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Theodore Boone #6
The Scandal
In this newest installment in the bestselling series, Theo Boone, the ever-clever lawyer-in-training is back, still dispensing legal advice to friends and strangers alike when an exciting, all-new case pops up.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
2035 people are currently reading
6919 people want to read
About the author
John Grisham
485 books89.5k followersJohn Grisham is the author of more than fifty consecutive #1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include Framed, Camino Ghosts and The Exchange: After the Firm.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 570 reviews
September 26, 2024
Catching up…
This is the last book in the Theodore Boone series. I had “co-read” the first one, “Kid Lawyer,” with my grandson. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
When this one was donated to my Little Free Library Shed, I decided to go ahead and read it.
In this story, we find Teddy ready to graduate 8th grade and in the midst of taking a series of standardized tests. When the results come back mixed for him and his friend April, she tells him it is because teachers had changed the scoring because of pressure from the district. Because this affected her, she decides to do something about it. This creates headlines, and now teachers are accused of cheating and await their punishment.
There is also a side story in which Teddy helps a classmate who is concerned about his father’s actions against his mother and himself.
Since Teddy is considered a “teen lawyer” there is an expectation for lawyering to occur, as much as can be expected of a 13-year-old who isn’t a lawyer, but his parents are. With a courthouse scene, young readers will get a sense of what does take place in addressing these key issues of what happens when there is wrongdoing. Could there have been more substance in the story? Yes. But it still was fun to visit the idea of a young boy motivated to help fellow classmates because of the positive influence from his parents.
This is the last book in the Theodore Boone series. I had “co-read” the first one, “Kid Lawyer,” with my grandson. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
When this one was donated to my Little Free Library Shed, I decided to go ahead and read it.
In this story, we find Teddy ready to graduate 8th grade and in the midst of taking a series of standardized tests. When the results come back mixed for him and his friend April, she tells him it is because teachers had changed the scoring because of pressure from the district. Because this affected her, she decides to do something about it. This creates headlines, and now teachers are accused of cheating and await their punishment.
There is also a side story in which Teddy helps a classmate who is concerned about his father’s actions against his mother and himself.
Since Teddy is considered a “teen lawyer” there is an expectation for lawyering to occur, as much as can be expected of a 13-year-old who isn’t a lawyer, but his parents are. With a courthouse scene, young readers will get a sense of what does take place in addressing these key issues of what happens when there is wrongdoing. Could there have been more substance in the story? Yes. But it still was fun to visit the idea of a young boy motivated to help fellow classmates because of the positive influence from his parents.
June 1, 2016
Grisham returns with another 'Theo Boone: Child Lawyer' stories, sure to entertain the young reader as well as those who are young at heart. As high school is on the horizon, so begins the onerous task of eighth grade standardised testing, something that Theo cannot stand. After a rigourous week of testing and waiting for the results, Theo fails to make the cut for high school honor classes by a single point. Devastated, he and his best friend, April Finnemore, wallow in their own self-pity. When April confides that she has learned about another of the middle schools fudging test answers in order to elevate their standing, Theo is outraged. April takes it upon herself to anonymously complain about the issue to the school board, sure that nothing will come of it. When fraud charges are levied against a number of teachers who changed test answers and their jobs are lost, Theo comes to realise that he cannot stand idly by, even if their actions are deplorable. Bringing his mother into the mix, Theo ensures the teachers receive legal counsel ahead of the trial. An interested party to the matter, namely because the revised results could change his academic standing in high school, Theo aptly watches the trial and has an epiphany of his own, rooted in his own dislike for the testing process. On the subject of trials, no Theo Boone novel would be the same without a trip to Animal Court, where Theo works his magic to save an otter from a potential capital sentence. A great story for the targeted audience that touches on a matter close to their hearts, Grisham dazzles yet again.
Grisham seeks not only to entertain, but also touches on issues of interest to youths and adults alike. Placing not only the testing process, but the actions taken based on results, Grisham forces the reader to think a little more about the subject at hand. Using a cast of characters familiar to series fans, Grisham offers the right dose of cheesy storylines that layer nicely with serious matters. He is able to touch on a new generation of readers, educating and enthralling them before they leap into the murky world of the law, where Grisham has been thriving with bestsellers for three decades. Even though the target is the young adult reader, any fan of Grisham's work can surely enjoy this piece.
