On My Bookshelf (39)

This meme for originally inspired by 'In My Mailbox' created by The Story Siren
Other versions are:
Letterbox Love created by Narratively Speaking
Stacking the Shelves created by Tynga's reviews
Showcase Sunday created by Books, Biscuits and Tea

I haven't done one of these since March! I thought I would ease myself back into blogging with a meme because I love showing off the books I've acquired, seeing what others have got, sharing our recommendations - I really missed it actually in my break.
Essentially, these books were brought this week. The day after my last exam, which was a total disaster (tears happened is all I shall say on the matter), I decided that my first day of freedom would be spent doing some retail shopping most importantly in Waterstones with my staff card. So that is what I did, running around the shop looking for the books I have been waiting for read for a long time and shoving them into my basket before a second thought.

- Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - First off, THAT name has got to be the best name ever to have. It's so pretty and original! I bought this book because of SO many of the glowing reviews I've seen for it topped with the short review I read by Iffath from painting with words on Goodreads summed up the need to buy this book. 

- Theodore Boone: The Activist by John Grisham - Right, okay, this is one of those books I need to justify sometimes. Basically, this series are discovered by my best friend, Georgia. She was like 'Ah they're so great and Theo is such a good protagonist' and considering this is about Theo wanting to be a lawyer and she herself is aspiring to be a lawyer, I didn't think I would like this. Until, I looked at my blog archive and I realised I'D READ THE BOOK AND LOVED IT. And ever since then, I think we have become the only two fans of this series. I don't know anyone else that likes them...

So this is the new book in the series. And my excitement to read it is indescribable. 

- The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen - Sarah Dessen is one of those authors where whatever she writes, however bad the reviews may be for it, I WILL buy it and KNOW I will enjoy it. This is her new book and I had to stop myself from both squealing and rushing up to grab a copy, mostly because there was a guy nearby who I vaguely knew. I did the whole 'Look at phone, look at book, oh yeah this is for my...sister?' - then runs away in happiness

- Dusk by Eve Edwards - I've read her series set in Tudor times which I can thoroughly recommend! It wasn't until a few weeks ago when I found out that she was releasing another book through Clover at Fluttering Butterflies and then Lucy at Queen of Contemporary reminded me the other day. So when I saw this, the book entered my growing basket without thinking - I know I will enjoy this new series.

AND THOSE ARE MY NEW SHINY BOOKS. 

Have any of you read them and if so what did you think? Leave your links to your own memes for me to check out this week! 

Reviews by these authors:

What Happened to Goodbye - Sarah Dessen

The Other Countess - Eve Edwards

Theodore Boone - John Grisham

Theodore Boone: The Accused - John Grisham (#3)

**This is the third book in the Theodore Boone series. I would seriously recommend them so perhaps have a look at the first book, Theodore Boone, or the sequel, The Abduction as there may be a few SPOILERS**

For old followers of the blog, you will know I am quite a big fan in the children's series, Theodore Boone by adult crime writer, John Grisham. I love the mystery, the drama and most of all, the main man, Theodore. He is just so cute and lovely - a topic of many of a friend of mine and I's conversations. Especially with her wanting to be a lawyer too.
So, it's unsurprising as I hovered by this book continuously at work, seeing who would buy it and then after, said friend read it in a couple of days and talked how brilliant it was, I felt it was time for me to get it. And I needed to know what happened next...

Synopsis: Theodore Boone is a thirteen year-old kid lawyer whose already helped provide a major suspect in Strattenburg's biggest murder trial and find his missing best friend. This time, it's Theo's turn to be the victim. After Theo is framed and his bike vandalised, he is accused of a burglary at an expensive computer equipment store with him being the only suspect. It looks like Theo's status and future as a lawyer is at threat so he must find the framer before it's too late.

Review: For any big fans of Theodore Boone out there (if not, you should read it immediately), don't expect the Duffy case from Book 1 to be resolved in this book. I did and entered thinking this was it, done and dusted, end of Theodore.
Well, it isn't. The book opens with the trial starting again and Theo proudly being the only one at his middle school to go to the trial. Grisham gives the impression that this is it and after something happens at the trial, you may think you know exactly what the book is going to be about.
Well it's not. I have a feeling that Grisham is purposefully keeping us waiting to hear the result as the book could be read as a stand alone novel, with few references to Book 1 and practically zero to Book 2. This seems like a sidetrack, a mini adventure for Theo while we all wait to the main story to finalise. In short, I thought this was a trilogy - but it doesn't look like it.

