Nelle Harper Lee has sparked controversy once again in the literary world. Renowned for her widely-known novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which touches on the sensitive concepts of rape and racism, Lee has again surprised her readers. At age 89, after a lifetime of vowing to never publish again, Lee released her second novel Go Set a Watchman on July 14, 2015.

Originally being the first draft To Kill a Mockingbird, the new novel shows the life of an older and wiser Jean Louise (Scout).

Not only is the Watchman itself controversial, but so is the origin of its publishing. According to the New York Times, Tonya Carter (Lee’s current lawyer), claims she found the manuscript in Lee’s safe deposit box in 2014. She then announced on February 3, 2015 that it was in the early stages of being published by HarperCollins Publishers.

Six days after its appearance to the public, CNBC stated 1.1 million copies of the book had already been sold. It was also the fastest selling book in the history of HarperCollins Publishers.

While its unprecedented success has been embraced by Lee, many close friends and supporters claim the timing of publishing to be suspicious, and wonder if Lee is being taken advantage of by her lawyer and publishing company in her old age. Marja Mills, close friend of Lee and reporter for the Washington Post, voices her thoughts on Lee’s current vulnerable state by expressing, “Now, in a wheelchair in an assisted living center, nearly deaf and blind…”

However, Carter recently released a statement quoting Lee’s feelings on the book release, stating she is “alive and kicking and happy as hell with the reactions [to] Watchman.”