Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

This is the first book in a new series, and I gave it a rating of three out of five. Theo Boone is the 8th grade son of two lawyers and gets himself involved in the biggest murder trial in the town's history. A husband has killed his wife, but it looks like the prosecutor won't be able to present enough evidence to convict him. Theo discovers a secret witness with evidence that could convict the husband, but the witness wants to remain anonymous.
It was an interesting plot, and the author shares a lot of information about the workings of trials. Theo is an interesting character, and the side stories with all of his classmates offer a variety of small cases. Theo has a strong interest and knowledge about lawyers and trials, so others come to him for free legal advice. He helps them with an impounded dog, a drug-dealing brother, and an adult arrested for drunk driving.

Although the murder case provided a conflict, the description didn't really grab me. The discussions about the trial and the way the legal system works were a distraction for me. Adolescent readers might find it helpful to understand what's going on. My biggest complaint is that there was no resolution to the conflict. We don't know the result of the trial, Theo's friend is going through a custody trial between her parents, and it's implied that a private detective is going to do something to Theo. It's a unique novel, but I like my stories finished.