**A biography of the author of** To Kill a Mockingbird **and** Go Set a Watchman **—adapted for young readers by the** New York Times **–bestselling author of** Mockingbird **.** **A 2009 Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year** *To Kill a Mockingbird* is one of the most widely read novels in American literature. It’s also a perennial favorite in high school English classrooms across the nation. Yet the author Harper Lee was a mysterious figure who lead a very private life in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, refusing to give interviews or talk about the novel that made her a household name. Lee’s life was as rich as her fiction, from her girlhood as a rebellious tomboy to her days at the University of Alabama and early years as a struggling writer in New York City. Charles J. Shields is the author of the *New York Times* bestseller *Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee* , which he has adapted here for younger readers. What emerges in this riveting portrait is the story of an unconventional, high-spirited woman who drew on her love of writing and her Southern home to create a book that continues to speak to new generations of readers. Anyone who has enjoyed *To Kill a Mockingbird* will appreciate this glimpse into the life of its fascinating author. **“Readers will come away with the sense not only that they know the writer of [** To Kill a Mockingbird **,] but also that she is someone that they would quite like.” —** The Bulletin **“An absorbing and easy narrative style.” —** Kirkus Reviews **“A fascinating look at the unconventional Lee.” —** Booklist **“A surprisingly fascinating read.” —** School Library Journal **“A page-turner.” —** ElleGirl