Review from Horn Book (September/October, 2010) Theo Boone has the sharpest legal mind at Strattenburg's middle school. His mother is a divorce lawyer, his father a real-estate attorney, and Theo, well versed in the law, gives free legal advice to his classmates. But it's criminal law that intrigues Theo: he wants to be a trial lawyer. "Most of his classmates dreamed of getting tickets to the big game or concert. Theo Boone lived for the big trials." As in his works for adults, Grisham introduces fairly one-dimensional characters (Theo, except for a penchant for hacking, is close to being the perfect child). But plot is Grisham's forte, and here he serves up a dandy legal adventure that runs at a lesser pace than his adult books do but nonetheless moves along quickly. A big murder trial based on circumstantial evidence creates a platform for Theo, in his informal role as legal advisor, to learn of an undocumented El Salvadorian eyewitness. Without intruding on the trajectory of the story, Grisham gives plenty of background about the legal process and explores various ethical questions concerning Theo's newfound information. Maybe a guilty pleasure, but a pleasure nonetheless. betty carter
This sounds great, doesn't it?
Posts