Kudos, Mr. Grisham, for another wonderful piece of writing. No matter your audience, as long as the law is your theme, you seem to captivate and succeed.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Grisham seeks not only to entertain, but also touches on issues of interest to youths and adults alike. Placing not only the testing process, but the actions taken based on results, Grisham forces the reader to think a little more about the subject at hand. Using a cast of characters familiar to series fans, Grisham offers the right dose of cheesy storylines that layer nicely with serious matters. He is able to touch on a new generation of readers, educating and enthralling them before they leap into the murky world of the law, where Grisham has been thriving with bestsellers for three decades. Even though the target is the young adult reader, any fan of Grisham's work can surely enjoy this piece.
Kudos, Mr. Grisham, for another wonderful piece of writing. No matter your audience, as long as the law is your theme, you seem to captivate and succeed.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 8, 2016
My husband and I , both in our 60s, love the THEODORE BOONE series ! This one was as good as all the others - clever, amusing and heart-warming. The " kid lawyer" parts are hysterical- laugh-out-loud funny. This was a delightful,quick backporch read
May 27, 2016
Theodore Boone: The Scandal
This is the most enjoyable series, I look forward to every new book published. It was a cute and quick read. John Grisham is a wonderful adult fiction writer but an even better young adult writer. What a wonderful little series. Theodore Boone is an enjoyable character.
This is the most enjoyable series, I look forward to every new book published. It was a cute and quick read. John Grisham is a wonderful adult fiction writer but an even better young adult writer. What a wonderful little series. Theodore Boone is an enjoyable character.
April 27, 2023
Uninteresting.
This series started out strong. I gave the first two books 5 stars and the third one 4 stars… the fourth and fifth one 3 stars… and now the sixth one 2 stars. I’m not even going to bother with the seventh one. This book was dull and had no action or tension whatsoever. I almost DNF’d several times.
This series started out strong. I gave the first two books 5 stars and the third one 4 stars… the fourth and fifth one 3 stars… and now the sixth one 2 stars. I’m not even going to bother with the seventh one. This book was dull and had no action or tension whatsoever. I almost DNF’d several times.
October 10, 2017
“Theodore Boone The Scandal”
By, John Grisham
~Jude Pietrucha~
Right as I entered my School Media Center, I was scouting for the John Grisham book section, because I think his books were amazing. I managed to pick up, Theodore Boone The Scandal.
When I finished reading the book, I thought it was marvelous! The book is about a scandal in Strattenburg, at East Middle school which gets taken to court! With all the dialogue in the courtroom, it played an special role in the story. I feel like as a person who loves court and trials I thought John Grisham did a magnificent job. He has many other books like this that he has wrote, I have finished every other book and I was eager to read more from him. As I jumped in the book he already explained many, detail just about Theo waking up and doing his daily routine.
I would rate this book a 5 star for the detail of Theo’s friends, and life! I enjoyed the plot, the characters and the dialogue. I just thought it was definitely remarkable!
I would recommend this book to kids in middle school level grade reading, or anyone who likes Realistic-Fiction Law books……...Like me!
By, John Grisham
~Jude Pietrucha~
Right as I entered my School Media Center, I was scouting for the John Grisham book section, because I think his books were amazing. I managed to pick up, Theodore Boone The Scandal.
When I finished reading the book, I thought it was marvelous! The book is about a scandal in Strattenburg, at East Middle school which gets taken to court! With all the dialogue in the courtroom, it played an special role in the story. I feel like as a person who loves court and trials I thought John Grisham did a magnificent job. He has many other books like this that he has wrote, I have finished every other book and I was eager to read more from him. As I jumped in the book he already explained many, detail just about Theo waking up and doing his daily routine.
I would rate this book a 5 star for the detail of Theo’s friends, and life! I enjoyed the plot, the characters and the dialogue. I just thought it was definitely remarkable!
I would recommend this book to kids in middle school level grade reading, or anyone who likes Realistic-Fiction Law books……...Like me!
June 28, 2016
Absolutely awful. The writing is atrocious. The dialogue is wooden and the entire story is boring. There's no grit in the story, no reason to believe it. Teens will find it dull and far below their level of sophistication and vocabulary.