I like this series partly because it's such a light-hearted yet entertaining read. There are points where Grisham makes it clear that that part is memorable, even if it seems that it isn't important for the storyline. This is for a much younger audience that a typical Grisham crime novel but through the young Theo, he gives lessons on  life and raises issues that are largely absent from books normally aimed at this audience. The world of the internet for teenagers is explored as well as the internet's use in rumours and bullying - more accurately than other teenage fiction books I have read. There is also the issue of privacy and what is hacking. On the surface, this is merely a mystery novel based around a young teenager with a bicycle, however, looking deeper, it does look at all the problems faced today by teenagers.

There are a few things that I felt seemed a little pointless to include but I may be proved wrong in the next book as I have done before. I was also a tad disappointed compared to the previous books but I think this is because it took me a while to get into it due to lots of things happening. The mystery is still there and the anticipation to find out what will happen but I was still not as excited as I thought I would be to start off with.
This is a must for fans of Theodore Boone and should not be missed. I really love Theo, with his mixture of being a proper teenager, his lawyer antics and his innocence - he is a lovely character to read about. I enjoyed this and am incredibly looking forward to the next book, lets see what John Grisham will throw at Theo next.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.theodoreboone.com/
Pages: 271
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Challenges: None

Book 1: Theodore Boone
Book 2: Theodore Boon: The Abduction

Theodore Boone: The Abduction - John Grisham (#2)

*SPOILERS IF NOT READ THE FIRST BOOK*


After reading the first book in this interesting series, when I found out there was a second by my also-addicted-friend, I jumped for joy. I was sad that the ending of the first book just ended without a reason, but now I know why! 
My copy of this book is not as nice as the picture (left), it has some nice bright neon orange that would have put me off otherwise. DO NOT FEAR THIS BOOK. Read it, but read Theodore Boone, the first book beforehand to enjoy the true pleasure these books provide.


Synopsis: Theodore Boone is back with another adventurous case to solve! His best friend, April, goes missing mysteriously in the middle of the night from her bedroom without a trace - no-one knows where she could be. As the police hit dead-ends and a body is discovered in Strattenburg's river, it is up to Theo to use his extensive legal knowledge to find out the truth and find his best friend before it is too late. Will he find her? Is the body hers though?


Review: I really love Theodore Boone. He is a cracking character with a lot of charisma and intelligence and he is just so cool. Okay, so not hip cool maybe but I would want to be his friend - he seems like my kind of person. 
It is not entirely clear how long has passed between the first book and this one. However, there is the mention at the end of the Duffy trial starting again in six weeks time, so I would say about two or three weeks has gone. There are references to the previous book but this could also be read as a stand-alone novel, which is nice if you aren't into reading sequels which I know some people aren't. 


This book isn't so much a legal drama as Theodore Boone was. It is more about the life of Theo and his relationships with everyone around him, as well as the implications of something that happens rarely: abduction. I know there have been some pretty big stories in the past but soon I think abductions will become a thing of the past, thankfully. As well as showing how the police department would work and their procedures in a situation like this, this book outlines what you should and should not do if it was your friend/family member. I guess it would be the same procedures in England but without knowing much about this area, I cannot say if John Grisham has explained the confusing details of it like he did with the legal system in the first book.


The writing was still amazing and flowed really well which made me not realise how fast I read the book (four days) which is a record probably for me especially for this size of book. I felt like I was going back to these old friends when I read about the good old characters, it was like returning to another world really, a friendly one. Theo is as always my favourite and will be always. His parents and Ike (his uncle who helps him a lot) were just the way they were in the last book which was good. The only problem with that was in the last book, after being separated and not seeing each other much, Theo's parents and Ike seemed to get along and work together and even said (or it seemed obvious to me from reading) that they would get closer as they are family. In this book, that didn't happen. There was still the awkwardness when Ike's name was mentioned and the mood that they didn't want to be associated with him but felt Theo should know him. It just felt a little strange to me. At the end of this one, it felt the same as it did at the ending of the previous one so it will be interesting to see that relationship continue.


April was mentioned and introduced in the first book but like I said, hardly worth an introduction in the previous as she was only in it briefly as she was in the middle of a divorce for her parents. That 'divorce' was hardly mentioned in this book so I presume that it never happened or in middle of happening. I'm serious - in The Abduction, nothing was said about it! April is, although not in this one much either, complicated and we learn more about her and her weird relationship with Theo in this book, as well as her family. 
Last time, I thought Theo seemed younger than his thirteen years but this time, he felt much older. He never seems to me, to be a true thirteen year-old.


