Summary of Chapters 7-10 in To Kill a Mockingbird.

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In chapter 7 of To Kill a Mockingbird, we find that Scout dislikes second grade about as much as she did first. We also learn that when Jem returned for his pants, they were neatly folded and mended and hanging over the fence as if waiting for him. The children are also finding more gifts being left for them in the knothole. They are hesitant to take them at first, but they realize that they are being left for them, and they realize that Boo is the one leaving them. When they see Nathan Radley filling in the knothole, we see that Jem is maturing in his way of thinking about Boo.

In chapter 8, Maycomb is finally having a real winter. It is the first in many years, and the children are very happy about this. Since the weather is so cold, people are burning their wood stoves more. Miss Maudie burns hers so hot that her house catches on fire. While the neighborhood is helping her, Atticus tells the children to stay on the sidewalk. When he returns to get them, he fusses at Scout for leaving the spot and going home to get a blanket. Jem and Scout both tell their father that they stayed there the whole time. The children realize that Boo slipped up quietly behind them and placed a blanket around Scout's shoulders. It is the first time we see Boo trying to take care of the kids.

In chapter 9, we see that Scout is once again fighting. She gets into a fight with Cecil Jacobs. Cecil is going around saying things about Atticus. The town is upset that he is defending Tom Robinson, and this is the first time Scout has to face what people are saying. When Christmas comes, the family goes to Finch Landing to see Aunt Alexandra. While they are there, Scout and her cousin Francis get into another fight. Scout learns from Francis just what Aunt Alexandra and the rest of the family think about Atticus taking this case. Scout also realizes how Aunt Alexandra feels about the way Atticus is raising her and Jem.

In chapter 10, Jem and Scout both think that Atticus is an old man and kind of boring. They haven't seen their father really do anything that would be considered extraordinary. There is a wild sick dog in town and Cal calls Atticus. Jem and Scout are amazed when they see their father shoot and put the poor dog out of his misery. They are also amazed that Atticus made it in one shot.

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To Kill a Mockingbird

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