the introductory portion of tequila Mockingbird is told from the perspective of an adult Jean Louise Finch who recollects her childhood in Maycomb Alabama Jean Louise better known as scout throughout the story begins the story in 1933 when she was six years old she lives with her widowed father her ten-year-old brother Jim and the house cook Calpurnia Atticus a lawyer does his best to instill in his children good manners and respect for everyone regardless of their class or race Scout and Jem spend much of the summer with their friend dill spying on the reclusive neighbor Boo Radley in the stories rising action the summer ends dill goes back to Mississippi and Scout and Jem start school during her first day Scout introduces the reader to the various class systems that divide Makem those Scout does not yet identify them this way one day Scout passes the Radley place and notices two sticks of gum in the knothole of a large oak tree over the course of the year Scout and Jem find many gifts in the knothole and suspect they're from Boo Radley before they can write a thank-you note they find that booze brother Nathan has cemented it over scout and James lives become more complicated when Atticus agrees to defend Tom Robinson a black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell the daughter of a local drunk Bob Ewell the build-up to the case reveals to the children how pervasively racist and divided make them really is it becomes clear that Tom Robinson though innocent will be convicted based on prejudice alone this is difficult for a young Scout and Jem to understand despite knowing this Atticus believes you must defend Tom because it's the right thing to do during the trial it becomes clear mail as father Bob Ewell is the true criminal but nonetheless during the climax the jury reads out a guilty verdict in the falling action after the trial Bob you'll publicly threatens Atticus who's working on an appeal a few weeks later the family's shocked to hear that Tom Robinson was shot after trying to escape from prison as things slowly returned to normal Scout prepares for a play at school after the play while Scout and Jim are walking home they realize someone is stalking them the man attacks Jim but someone comes to their rescue after a scuffle Bob Ewell lies dead and the defender carries an unconscious gem toward the Finch home Jim's arm is broken and the family rallies to take care of him sheriff Tate arrives and he and Atticus begin to sort out the details of the incident it's revealed that Boo Radley was the Savior and sheriff Tate and Atticus decide not to reveal it was boo who killed Bob Ewell and in the resolution Scout walks boo home never to see him again