Readers anticipate Harper Lee’s new novel

Harper Lee, author of the famous and beloved novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” recently revealed a sequel: “Go Set a Watchman.” The 88-year-old author has released only one novel thus far, in 1961. Lee’s new novel is set to be released in July.

Students and staff alike are excited to learn more about the characters and setting established in “Mockingbird.”

“When I read [‘Mockingbird’] in middle school I don't think I was really capable of comprehending the gravity of the situations [Lee] described in the novel,” junior Lisa Yu said. “So, to me, [‘Watchman’] is kind of like a second chance.”

Like Lee’s previous novel, “Watchman” will feature Atticus Finch and his children Scout and Jem, several years after the conclusion of “Mockingbird.” According to Lee’s agent Andrew Nurnbug, “Watchman” was actually written prior to “Mockingbird” and along with “Mockingbird,” was intended to be a part of a trilogy.

As with any sequel — let alone one being published after so long — there is always the possibility that the sequel won’t live up to the hype or the first book.

“People will be anticipating the book and hoping it will live up to [“Mockingbirds”] greatness, but they'll probably be disappointed,” sophomore Devin Fleharty said. “With such a groundbreaking and magnificent book [as "Mockingbird"],  I don't think a sequel could possibly match its grandeur. I've just found that sequels are often disappointing in comparison to the original.”

Another concern regarding “Watchman” is that, according to “The Guardian,” Lee was manipulated into releasing the sequel. Due to her old age, many of Lee’s friends and acquaintances believe that Lee is not mentally prepared to make informed decisions, such as that of releasing  a new novel. There are also concerns over Lee’s physical fitness: Lee is now deaf and blind, and recently suffered a stroke.

In fact, in recent years, lawyer Tonja Carter has been in charge of Lee’s personal affairs. Close family and friends say that many of Carter’s decisions regarding Lee would not be the same decisions Lee would have made herself, if she were younger and more alert.

Yu, however, believes that readers should not focus on whether Lee was or was not manipulated into releasing her work.

“I think as the writer and artist, Lee can do whatever she wants, and it's not anyone else's place to judge what she wants to do with her work,” Yu said.