Kid Lawyer (Theodore Boone #1)

by John Grisham (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Theodore Boone
The #1 "New York Times"-bestselling author delivers his first book for younger readers. In the small city of Strattenburg, there are many lawyers, and though he's only 13 years old, Theo Boone thinks he's one of them. But Theo soon finds himself dragged into the middle of a sensational murder trial.
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Publishers Weekly

Grisham, a bestseller-list fixture with his legal thrillers, makes his children's book debut with a series opener that lacks thrills. The only child of two attorneys, Theo Boone is an endearing oddball, an eighth-grader who still thinks girls have cooties, but who knows every lawyer, bailiff, and judge in town. There's an underdeveloped subplot about a best friend whose parents are divorcing, but Theo's contacts with peers mainly consist of him playing lawyer--advising one boy to have his parents file for bankruptcy to avoid foreclosure, reassuring another about his brother's drug arrest, and in the main thread, producing an eyewitness to a murder for which the prosecuting attorney, heretofore, had only circumstantial evidence. He's less a real kid than an adult's projection of what an ideal kid might be like--determined to be the "most talented linguist" in his Spanish class and appreciative of the scruffy charms of the local college team's baseball stadium. The book is smoothly written, and there's a mild tutorial on the criminal justice system ("Theo knew that in 65 percent of murder cases the defendant does not testify..."). What there isn't is any excitement. Ages 812. (May) Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

Review quotes

Praise for the Theodore Boone series

"Not since Nancy Drew has a nosy, crime-obsessed kid been so hard to resist." -The New York Times

"Classic Grisham." -The Los Angeles Times

"Smartly written." — USA Today

"Grisham is an absolute master."—Washington Post

"Edge-of-your-seat drama, sophisticated plotting, and plenty of spunk."—Chicago Sun-Times

"Gripping . . . I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery."—Scholastic News

From the Trade Paperback edition.
John Grisham
John Grisham is the author of twenty-seven novels, five books for young readers, one work of nonfiction, and one collection of stories. His works have been translated into over forty languages. He lives in Virginia.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780525423843
Lexile Measure
790
Guided Reading Level
T
Publisher
Dutton Books for Young Readers
Publication date
May 20, 2010
Series
Theodore Boone
BISAC categories
JUV021000 - Juvenile Fiction | Law & Crime
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV028000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
Library of Congress categories
Mystery and detective stories
Lawyers
Trials (Murder)
Agatha Awards
Nominee 2010 - 2010
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
Nominee 2012 - 2012
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award
Winner 2012 - 2013
Young Reader's Choice Award
Nominee 2013 - 2013
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award
Nominee 2013 - 2013

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