Grisham, J. (2010). Theodore Boone: Kid lawyer. New York: Dutton Children’s Books.
Genres: Mystery, Murder, Legal Drama
Summary: Theodore Boone, Theo to his friends, is the son of two attorneys and considers the courthouse his second home. A murder trial has begun; it’s the biggest case to hit Strattenburg in sixty years. Theo resents having to miss it because he’s just a kid and goes to middle school. The defense is strong; prosecution has no evidence to convict. But then, Theo’s friend Julio confides in him: his cousin is a witness to the murder, and his testimony could have a huge impact on the outcome of the trial, but is afraid to come forward because he’s in the country illegally. Can Theo help solve the murder and keep his friend’s cousin safe too?
Review: While the story is interesting, the characters aren’t relatable, and the ending falls flat. John Grisham may be a best-selling author, but he should either do more research on youth and writing for a juvenile audience, or stick to writing novels for adults.
Notes:
From the Bestselling author John Grisham, known for his legal thrillers.
This is the first of the Theodore Boone Series. The second, Theodore Boone: The Abduction, was released June 2011, and a third is suspected to arrive on the scene summer 2012.
Reviews: School Library Journal, Kirkus Review, Publisher's Weekly, Horn Book, Wilson’s
Sammy Keyes is a feisty 13-year old girl whose mom (“Lady Lana”) left her with her Gram who lives in a seniors-only apartment complex while Lady Lana pursues a career in Hollywood. Because she isn’t supposed to live there, Sammy spends a decent amount of time sneaking in and out or just plain hiding out. Curiosity and boredom lead her to peering at her neighborhood through binoculars from her grandmother’s bedroom window and while doing this she spots what appears to be a robber in the seedy hotel across the way. She later finds that money has been stolen from that very room.
From here on out we are led on an adventure involving psychics, pork bellies, and lots of twists and turns while Sammy tries to solve the mystery of the hotel thief. Sammy has a lot of spunk and a knack for finding mischief. She’s a believable and likable character and her ability to solve the crime when the police and other adults are not make her a great heroine. Readers will be clamoring for the next installment in this mystery series.
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The Westing Game
By Ellen Raskin, 1978
182 p.
RL: 5+
IL: 10-13 years old
Awards: Newbery Award, ALA Notable Children’s Book, Banta Literary Award, Horn Book Award, Library of Congress Children’s Book.
Reviews: Booklist Starred, School Library Journal, Wilson’s. On California’s Recommended Reading List grades 6-8
The Westing Game begins with 16 people from different walks of life who move into the new Sunset Towers high rise apartments. They don’t realize it, but they have all been hand selected to move in. Sunset Towers is next door to the Westing Mansion which is owned by Sam Westing, a rich industrialist. He is also the owner of the Sunset Towers.
On Halloween one tenant, Turtle, is dared to go into the Westing Mansion, where she sees a dead body. The next day she reads an obituary for Sam Westing and she- along with 15 other people, many who are residents of Sunset Towers- find out that they are heirs to the Westing Estate. At the reading of the Will they find out that Sam Westing believed he was murdered and that one of the heirs is the murderer. At the instructions of the will, the heirs are paired up, given $10,000 and 4 clues and asked to play a game to solve they mystery of Sam’s murder. Whichever figures out who the murderer is will inherit Sam’s estate of 200 million dollars.
From here the reader is taken on adventure where things are not always what they seem. Each team speeds along, interpreting their clues while trying to find out what clues the others have received. This is a great book for readers who like puzzles and well developed characters. It works particularly well in literature circles or as a classroom novel.
Byars, B. (1993). Wanted… Mud Blossom. New York: Yearling.
Genre: Mystery, Comedy
Summary: This is the fifth and final book relating the antics of one hilarious and irresponsible family, the Blossoms. Junior has the honor of pet-sitting the class hamster Scooty for the weekend. When Scooty goes missing, Junior suspects that Mud, the family dog has eaten him, so poor Mud goes on trial for murder.
Meanwhile, Mad Mary, “The Vulture Lady,” who sleeps in a cave, has disappeared; Vern and Michael have a case of uncontrollable giggles; and Ralphie has a crush on his friend Maggie, but can’t do anything right when he tries to be more than friends. Can the Blossoms sort things out? Not without some comical chaos and entertaining twists.
Notes:
The fifth and final book in the Blossom Family Series.
Winner of the Edgar Allen Poe Award in 1992.