Image via Cornerstone Digital By David Caballero Published Jul 15, 2026, 11:03 PM EDT David is a Senior Editor at Collider focused primarily on Lists. His professional journey began in the mid-2010s as a Marketing specialist before embarking on his writing career in the 2020s. At Collider, David started as a Senior Writer in late 2022 and has been a Senior Editor since mid-2023. He is in charge of ideating compelling and engaging List articles by working closely with writers, both Senior and Junior, as well as other editors. Occasionally, David also reviews movies and TV shows and writes episode recaps. Currently, David is also writing his second novel, a psychological horror satire that will, hopefully, be picked up for publication sometime next year. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us On follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap In 2026, the book industry is still thriving, despite what many would have you believe. Sure, people experience books differently now, whether reading them on their tablets or phones or listening to them in audio form while commuting to work or walking the gym's treadmills. Yet, audiences are still consuming books, and that's what's important. Some works are as popular as they've ever been, from Gothic romances like Wuthering Heights to the psychological thrills of Crime and Punishment . Some of the greatest American novels are, similarly, still widely celebrated: Moby-Dick , The Great Gatsby , and The Grapes of Wrath , among them.
Not all classics are timeless, though. Some books, in fact, become dated with each passing year, to the point where they become borderline discomforting to experience today ; such is the case for To Kill a Mockingbird . Harper Lee 's Southern Gothic tale of morality, justice, and racial injustice is widely considered her magnum opus and one of the most important works of the 20th century . In the US, it's a must-read and studied in most high schools as part of their syllabus. Indeed, it is a thoughtful novel, rich in emotional impact, food for thought, and unexpected humor. Yet, its central storyline, presentation, and overall message ring unexpectedly hollow today . In fact, in 2026, as conversations about racial dynamics and Black voices become more important and accessible than ever before, To Kill a Mockingbird seems dated and oversimplified , to the point where it's not really worth reading.
Image via Heinemann To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama , between the years of 1933 and 1935 , at the height of the Great Depression. The plot centers on Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, a six-year-old girl living with her older brother, Jem, her black cook, Calpurnia, and her widowed father, Atticus. Scout lives a relatively tranquil childhood, enjoying time with Jem and their friend, Dill, and developing something of a curious dynamic with her reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley.
Things change when Atticus is appointed as the defender of Tom Robinson , a Black man accused of raping a young white woman, Mayella Ewell. Throughout the novel, Scout discovers the ugliness of the world , seeing how the town descends into a mob mentality and shames Atticus for agreeing to defend Tom. Scout's views of morality, justice, and equality are shaped by the trial, including her father's tireless efforts to save Tom…