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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Theodore Boone:Kid Lawyer is supposed to be young adult fiction but I liked it. A 13 year old who hangs out in the court house and his parents law office Ted gives legal advice for free and is generally all around helpful. He is also a bit on the tricky side having hacked the court computer system so he could check the court transcripts as they are being written. Theodore with the help of judges, teachers his lawyer parents and his uncle, a disbarred lawyer finds solutions to various legal and other problems. I find myself comparing him to another fictional child who solves mysteries. Flavia DeLuce in Alan Bradley's series of child mysteries. Theodore is actually much better behaved than Flavia but I still liked Kid Lawyer enough to want to read the other books in this series by John Grisham.
I enjoyed the idea, but think that Grisham has underestimated the intellect of the middle school reader. The story could stand to be more intense. Has potential as it appears that Grisham plans to keep on with the character.
A pretty typical John Grisham novel, just written for the younger set. This book does offer plenty of suspense for young readers if given to the right reader, but it would have to be the right reader since the action doesn't start until you are about 100 pages into the story.
Grisham does a nice job of introducing kids to what a trial is like (not like what you see on tv shows), but I found some of the characters to be flat and downright boring. Plus when all the kids in the class have perfect behavior I have a hard time believing that one. Overall this a decent read, but if there are follow up books, I will probably not be reading those ones.
Grisham does a nice job of introducing kids to what a trial is like (not like what you see on tv shows), but I found some of the characters to be flat and downright boring. Plus when all the kids in the class have perfect behavior I have a hard time believing that one. Overall this a decent read, but if there are follow up books, I will probably not be reading those ones.
FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE JOHN GRISHAM!! I have been a fan since about seventh grade when I saw The Firm. I really enjoy his legal thrillers, and his non-legal ones as well, like "Christmas with the Cranks". Anyway, because I love him, when I saw that he had a Young Adult title it made me smile on the inside! In the vein of Nancy Drew, Grisham takes the child-sleuth arena and expands it into legal expertise.
Theodore Boone has a divorce attorney for a mom, a real estate attorney for a dad, and a dog named Judge. He's the only unlicensed thirteen year-old with his own legal office, and he uses his Monday afternoons to discuss current legal events with his Uncle Ike, a disbarred lawyer and tax-preparer. The career he's already started has opened the door for the incredibly winding tale found in this first book of his series.
For his Government Class, Theo uses his relationship with the staff of the county courthouse to get his class into the largest murder trial the town has ever seen. It seems to be an open and shut case, because the state simply doesn't have enough direct evidence to convict. That is,...until Theo's outgoing personality and budding law firm uncovers a secret twist.
Listening to this story was engaging and cool as Richard Thomas has controlled but interesting voice acting. Grisham uses this story as he does his adult books, to teach us readers a few basics about the law. Legal terminology and theory are built into the story in ways that young people can understand, and help move the story along. The relationship that Theo has with his school, classmates and family reminds us that our uniqueness is what makes us who we are. The story was funny, entertaining, and still had that familiar John Grisham "edge-of-your-seat" tension. I can't wait to see what happens with the series from here.
Grisham, John, and Richard Thomas. Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. New York: Penguin Audio, 2010. Sound recording.
Edgy, Informative, Great Narration by Richard Thomas, Just enough to get you thirsty for the series.
Theodore Boone has a divorce attorney for a mom, a real estate attorney for a dad, and a dog named Judge. He's the only unlicensed thirteen year-old with his own legal office, and he uses his Monday afternoons to discuss current legal events with his Uncle Ike, a disbarred lawyer and tax-preparer. The career he's already started has opened the door for the incredibly winding tale found in this first book of his series.
For his Government Class, Theo uses his relationship with the staff of the county courthouse to get his class into the largest murder trial the town has ever seen. It seems to be an open and shut case, because the state simply doesn't have enough direct evidence to convict. That is,...until Theo's outgoing personality and budding law firm uncovers a secret twist.
