Story & Photo – Joseph Boyle
Most of you are probably familiar with author, John Grisham. He has written over 20 best selling novels, one work of non-fiction and a collection of stories. Historically, all of his novels were directed towards the adult audience. They have been block busters and listed as #1 Best Sellers by the New York Times.
A couple of years ago around 2011, Mr. Grisham took a different path by launching a new book series directed towards the kid audience. These books involve a the adventures of a young boy named Theodore Boone.
If everyone in your family, adults and kids read these books, you will have something in common to talk about which will create stronger bonds between kids and adults. We might call these books, “John Grisham Lite”. That is not to infer Grisham’s book is light in the entertainment department.
After I found and read the first Theodore Boone book, “Theodore Boone – Kid Lawyer”, (ISBN 978-0-14-241722-5), I left the book with my daughter on the east coast. I encouraged her to read the book and then went on to tell her that I wanted to leave the book in her house with the expectation that when my grandchildren were older they would possibly wish to dive into the book.
I wrote a book. Readers were quick to tell me that about half way through Chapter 1 they experienced an overpowering urge to put my book down. That was followed by no desire to pick my book back up again.
John Grisham’s books are just the opposite. When you start reading a Grisham book, you can not put the book down. Each chapter’s action pulls you along to the next chapter and the next and the next.
When I arrived at my daughter’s this year, she told me she had a nice reading treat for me; John Grisham’s “Theodore Boone – The Accused”. ISBN 978-0-525-42576-2. This is his third “Grisham Lite” work.
I do not want to give too much away, but I will tell you this. Theo, now 13, is an only child of two hard working attorneys. Theo knows his way around the courts, local sensational trials, the judges and is informally called upon when someone needs a kid attorney to solve a sticky problem. Theo is a hard working “A” student and is well thought of by almost everyone including his teachers.
Theo has never been in any kind of trouble, until now. On Monday, Theo’s life took a turn for the worse. Among his avalanche of problems, he is now the lead suspect in a commercial burglary. The victim and two police detectives are both closed minded, which causes them to conclude that Theo must be guilty. They will not let up, nor will an unknown subject(s) let up in an effort to cause Theo more and more problems, some of which could prove to be life crushing.
What is the real story? Who committed the burglary? Has this good kid gone bad or is he being framed for something he did not do? Who is harassing him and why?
The answers to these questions and more can be found inside the book. Grisham books are a great gift idea too.
Try Amazon Books at amazon.com or your favorite bookstore for one or all of these books.
Grisham’s other two kid books are “The Abduction” ISBN 9781444714555 and “The Activist” ISBN 978-0-525-425779.
If you like to read and make time to do so, your life will more likely than not be richer for it.
Ask yourself, “How much time do I expend watching TV? Take just a few of those TV hours back and turn them into reading time.
If you are not a good reader do not accept that as your fate in life. Make time to improve your reading skills. The investment will pay you back with a lifetime of dividends.
I have to go now. I am heading down to my local book store to pick up another Theodore Boone adventure book. While I am no longer a kid, reading these books will keep me young.