"Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer"

John Grisham is one of my favorite writers. He is Southern by default, which is always a plus, and he knows how to spin a good yarn. Few do it as well as he. This past week, Grisham released his first children's novel entitled Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. Per his reputation as a king of the light read, Grisham delivers a standard courtroom drama that is easy to digest.

Grisham's new protagonist, Theodore Boone, is a 13-year-old aspiring lawyer. Theo's parents are lawyers, and he expects to be one, too. Grisham portrays Theo as bright, grounded and interested in the kind of courtroom law that makes for great legal dramas. Since Grisham intends to make a book series out of Theo, it wouldn't make sense to portray the boy as one with a passion for tax law. Tax lawyers don't see a lot conflict. Naturally, Theo wants to be a warrior of the courtroom, a litigator. Of course, he gravitates to a sensational murder trial under way in his home town.

As of this writing, I'm about a third of the way through Theodore Boone's first adventure. If I weren't so busy with other things, I'd have had it finished by now. With easy language appropriate for an eight-year-old demographic, Grisham weaves an efficient yet detailed account of Theodore's involvement in a murder case involving a married couple. Even though the story was written for children, I have enjoyed reading it, and I recommend it to anyone wanting quick, accessible literary entertainment.