I could not like the main character because the story is so flawed. Glaring examples of the author's lack of knowledge about middle-schoolers included a pair public school boys shaking hands and going to class after a frank discussion about the dysfunctional family of one (its not 1940. guys are not shaking hands in the hall), everyone in town knows standardized testing is taking place (very few outside the school community would know, many parents don't know), and recess in a public middle school (recess is only in elementary school).
Encyclopedia Brown was much more original and entertaining. The Hardy Boys were edgier. Artemis Fowl is much cooler. Read them instead.
I could not like the main character because the story is so flawed. Glaring examples of the author's lack of knowledge about middle-schoolers included a pair public school boys shaking hands and going to class after a frank discussion about the dysfunctional family of one (its not 1940. guys are not shaking hands in the hall), everyone in town knows standardized testing is taking place (very few outside the school community would know, many parents don't know), and recess in a public middle school (recess is only in elementary school).
Encyclopedia Brown was much more original and entertaining. The Hardy Boys were edgier. Artemis Fowl is much cooler. Read them instead.
August 25, 2022
4,25⭐️, I really enjoyed reading this. It is a good quick read. However there are things that happened just way too quickly.
Also there were some things that were way too good. Like it doesn’t work like that. “I did something bad today (nothing serious just bad) and I realized something so tomorrow I am changing my whole life (as if I saw Jesus).”Doesn’t work like that. And okay I could understand if it happened once in the book, but it happened twice. Too people changing their lives from night to morning just like that because of 13-year pls child. I don’t think so.
I do however want to read the rest of these books. And yes it can be read as a stand-alone. It was really good except what I already said.
Also there were some things that were way too good. Like it doesn’t work like that. “I did something bad today (nothing serious just bad) and I realized something so tomorrow I am changing my whole life (as if I saw Jesus).”Doesn’t work like that. And okay I could understand if it happened once in the book, but it happened twice. Too people changing their lives from night to morning just like that because of 13-year pls child. I don’t think so.
I do however want to read the rest of these books. And yes it can be read as a stand-alone. It was really good except what I already said.
March 28, 2019
This series is 👌👌👌 would 10/10 recommend if you want something easy to read but rly gripping
June 8, 2021
Es macht wahnsinnigen Spaß zu erlesen wie Theo Boone in seiner kleinen Stadt groß wird und ein bisschen Spannung ist auch noch drin. Der nächste Teil ist meiner. 😉
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July 23, 2016"Скандалът" приключи.
Или аз приключих със "Скандалът" - може да се каже и по двата начина. И макар че като цяло ми хареса, май за пръв път ще изразя по-критично мнение от обикновено за книга на Гришам.
Нека започна с хубавото. От години Гришам е сред любимите ми автори, чета го с удоволствие и чакам с нетърпение книгите му. Когато започна поредицата за момчето адвокат, бях леко скептична - след "Клиентът" ми беше трудно да си представя друг роман на Гришам с главен герой дете или тийнейджър, а какво остава за цяла поредица. След първите две книги обаче мнението ми се промени и поредицата ми стана любима.
Обаче когато човек чет поредица от книги с един и същ главен герой, очаква този герой да се развие, да порасне, ако не на години - все пак събитията в шестте излезли досега книги обхващат период само от една година, - то поне умствено. Обаче...
Не, Тео Буун в никакъв случай не е глупав или "смотан", или "тъпчещ на едно място". Напротив - през цялата поредица той е представен като умен, отговорен, начетен не за възрастта си тийнейджър с интерес към правото и с ясни планове за това "какъв иска да стане, като порасне", който може да засрами мнозина истински адвокати. И точно затова "Скандалът" донякъде ме смути.
Историята пак е увлекателна, пак има неочаквани обрати, но тук Тео повече от всякога е представен като... дете. Самият той твърде много пъти на тези 190 страници описва себе си с тази дума, било като оправдание за постъпките си, било като обяснение за невъзможността да се справи сам с дадена заплетена ситуация. И тук много по-често, отколкото в предишните книги, той е представен в училище, а не в съдебната зала, където... където бях започнала да мисля, че му е мястото. И това ме завари донякъде неподготвена, но в същото време ми хареса. Не обичам ��рекомерно отговорни, "правилни" герои. В тази книга Тео като че ли беше най-истински - най-убедително беше съчетанието между образа на бъдещия адвокат и този на настоящия ученик.