At the end of this book, I didn't feel deflated, I felt EXCITED. Why can the next book be out now? There is going to be a third book (Source) but will be released the middle of next year, so we have at least 6 months to wait. BOO! The end links to the first with a reference to the last one, and is left on a slight cliffhanger, but not one where you will ponder on and on and get on John Grisham's nerves with amount of emails you sent demanding to know what happened. 
  Overall, this book was far better for me and more well rounded and readable than the first book, it really has showed that John Grisham can be successful at writing YA and Adult books well and I think the next one will be one of the most anticipated of 2012. What will happen next for the great Theodore Boone?
Verdict: Ignore the funky cover, read it. But I would recommend to read the first book, Theodore Boone, first - there's an extract from it at the end of this book. 


I give it a 5 out of 5


My Review for the first book of this series, Theodore Boone 


Author's Website: http://www.theodoreboone.com/
Pages: 217
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Challenges: None

Theodore Boone - John Grisham (#1)

This is a very different type of book from most YA fiction. John Grisham is known for writing gritty legal dramas for adults in crime, but this one is completely different, where it's aimed at young people or teenagers instead. I think this is what attracted me as it's so far away from his normal literature. And I wanted to know about Theo.

Synopsis: In the small city of Strattenburg, there are many lawyers, and though he's only thirteen years old, Theo Boone thinks he's one of them. Theo knows every judge, policeman, court clerk—and a lot about the law. He dreams of being a great trial lawyer, of a life in the courtroom. But Theo finds himself in court much sooner than expected. Because he knows so much—maybe too much—he is suddenly dragged into the middle of a sensational murder trial. A cold-blooded killer is about to go free, and only Theo knows the truth.

The stakes are high, but Theo won't stop until justice is served.

Review: This is such an original storyline and crime and murder trials are something I love to read about, mostly because you don't see many around that are really recommended or aimed at younger people. The legalities and the trial details are so complicated and confusing, many authors may be afraid to touch the topic for YA, especially if the reader is clueless to the legal system. 

Now, I know some bits and pieces that I have picked up from History and TV shows on law, the basics. But I know nothing about American courts, which is where the book is set and I've heard it very different from England (although, I have no idea if that is true). This is one thing John Grisham did extremely well. The details of how it works is fed throughout the first half of the book, normally when Theodore is explaining it to another character. He says it simply and clearly without a bunch of smart sounding words that have no meaning to the likes of a teenager. I, now, know a lot more about the US judgement system, which makes me feel quite clever.

I liked the writing as well, as it flowed so well and wasn't packed full of fancy words, but not too simply either. I never found it boring or tedious and I understood what was happening all the time.

Mostly, I didn't find it boring but there were times during the description of the trial when things kept being repeated over and over again (which was a tad annoying) that I had to stop reading for a couple of minutes and then continue again. I know in a real trial, details of the crime are repeated hundreds of times, but in a book where you can change reality, it's tedious. It really shows that you have to be dedicated to be a lawyer, to be interesting in it - something I shall NOT do. 

My only other critism is the unknown witness. Yeah, I know why you didn't come forward but I'm sorry, one minute he's revealing how he can't come forward yet he wants to, then a couple of chapters later, he's saying he doesn't care if the KILLER GOES FREE when he knows he did it. Just a bit weird for me.

I liked the Boone family in general, especially Theo and this dog, Judge (who is like a boy trapped in a dog's body). Theo seems so innocent as a 13 year-old boy yet he knows so much about law and how is works - more than a boy of that age should be allowed to know really. He is funny, charming and entertaining for the reader. His friends and family are equally although I found 'Mr Boone' a bit...well he doesn't say much really. 

Theo seems in much ways younger than 13 with how innocent and naive he is portrayed but then, older in others - because of his knowledge. 

With the characters, I didn't really see the point of April, his supposedly best friend, as she's only in a handful of pages, while in the middle of her parents divorce, which I thought Theo would be involved in really. It just seemed strange she wasn't in it that much.

I ended the book feeling deflated. I enjoyed the book so much and engaged with it so much that I needed to know what happened. What would happen? Would the witness stand? Would the murderer be guilty or not? 

Oh. It stops with Theo coming back to school after a view of the trial and being asked to help with legal affairs for a teacher. It's like someone cut the end off with a knife. So I was disappointed with it, a bit bewildered with an end where the loose ends were not sewn together. 

Until Monday when I went to the library. And found the sequel to this book and realised why I the loose ends were not sewn neatly. They were awaiting a sequel all about April. Brilliant.

Overall, the book is great, so unique and engaging and really makes you feel an expert in the world of law yourself. You join with Theo and are made to think the opposite to the truth before thrown back into a different judgement all together. This is an amazing first YA novel for John Grisham and I look forward to more to come.

Verdict: Give it a read if you already know some bits of law, and don't get put off by the end!

I give it a 4.5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.theodoreboone.com/

Pages: 263

Publisher: Hodder

Challenges: None