Listening to this story was engaging and cool as Richard Thomas has controlled but interesting voice acting. Grisham uses this story as he does his adult books, to teach us readers a few basics about the law. Legal terminology and theory are built into the story in ways that young people can understand, and help move the story along. The relationship that Theo has with his school, classmates and family reminds us that our uniqueness is what makes us who we are. The story was funny, entertaining, and still had that familiar John Grisham "edge-of-your-seat" tension. I can't wait to see what happens with the series from here.
Grisham, John, and Richard Thomas. Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. New York: Penguin Audio, 2010. Sound recording.
Edgy, Informative, Great Narration by Richard Thomas, Just enough to get you thirsty for the series.
I made it through 18 pages and then I had to put it down.
I felt like I was reading a Nancy Drew book set in the 50s. I think it's because John Grisham wrote 'down' to his y.a. audience, and in the process made everything so basic and blah. Why didn't his editor suggest he actually MEET a 13 year-old boy before he wrote this book?
It's so unrealistic, I'm anxious to see if my middle school kids will look past that and enjoy the book anyway. The plot is so simple for this age group, too (who are used to watching CSI and Law and Order). I kept waiting for the twist, because there really was no suspense or mystery at all. Maybe my 3rd graders will like it? They won't be offended when the main character Theodore keeps stopping to explain things about the complex legal world, like what a judge is...
It's so unrealistic, I'm anxious to see if my middle school kids will look past that and enjoy the book anyway. The plot is so simple for this age group, too (who are used to watching CSI and Law and Order). I kept waiting for the twist, because there really was no suspense or mystery at all. Maybe my 3rd graders will like it? They won't be offended when the main character Theodore keeps stopping to explain things about the complex legal world, like what a judge is...
Loved this! In my life I've gone from Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys to Perry Mason and on to Law and Order and the Closer. This will be a series I can sell enthusiastically to middle school students! Looking forward to reading the next one!
Book talk: Some kids like sports. Some kids like to read. Theodore likes the law. When a local woman is killed, her husband is arrested but it looks like he might get off scott free. Theodore has a perfect witness who refuses to testify. The guilty husband will go free, unless Theodore can find some other evidence to send the man to jail.
Book talk: Some kids like sports. Some kids like to read. Theodore likes the law. When a local woman is killed, her husband is arrested but it looks like he might get off scott free. Theodore has a perfect witness who refuses to testify. The guilty husband will go free, unless Theodore can find some other evidence to send the man to jail.
This book had unnecessary long-winded descriptions of places and people that had nothing to do with the story, especially in the beginning. There was much tell in place of action. A seasoned writer like Grisham should be able to give description about people and places in the action. I was really surprised. We never get physical descriptions of people, but mundane details about their backgrounds. In fact, Theo's whole class is described in the beginning and those people are never in the book again. The person accused of murder is never physically described, which is odd because how a person looks to the jury is so critical in murder trials. Theo is never physically described either - not any little inkling.
Think I'm exaggerating about pointless description? Get to the baseball game part, and see what I mean.
Theo doesn't really act like a 13-year-old kid and doesn't properly react to being called a kid. Nobody his age would have that much expertise about law, even as an only child and two lawyer parents.
Speaking of kids, he talks down to his readers. If I were a kid, I'd be offended at times.
The only strength in this book is the trial. If it weren't for that part, I would've given the book 1 star.
The story is predictable. Things drag out because people have to act just a little too dumb or too scared. And the ending is unsatisfying. There was potential to create a really good antagonist out of the defendant's lawyer, but it never went anywhere. And the climax was pretty un-climactic.
Think I'm exaggerating about pointless description? Get to the baseball game part, and see what I mean.
Theo doesn't really act like a 13-year-old kid and doesn't properly react to being called a kid. Nobody his age would have that much expertise about law, even as an only child and two lawyer parents.
Speaking of kids, he talks down to his readers. If I were a kid, I'd be offended at times.
The only strength in this book is the trial. If it weren't for that part, I would've given the book 1 star.
The story is predictable. Things drag out because people have to act just a little too dumb or too scared. And the ending is unsatisfying. There was potential to create a really good antagonist out of the defendant's lawyer, but it never went anywhere. And the climax was pretty un-climactic.