Author:  John Grisham
Title:  Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer
Publisher:  Dutton

Theodore Boone has a thriving law practice, a budding romance, and some serious Spanish homework. What makes this unusual is that Theodore (Teddy to his mom) is just thirteen years old.

Theo isn't really a lawyer—his parents won't let him take law classes, even online, until he gets out of eighth grade. His mom (a lawyer) and dad (also a lawyer) think he should worry about law school later, like after he graduates from high school. Theo thinks that is totally unfair.

After all, he's familiar with all the lawyers, judges, bailiffs, and everyone else at the courthouse. He's hacked into the court records system so he can follow all the trials. He gives legal advice to his classmates and occasionally his teachers. But Theo's parents won't even let him skip school to watch the biggest murder trial to hit their county courthouse since forever. They went so far as to tell the judge to have Theo arrested if he turned up in the courtroom audience. Parents.

But then something unexpected happens: Theo learns more about that murder case than he ever expected. More than anyone else knows ... and while the truth may set you free, it may also send you to jail. What's a budding lawyer to do when attorney/client privilege comes up against the urgent need to confide in mom and dad?

Oh, I'm so not telling—you'll have to read the book to find out.

I'm clearly not as bright as young Theo, because it wasn't until I was maybe a quarter of the way through this book that I realized it was supposedly written for "young readers." That explains the lack of "adult situations" and descriptions of courtroom procedure, but regardless of the intended audience I'd happily recommend Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer to readers of any age. John Grisham is still, well, John Grisham, even when writing for a younger crowd, so the dialogue is snappy, the action moves right along, and the characters are well-drawn and believable.

Most of the characters, anyway.

My only quibble with the story is a dark, mysterious character who appears near the end and is obviously there to threaten our young hero. Um, not so much. Other than looming in a menacing fashion, he doesn't seem to have much purpose. While I wouldn't accuse the "undisputed master of the legal thriller" (per the book jacket) of padding his story, I will surmise that Mr. Grisham wrote in this character to provide suspense and then couldn't figure out what to do with him. Unless he's going to turn up again in a sequel ... harboring a grudge … taking on that pesky kid … resulting in another case for Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer.

We can only hope.


**This review first published on June 17, 2010.