Книгата ми хареса, може би само краят ми дойде малко насилено оптимистичен. Но я прочетох с удоволствие, и колкото и да обичам "другия" Гришам, все пак се надявам, че това няма да е последното приключение на момчето-адвокат.
Или аз приключих със "Скандалът" - може да се каже и по двата начина. И макар че като цяло ми хареса, май за пръв път ще изразя по-критично мнение от обикновено за книга на Гришам.
Нека започна с хубавото. От години Гришам е сред любимите ми автори, чета го с удоволствие и чакам с нетърпение книгите му. Когато започна поредицата за момчето адвокат, бях леко скептична - след "Клиентът" ми беше трудно да си представя друг роман на Гришам с главен герой дете или тийнейджър, а какво остава за цяла поредица. След първите две книги обаче мнението ми се промени и поредицата ми стана любима.
Обаче когато човек чет поредица от книги с един и същ главен герой, очаква този герой да се развие, да порасне, ако не на години - все пак събитията в шестте излезли досега книги обхващат период само от една година, - то поне умствено. Обаче...
Не, Тео Буун в никакъв случай не е глупав или "смотан", или "тъпчещ на едно място". Напротив - през цялата поредица той е представен като умен, отговорен, начетен не за възрастта си тийнейджър с интерес към правото и с ясни планове за това "какъв иска да стане, като порасне", който може да засрами мнозина истински адвокати. И точно затова "Скандалът" донякъде ме смути.
Историята пак е увлекателна, пак има неочаквани обрати, но тук Тео повече от всякога е представен като... дете. Самият той твърде много пъти на тези 190 страници описва себе си с тази дума, било като оправдание за постъпките си, било като обяснение за невъзможността да се справи сам с дадена заплетена ситуация. И тук много по-често, отколкото в предишните книги, той е представен в училище, а не в съдебната зала, където... където бях започнала да мисля, че му е мястото. И това ме завари донякъде неподготвена, но в същото време ми хареса. Не обичам ��рекомерно отговорни, "правилни" герои. В тази книга Тео като че ли беше най-истински - най-убедително беше съчетанието между образа на бъдещия адвокат и този на настоящия ученик.
Книгата ми хареса, може би само краят ми дойде малко насилено оптимистичен. Но я прочетох с удоволствие, и колкото и да обичам "другия" Гришам, все пак се надявам, че това няма да е последното приключение на момчето-адвокат.
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April 25, 2017If you haven't read this, my review will make no sense. If you want a summary, read someone else's.
Um.... WHAT HAPPENED TO THEO!!???? Since when does he refuse to do something if something wrong happened? Theo, you just can't help getting into the middle of everything, ok? It. Is. Your. Job. As a kid lawyer. You're supposed to make sure rules are followed. Not stand by, do nothing, and try to make your best friend do nothing, too! Speaking of that, what happened to April? She didn't have anything to feel that guilty about. Theo was right, if she'd sent that letter she would just be all caught up in the whole mess. Also, about April, all she's supposed to care about is art. She's not the type of person who'd care if a high school girl wanted to hang out with her, but in the book (somewhere) it says something like that's it was the best thing they ever happened to her! And why did they give the teachers criminal charges in the first place? You could've had this book a lot shorter without that pretty unrealistic obstacle. And what's with the whole side story with Pete? Actually, that part was a good story. And, the whole sorting kids into different classes doesn't make sense either. Some random test shouldn't have to decide your high school classes! Oh yeah, and Ike. Like, since when does he even care about what people think of him? In one of the other books, it said he wears socks and sandals all the time. He is not supposed to care about people's opinions. Except for Theo, but he's the one he calls to get him out of jail! Like, really? Why is everyone so different??????
Really, when are we gonna find out what Ike did?????? Even if I didn't like this book as much, I want the series to keep going just to find out. Also, it'd be pretty cool if it went on until Theo became a lawyer or a judge, or at least until he finally made up his mind about being a lawyer or a judge.
On the other hand, if you're not comparing it to other Theo Boone books, it's a perfectly good book.
P.S. No offense to anyone who may be offended by this review.
