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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
I think the last time I read a John Grisham novel I was the same age as the main character of this, his first middle grade novel. I did have misgivings about this, but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Dry, repetitive and a little dull, but not that bad. Theo is a good, if thin, character. He's a little like a combination of Nancy Drew and her nondescript boy/friend Ned. If Grisham does intend to make this a series, he's going to have to crank it up a few notches and drop some of the legal lingo. It's great to introduce legal concepts and terminology, but you don't have to explain it more than once. Kids are smart, and if you want them to trust you, you have to trust them.
I read this for the 2024 PopSugar category of "the 24th book by an author" and I was not disappointed. My favorite book by JG is A Time To Kill and I've read about 1/2 of his legal thrillers, but this is the first YA of his that I've read and I really liked it. I read YA on a regular basis and several series by other authors that write both YA & adult and I appreciate the difference and honestly, some of the "dumbing down" of the writing.
Theo is not your normal 13 yo and let's face it, if you grow up in a family of lawyers, you're going to be exposed to a lot of legalese and will probably absorb it. Just so happens that he likes learning about the law and is friendly with just about everyone in the courthouse. In this book, that's a good thing because he knows that a miscarriage of justice may happen and has the power to do something about it.
While everything didn't get wrapped up in this one and I can't tell by the blurb if it will in the next book, but I'm certainly going to find out when I read it.
Theo is not your normal 13 yo and let's face it, if you grow up in a family of lawyers, you're going to be exposed to a lot of legalese and will probably absorb it. Just so happens that he likes learning about the law and is friendly with just about everyone in the courthouse. In this book, that's a good thing because he knows that a miscarriage of justice may happen and has the power to do something about it.
While everything didn't get wrapped up in this one and I can't tell by the blurb if it will in the next book, but I'm certainly going to find out when I read it.
Ugh. My complaints are many, but to sum up:
1. Reading this is like watching an episode of Perry Mason or a souped-up Encyclopedia Brown mystery. It does not read like John Grisham.
2. It has been a long time since the author was 13 or knew any real 13 year-olds. Nothing about the characters ring true. It's 1950 or something.
3. For a plot-driven novel, there is surprisingly little plot and no denouement at all. I am still unsure if the sequel will have the conclusion of this case or if Theodore Boone will move on to another one. The book just stops.
1. Reading this is like watching an episode of Perry Mason or a souped-up Encyclopedia Brown mystery. It does not read like John Grisham.
2. It has been a long time since the author was 13 or knew any real 13 year-olds. Nothing about the characters ring true. It's 1950 or something.
3. For a plot-driven novel, there is surprisingly little plot and no denouement at all. I am still unsure if the sequel will have the conclusion of this case or if Theodore Boone will move on to another one. The book just stops.
The book was incredibly dry and didn't really get off the ground until close to the end. Grisham spent so much time ensuring readers were aware of court/judicial lingo that it seemed to read more like a dictionary than a novel. Then, just as the story became interesting, it ended. I feel it was a dubious ploy to force readers into the 2nd book in the series - the abduction. I have to admit I was disappointed.
Kid lawyer books, what's not to like? Had I not watched lawyer shows as a kid this would have been a great introduction into the land of the courts, and I think it's great for kids. As an adult it was definitely not as substantial as a normal murder mystery book would be, and some of it was a little hard to believe, but when taken with a grain of salt it's perfectly pleasant and an easy quick read.
This was a quick, easy read, which was exactly what I needed, but probably not a book I would normally pick up. It was a bit too "young adult" for me.
This was a lot better than some of John Grishams last few books. However, I was disappointed in the ending. I don't like cases left unfinished. Maybe saving for a sequel?