Readers looking for legally ori­ented selections for their summer reading need look no further than the finalists for this year’s Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction.

The ABA Journal and the University of Alabama Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. School of Law an­nounced three finalists last week: “The Boat People” by Sharon Bala, “Class Action” by Steven B. Frank and “The Widows of Malabar Hill” by Sujata Massey.

“This year’s Harper Lee Prize was particularly difficult to judge,” said Molly McDonough, editor and publisher of the ABA Journal in a release. “We were evaluating so many gripping and compelling reads. The finalists represent the di­versity of this year’s submissions, from a novel about Sri Lankan refugees seeking a new start, to the story of a trailblazing woman lawyer fighting for her clients in 1920s India and, finally, a charm­ing middle school book featuring a spunky student who goes to court after he’s suspended for protesting homework. The characters are as inspiring as they are engaging.”

The prize, previously authorized by the late Lee, is given annually to a book-length work of fiction that best illuminates the role of lawyers in society and their power to effect change. The prize was launched nine years ago to commemorate the 50th anniversary of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Author Harper Lee was an alumna of the University of Alabama School of Law.

There were 25 entries for the prize this year, and a team of re­viewers chose three books for the selection committee’s consider­ation. The public is invited to cast votes on the ABA Journal website to help determine who the winning author will be. The public will act as the sixth judge, contributing a vote equal in weight to the selection committee members.

Vote through June 30 online at tinyurl.com/2019HarperLeePrize.

The prize will be awarded Aug. 29 at the Library of Congress in conjunction with National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. The winner will be announced prior to the ceremony and will receive a copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird” signed by Harper Lee.

– American Bar Association