Um.... WHAT HAPPENED TO THEO!!???? Since when does he refuse to do something if something wrong happened? Theo, you just can't help getting into the middle of everything, ok? It. Is. Your. Job. As a kid lawyer. You're supposed to make sure rules are followed. Not stand by, do nothing, and try to make your best friend do nothing, too! Speaking of that, what happened to April? She didn't have anything to feel that guilty about. Theo was right, if she'd sent that letter she would just be all caught up in the whole mess. Also, about April, all she's supposed to care about is art. She's not the type of person who'd care if a high school girl wanted to hang out with her, but in the book (somewhere) it says something like that's it was the best thing they ever happened to her! And why did they give the teachers criminal charges in the first place? You could've had this book a lot shorter without that pretty unrealistic obstacle. And what's with the whole side story with Pete? Actually, that part was a good story. And, the whole sorting kids into different classes doesn't make sense either. Some random test shouldn't have to decide your high school classes! Oh yeah, and Ike. Like, since when does he even care about what people think of him? In one of the other books, it said he wears socks and sandals all the time. He is not supposed to care about people's opinions. Except for Theo, but he's the one he calls to get him out of jail! Like, really? Why is everyone so different??????
Really, when are we gonna find out what Ike did?????? Even if I didn't like this book as much, I want the series to keep going just to find out. Also, it'd be pretty cool if it went on until Theo became a lawyer or a judge, or at least until he finally made up his mind about being a lawyer or a judge.
On the other hand, if you're not comparing it to other Theo Boone books, it's a perfectly good book.
P.S. No offense to anyone who may be offended by this review.
February 17, 2017
Theodore Boone hasn’t ever been my favourite character nor have I ever felt that this was the best John Grisham can do. However, I have to admit that this is the first book in this series that I actually enjoyed reading thoroughly.
Theodore Boone may be a whiz kid and have a number of connections in the judicial world, but even he cannot escape the standardized tests no matter how much he dislikes them. Not only does he have to take the tests, but these tests also determine if he can take honor classes in High school. After all the preparations and grueling testing sessions, when the results are out, Theo is surprised and heartbroken to find out that he hasn’t made the cut for honor classes. That is when he hears about the scandal involving cheating the standardized tests. Theo brings in his mother to help when fraud charges are made against those who were involved when he realizes that he cannot be just a bystander in this case.
Like all John Grisham novels, this too is a fast paced and engaging book. I finished reading this book in one sitting. What I liked about this book was the questions and issues raised and discussed in this book, particularly about the standardized testing system that rules the lives of the students. The storyline is narrated in such a manner that those who have never spared a moment to think about it will be forced to stop and take notice. I never knew about how the standardized test results affect the teachers in turn as well. As such I found this book educative in other ways rather than just the courtroom procedures. I found Theo to be a bit more likeable in this book and April plays a big part in it all.
This was, I feel, the best Theodore Boone book so far and could interest not only young adults but also adults as well.
Theodore Boone may be a whiz kid and have a number of connections in the judicial world, but even he cannot escape the standardized tests no matter how much he dislikes them. Not only does he have to take the tests, but these tests also determine if he can take honor classes in High school. After all the preparations and grueling testing sessions, when the results are out, Theo is surprised and heartbroken to find out that he hasn’t made the cut for honor classes. That is when he hears about the scandal involving cheating the standardized tests. Theo brings in his mother to help when fraud charges are made against those who were involved when he realizes that he cannot be just a bystander in this case.
Like all John Grisham novels, this too is a fast paced and engaging book. I finished reading this book in one sitting. What I liked about this book was the questions and issues raised and discussed in this book, particularly about the standardized testing system that rules the lives of the students. The storyline is narrated in such a manner that those who have never spared a moment to think about it will be forced to stop and take notice. I never knew about how the standardized test results affect the teachers in turn as well. As such I found this book educative in other ways rather than just the courtroom procedures. I found Theo to be a bit more likeable in this book and April plays a big part in it all.
This was, I feel, the best Theodore Boone book so far and could interest not only young adults but also adults as well.
October 2, 2025
The Story hinges on Standardized testing in middle grade schools, a matter of contemporary controversy. Teachers in a local middle school have been accused of cheating. Thirteen year old Theodore knows every judge, police officer, and court clerk in Strattenburg. He has even helped bring a fugitive to justice. But even a future star lawyer like Theo has to deal with statewide standardized testing.
