquitted—I became painfully aware of racism and its dangers. Even though we lived in a diverse city in northern New Jersey, I began to fear for my daughter’s safety. Lucero couldn’t understand why I suddenly objected to her wearing a hoodie and lectured her about the importance of avoiding strangers and the police. Trying to explain racism and injustice to my innocent, trusting daughter made me think of Scout. And so, I found myself longing to revisit the novel I fell in awe with in middle school and get reacquainted with its young narrator. A few years later, when Academy Award-winning actress Sissy Spacek signed on to narrate the audiobook, I decided to go back and give Harper Lee’s classic a listen as a mother.

While centered on a racially charged case—a Black man falsely accused of the brutal rape of a young white woman— To Kill a Mockingbird is, at its heart, Scout’s coming-of-age story. It’s told from Scout’s perspective, both as a woman looking back on her childhood and as a child awakening to the harsh realities of life in Maycomb, Alabama, and her father’s commitment to doing what’s right and just, regardless of the risks or repercussions. Narrating the audiobook, Spacek, a native Texan, draws us into the rhythm and routines of life in a small Southern town. What’s more, she embodies Scout—in all her frustrations, enthusiasm, and idealism—and her gradual awareness of the prejudice all around her. As the novel progresses, Scout develops a moral compass and sense of empathy. Guided by her father’s example and gentle reprimands, she comes to see folks in Maycomb who have been ostracized and demonized—including the town’s Black residents and her reclusive, seemingly creepy neighbor, "Boo" Radley—as people, pure and simple. And that’s what ultimately saves her.

Continue reading Mysia's review >

Publisher's summary

Harper Lee’s Pulitzer prize-winning masterwork of honor and injustice in the deep south - and the heroism of one man in the face of blind and violent hatred, available now for the first time as a digital audiobook.

One of the best-loved stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than 40 languages, sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, served as the basis for an enormously popular motion picture, and was voted one of the best novels of the 20th century by librarians across the country. A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father - a crusading local lawyer - risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.

An Audible for Dogs Pick: Make your dog's day. Cesar Millan shares how audiobooks can make dogs happier and calmer. Learn more.
©1988 Harper Lee (P)2006 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"It's good to be reminded of the power wielded by this classic of American literature. As the introductory music fades and Sissy Spacek begins her narration, we immediately enter the small town in the Deep South where all the timeless issues of kindness and cruelty, inclusion and prejudice are played out in a story told by a little girl named Scout. Instead of offering a range of accents, Spacek reads the story entirely in her own, or Scout's, voice. The choice works, for the book is written from Scout’s point of view, and Spacek has just the right level of Southern accent for easy listening. This is an unforgettable story well told. 2007 Audies Award Winner." (AudioFile magazine)

"Atticus Finch is a timeless American hero who has been played by the likes of Gregory Peck in film and Jeff Daniels on the stage. But in Sissy Spacek’s narration of To Kill a Mockingbird, it’s Harper Lee’s narrator, Scout, who becomes the listener’s moral guiding light and closest confidante. You forget you’re listening to the voice of an adult, so wholly do Spacek’s Southern rhythms embody the young tomboy as she witnesses the racial injustices of the Depression-era South unfold before her." (The New York Times Book Review)

Featured Article: The 20 Best Classic Audiobooks to Listen to Again and Again


Classics are known for their timeless quality, their ability to endure through generations and still hold something significant for the modern listener—whether it’s commentary on a long-gone era or an ageless tale of adventure. In this roundup, each story is paired with an exceptional, show-stopping narrator who takes the tale to new heights. While you may have read some of these stories, you’ve certainly never heard them quite like this.

What listeners say about To Kill a Mockingbird

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Classic story

This was and still is a terrific story. Scout's eyes and story are very focused. This one made a long drive easy and when I was in the hotel, I kept listening. Sissy Spacek was terrific as the reader. Highly recommended!!

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A great novel beautifully narrated

I read Mockingbird when I was 16. I thought I knew it fairly well, but as is often the case, memory turns out to be highly selective. The events surrounding the trial of Tom Robinson probably only take up about 30% of the novel. Much of the rest is a brilliant account of childhood and how small town Alabama in the 30s appears to a 7 year old girl. THere's a lot more humour in the book than I remember, as well. The narration is excellent.

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A Classic, but good?

I only got this book after searching online for the top books ever written. This book was consistently on top, so I gave it a shot. I had read it in school, but it's been so long that I don't recall any of it. I guess I know why. It wasn't bad, but just boring. Maybe it's not my type of book, but I wouldn't put it on a top list of beat books ever written. The performance was great though! I'd probably only recommend this book because it's considered a classic, not that it's one of the best.

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Well done, Sissy Spacek

I am not much of reader, ashamed that I never read this classical masterpiece. Sissy Spacek did an amazing read! Highly recommended!

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Sissy Spacek GENIUS

That was the best read book I’ve ever listened to. Sissy Spacek is amazing. Highly recommend it!

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One of my favorite readings of one of my favorite books

This reading was amazing. This is one of my all time favorite books and this reading just brought this book to life. This is probably my fourth or fifth time reading this book...my first audible of it. Perfect!

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emotionally triumphant

Thanks to this app I got to finally listen to this golden book. I truly feel like this left a mark on America. the narrator fit the language and emotions of every character. I loved it with all my heart.

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Great first read and even better reread

This is a classic that gets better each time you read or listen to it. I got so drawn in the last time I listened to it, it took me 2 days in 2 sessions. Sissy Spacek was a natural for this book. She brought the book to life.

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Could not put it down

Though I was late coming to the story I expect I will listen to it again some time in the future. The narrator was perfect. she made Scout come alive. I can honestly say I was sad to have the story end. I will now have to listen to the sequel to see just how Atticus was further developed.

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Loved!

I enjoyed listening to this classic! I ordered this for my son to listen to while he read the book for his summer project.

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