Legal drama leads pack of exciting books for young readers

A courtroom drama by a well-known author and a drama ripped from the headlines are among some of the many exciting books now available for middle and young adult readers.

"THEODORE BOONE: KID LAWYER," by John Grisham, Dutton Children's Books, $16.99 (ages 9-12)

John Grisham is known for high-drama legal thrillers "The Firm," "The Client" and "The Rainmaker." He's sold millions of copies. Films have been made from his books, and his name is known the world over.

Few would expect Grisham to experiment outside his successful genre, but the author has — sort of. In Grisham's newest novel, "Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer," all the legal drama is still there, only Grisham's audience is a bit younger — ages 9-12.

Theodore Boone loves the law. His parents are both busy lawyers, and he hopes to be one, too.

But until that happens, the 13-year-old is content being an amateur attorney. After all, kids are always coming to him for help anyway.

Theo knows every judge, policeman and court clerk in town, and they all love him.

But when Theo's passion lands him unwittingly in the middle of a high-profile murder trial, the teenager realizes he may just need some help after all.

A cold-blooded killer is about to go free, and only Theo knows the truth. But telling the truth could have far-reaching implications, and Theo must find a way to reconcile friendship with the legal system.

"Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer" is like a kids' primer on the American justice system. Grisham gives step-by-step explanations of how things work, and makes it accessible to even the most novice of readers.

The information is all well and good, but what makes Grisham's book a success is that all this new data are interspersed with an enjoyable story. Theo is a charming character, and his outgoing personality is sure to resonate with young readers.

From start to finish, "Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer" is an engrossing read that will be hard for young readers to put down. Grisham should gain a whole new set of fans with this book, and here's hoping a sequel is in the works.

"THE TENSION OF OPPOSITES," by Kristina McBride, Egmont, $16.99 (ages 14 and older)

The stories of Elizabeth Smart, Shawn Hornbeck and Jaycee Dugard captivated the world. They were children stolen from their families and then, years later, returned to them.