When an anonymous tip leads the school board to investigate a suspicious increase in scores, another local middle school, Theo finds himself thrust in the middle of a cheating scandal. With insider knowledge in scores, Theo must follow his keen instincts to do what's right in the newest case for clever kid lawyer Theo Boone.
"Not since Nancy Drew has a nosy crime obsessed kid been so hard to resist." The New York times "Smartly written."--USA Today "Edge of your seat Drama, sophisticated plotting, and plently of spunk."
I'm hooked to this series. Even though Theo is just 13 years old, doesn't mean I can't like him too. Recommend. Rate 4 stars ⭐️
When an anonymous tip leads the school board to investigate a suspicious increase in scores, another local middle school, Theo finds himself thrust in the middle of a cheating scandal. With insider knowledge in scores, Theo must follow his keen instincts to do what's right in the newest case for clever kid lawyer Theo Boone.
"Not since Nancy Drew has a nosy crime obsessed kid been so hard to resist." The New York times "Smartly written."--USA Today "Edge of your seat Drama, sophisticated plotting, and plently of spunk."
I'm hooked to this series. Even though Theo is just 13 years old, doesn't mean I can't like him too. Recommend. Rate 4 stars ⭐️
January 3, 2024
Theodore Boone: The Scandal is a book written by John Grisham. It is in the Theodore Boone series, and is about a boy named Theo. He has two lawyer parents, so he knows a lot about the law. In this book, the police investigate a case about how a school's state test scores went up drastically. The book is jam-packed with drama, and is an emotional roller coaster. John Grisham came with another amazing book, and personally, I think that this book was written in a way such that all the emotions were almost tangible, it was amazing. Personally, you shouldn't read this book unless you know about law and enjoy slight repetition. The book could be much better if the plot wasn't the only event in the book. For example, the other Theodore Boone books had an exciting subplot, and would keep you entertained while the main plot was happening. This book just follows Theo and his friends busting a scandal for 250 pages. However, I still enjoy the book and the series and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a book. Unfortunately, it is kind of short, so just have another book ready to read when you finish it. Overall, this book and the series is highly underrated, so I would ask you to read it, I really think its awesome.
August 24, 2020
Another good addition to the series. Theodore & his friends deal with being taught to the test & a scandal involving teachers changing the test grades due to pressure. Well done both in form & ideas. As usual, John Boy Walton did a great job of narrating it.
January 14, 2019
This final book in the Theo Boone series experiments with something a bit different than what we are used to from Theo: Standardized testing. I loved how in this book, we see Theo away from the courthouse, dealing with the turmoils of middle school.
January 11, 2021
Szybka i przyjemna lektura. Fabuła dość prosta, bez zwrotów akcji, odpowiednia dla ucznia szkoły podstawowej.
May 24, 2023
A dive in my childhood :)
Theodore Boone never disappoints
Theodore Boone never disappoints
October 4, 2020
This time around Theo gets caught up in a scandal involving teachers at his junior high school altering S.A.T. scores to help underprivileged kids get a leg up. In each of the Theo Boone stories, Grisham provides the reader an opportunity to assess where he/she stands on an issue where a wrong has been committed. All in all he does a fairly good job of not pushing his own viewpoint, although you can always recognize it.
In The Scandal you can sympathize with the reasoning behind the teachers' actions, yet altering scores which can negatively impact other students is not the way to right a wrong.
In The Scandal you can sympathize with the reasoning behind the teachers' actions, yet altering scores which can negatively impact other students is not the way to right a wrong.
January 4, 2019
Wow! This book was great, just as all of John Grisham's other books are.
This mystery book is about a boy who plans on becoming a lawyer when he grows up. He experiences some unjust actions. This book will keep you on your toes.
This book was one of my personal favorites. It had a conflict within the main character and even his best friend. It shows that you should always trust your close friends when time are tough.
This mystery book is about a boy who plans on becoming a lawyer when he grows up. He experiences some unjust actions. This book will keep you on your toes.
This book was one of my personal favorites. It had a conflict within the main character and even his best friend. It shows that you should always trust your close friends when time are tough.
April 18, 2020
Grisham makes a seemingly serious, promising beginning, about the question of domestic violence, strapping burly males who endanger lives of their own families.
