Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer

John Grisham is a well-known novelist made famous by his legal thrillers, and this element of Grisham’s work is useful for understanding Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. According to his website, Grisham said, “I seriously doubt I would ever have written the first story had I not been a lawyer. I never dreamed of being a writer. I wrote only after witnessing a trial” (Grisham, John. “About the Author. jgrishman.com). Much like Theodore Boone, a trial played a pivotal role in Grisham’s career, and Grisham explores his interest in the law and in writing about lawyers through the lens of a young adult who is witnessing the first murder trial in his town. As with many of his other works, Grisham brings his legal experience to bear on the novel while also drawing from his own personal excitement about the legal system—especially as it relates to storytelling.

In an interview with NPR, Grisham said that writing for a younger audience was a huge challenge because he had to actively think about the audience and their abilities as readers. This fact provides