Lucas Reed- Reading Chapter 4, our club was stunned by the quiet tension that runs beneath the surface of Jacob and Grace’s interactions. Notzon writes in a way that makes every glance, pause, and word feel loaded with meaning. Grace’s internal struggle, her self-doubt, and

It is an eminently valuable lesson to find out who your REAL friends are. For my presentation and booksigning last night I had a wonderful showing from my church choir. On the other hand, from my so-called friends in the Charlotte Writers Club, out of perhaps a hundred plus who

Thomas Greene: The end of Grace’s journey wrecked me in the best way. In Chapter 32, when Jacob’s confession transforms from despair to acceptance, and Grace’s faint response begins that tiny, miraculous motion of her hand I sobbed. I felt like I was witnessing resurrection. And

Calder Voss: Jan Notzon really knows how to dive deep into the gray areas of morality. To Sing Like a Mockingbird isn’t just about Justin’s fight to help troubled kids it’s also about how messy life gets when ideals clash with power, corruption, and personal struggles. I found

Jacob Nelson: This book broke my heart. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a border town and saw how cartels tore families apart, but Justin’s reflections hit me hard. His lament that his friends were swallowed up by greed and confusion felt personal. Chris wasn’t just a villain; he

Thomas Greene: The end of Grace’s journey wrecked me in the best way. In Chapter 32, when Jacob’s confession transforms from despair to acceptance, and Grace’s faint response begins that tiny, miraculous motion of her hand I sobbed. I felt like I was witnessing resurrection. And

Patrick Newman: Chapter 29 feels like the tightening of the novel’s soul. Everything converges memory, faith, regret, love into one aching crescendo. Jake’s introspection here is so intense it almost burns. Yet within that fire, there’s a strange tenderness. What I admired most

Logan Reed: I’ll be honest: at first, I rolled my eyes at the ghostly narrator. It felt gimmicky. But the longer I read, the more it grew on me. There’s something eerie about hearing the confessions of a man who already knows how the story ends. The prologue hooked me with its

Ava Montgomery: This novel isn’t just about crime; it’s about meaning. When Justin’s spirit speaks from the other side, it frames everything we see as part of a bigger, cosmic mystery. The book quotes Frost and meditates on paradoxes, which made me stop and reread certain

Tyler Matthews: Chapter 28 is luminous a masterpiece of tone and tension. What captivated me most was how it balances hope and heartbreak in equal measure. Jake’s moments of clarity feel fragile yet monumental, like light breaking through a cracked window. Jan Notzon’s command

Emily Carter- From the very first page, the tension and warmth of Jacob and Grace’s relationship drew us in. Chapter 1 immediately sets the stage for a story that is intimate yet expansive, as Notzon captures the weight of family ties and past regrets. By Chapter 2, the funeral

Susan Butwin: To Sing Like a Mockingbird is a rare novel that managed to feel both intimate and epic. What struck me most was the way Justin Kopechne narrates from beyond the grave, with a voice that’s equal parts weary, wise, and wounded. I didn’t expect a crime novel to begin

Alaric Holleran: This novel stood out to me for its refusal to simplify complex issues. Juvenile reform, political corruption, and family conflict all get equal weight, and that balance made the story feel textured and real. Justin Kopechne is someone you want to root for, but

Jane Fonda says “I’m Ashamed Of America” What is your advice to her ??

Hannah Mitchell- The way these opening chapters are structured is brilliant, and The New Chapter noticed it right away. We start with humor and wry observation, then slowly descend into deeper emotional territory without ever losing the reader’s trust. Our discussion of Chapter

Ethan Fisher- Reading Chapters 1–5 felt to The New Chapter like being drawn into a photograph that slowly comes to life. Every scene felt tangible the way the air shifts at a funeral, the silence in a hospital room, the unspoken words between family members. Jan Notzon’s skill

Nerida Renshaw: To Sing Like a Mockingbird is one of those novels that feels deeply grounded in place and character. The dusty, isolated Texas backdrop seeps into every page, giving the story an atmosphere of grit and heaviness. What fascinated me most was the clash between

Lily Scott- These first chapters took The New Chapter on a journey that felt both intimate and universal. Jacob is such a well drawn character his mix of sarcasm, tenderness, and restraint makes him feel like someone we might know in real life. Grace, too, is already so vividly

To Sing Like a Mockingbird Jovie Branning: I really admired the layered storytelling in To Sing Like a Mockingbird. At first, it seems like Justin’s story will center solely on his fight at the reformatory, but the book broadens into an exploration of politics, crime, and family.

Reginald Morton: Chapter 7 took me by surprise. It’s one of the quieter chapters, the one where Jacob’s humor begins to surface again. After so much intensity, that moment of levity his awkward joke, his hesitant smile felt like sunlight breaking through clouds. Jan Notzon knows

Greer Bellamys: To Sing Like a Mockingbird is one of those books that sneaks up on you. At first glance, it’s a story about juvenile reform and small town politics, but by the end, it becomes a meditation on integrity and the price of sticking to your beliefs. Justin Kopechne is