Tween Tuesday: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

3 peanut butter cookies.

Cover Love:  I like the composition and the colors, but I don't like the illustration of Theodore.

Why I Wanted to Read This:

I am always on the lookout for middle grade mysteries for my library, plus it's John Grisham.  Here's the synopsis from GoodReads:

A perfect murder
A faceless witness
A lone courtroom champion knows the whole truth . . . and he's only thirteen years old
Meet Theodore Boone
In the small city of Strattenburg, there are many lawyers, and though he's only thirteen years old, Theo Boone thinks he's one of them. Theo knows every judge, policeman, court clerk—and a lot about the law. He dreams of being a great trial lawyer, of a life in the courtroom.
But Theo finds himself in court much sooner than expected. Because he knows so much—maybe too much—he is suddenly dragged into the middle of a sensational murder trial. A cold-blooded killer is about to go free, and only Theo knows the truth.
The stakes are high, but Theo won't stop until justice is served.
Brimming with the intrigue and suspense that made John Grisham a #1 international bestseller and the undisputed master of the legal thriller, Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer will keep readers guessing and pages turning.

I Kept Reading Because: I wanted to see how it all worked out.

Romance?: No

What I Liked (& Didn't): 
I liked Theodore. He wasn't a super popular kid but he was well liked and sought out by his classmates.  It was great to read about a middle grade boy who knows exactly what he wants to do and is taking active steps towards accomplishing that goal.  In this way, he is a good role model for young readers.

I liked how much law was talked about.  For a reader interested in mysteries and one who might watch some of the law shows on TV this book would be a great read.  It was not outlandish, all of the story took place within the law.

I wish there was more action like an adult John Grisham novel, but since this was really rooted in reality, that was probably a wise choice by the author.  However, maybe as the series ramps up that will come.  This did end with a few loose ends and things can come back to haunt Theodore later.

To Sum Up:  I already bought this for my library and have had several kids read it already.  This is a book I feel comfortable recommending to all ages.

Book bought for my personal library.