Harper Lee's Long Awaited Squeal

Maya Everts

Harper Lee, author of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” is releasing a sequel to “Mockingbird” entitled, “Go Set a Watchman” in July 2015.

“Watchman” will tell the story of Scout and her father 20 years after “Mockingbird,” portraying Scout’s character as an adult.

As a response, readers everywhere are raving about the new sequel, however, the sequel isn’t exactly “new.”

In a statement to Lee’s publisher, HarperCollins, Lee revealed that “Watchman” was written and completed before her first and only novel. Thinking the manuscript of “Watchman” was lost, Lee was “surprised and delighted” when her lawyer discovered it.

Of course, there is underlying controversy about the mental condition of Harper Lee and rumors that others may have manipulated her into publishing the book.

According to The Daily Telegraph, a friend of Harper Lee stated that a stroke in 2007 left Lee “95 percent blind, [and] profoundly deaf.”

A longtime friend of Lee, historian Wayne Flynt, said he visited Lee the day before the deal was announced, and found her in sound mind.

“This narrative of senility, exploitation of this helpless old lady, is just hogwash. It’s complete bunk,” Wayne Flynt said.

Despite the rumors of Lee’s mental health, “Watchman” is still being published, and readers everywhere cannot wait.

The personal effect that “To Kill a Mockingbird” has on readers is one component that fuels the fire.

“I was touched by the injustice that Tom Robinson has to go through,” Ms. Conzelman, English teacher, said. “[Mockingbird] shows the personal impact of racism that you don’t get with textbooks.”

Barnes and Noble has already placed “Go Set a Watchman” among their “Top 10” due to the number of pre-orders placed.

“I hope that Harper Lee wants the book published and that readers are not disappointed,” Ms. Conzelman said.