"An hour later, Theo was suffering through a review of basic biology when his mind drifted back to his conversation with Pete. The poor kid was living a nightmare, afraid of getting punched by his brute of a father and afraid for his mother’s life. How was a kid like Pete supposed to sit through four days of testing, concentrate on the exams, and score well enough to get properly placed on the right track for high school? And that placement could well determine his future. It made little sense, at least to Theo."
Theo has his parents help the family, and Pete's father arrives at night creating a ruckus, demanding to see his family, and even throwing rocks at the house, shattering the glass screen, before being taken away by police. Grisham doesn't carry through with the serious issue, however, at least not immediately, but shies away instead from the really serious phenomenon, and instead compromises with a man who went astray due to his drinking and repeats after a few nights in prison. It's perhaps too demanding on courage to deal with this universal issue that plagues across time and around the globe.
He plunges instead into another serious issue, that of tests, grading, and cheating. But again, as with the domestic violence issue, he ducks in the typical style of - incorrectly labeled - "liberal" attitude and stance, to excuse it with a short paragraph about kids who are bright but lack support from parents due to their being low income group.
............
Seriously, are higher income society kids doing well in U.S.? Who's kidding who?!!!!
Fact is, kids from higher income groups do well only when their parents expect them to do so and to earn their way in life to match, or do better than, the life they were given as children. But if their level is higher economically, for any reason, such as being amonst the rich or otherwise high social strata such as royals, or titles landed gentry, then the usual attitude is of entitlement rather than otherwise, and teachers are treated like servants rather than givers of knowledge, with expectations of automatic good grades, with a whip of careers of those teachers who might be honest enough to not cheat, being completely destroyed, the very first time they do so.
It's only that when teachers at a low income group school cheat, they are punished when caught. At the other end, the punishment is the same but for reverse crime, that of honest grading.
In another typical twist though, it's the person who complained about the cheating is the one worried about whether the complaint was a crime! Typical, because - as often enough reflected even on screen - U.S. culture holds someone complaining about a crime as morally lower than the actual criminal, and this is so often enough even when it's the victim who complains; this bulky culture pervades so much it's held up not only in schools but at homes too, with families teaching the children to not "snitch", instead of seeing that without complaints against criminals, crime flourishes. It's as if one expects clean surroundings without a cleaner, and despises anyone who discovers or points out unclean spots. But surely, if one has a lack of ability to deal with crime, it couldn't be morally more correct to suffer it in silence rather than speak about it to authorities?
That attitude of blaming the complainant rather than the criminal has roots in church supporting a silent suffering from those not in power, whether it's about domestic violence or not a domestic one.
And while one is on the topic, the middle strata that can support a child during education but with a clear understanding that the child must do one's best at performance and the future must depend on it, is a very thin strata in most societies. The upper strata has its future assured via properties far too secure, so the child has only to learn to keep the status quo at the very least, and isn't burdened with expectation of learning anything at school, much less aspire to a demanding profession.
............
In a bizarre twist April feels guilty about sending the complaint so much so she writes to the authorities identifying herself as the source of the trouble!
There's that bully culture again, making snitching worse than crimes such as physical assault or theft.
And Theo has a class where everyone agrees that cheating on tests isn't a crime! Everyone also agrees that suspension or expulsion is appropriate punishment for cheating.
If it isn't a crime, why punishment? Because U.S. turns everything upside down, and defines crime as strictly those activities punishable with prison time?
............
Another point through the story is about Theo and his friend April being victims of this cheating by the teachers, since the cheating brought the grades of several others up.
But this ignores the basic fundamental difference between U.S. where they use competitive grading and elsewhere where they do it objectively. In U.S. they expect a bell curve for grades because statistics tells them to, and they aren't prepared to deal with the whole class doing one hundred percent correct, or simply refusing to take the test, or walking out after answering half the questions correctly. Or any such variations thereof.
In reality anything can happen, though, and objective grading without strict adherence to the curve makes far more sense. Which would have meant that schools would know that anyone over a certain percentage would be automatically sent up, and cheating by others would only mean that some perhaps undeserving candidates were sent up too.
Theo and April were victims, not of the cheating by teachers, but of the stupid competitive grading system of U.S..
............
The conclusion of the case is typical of the, again, - falsely labled - "liberal" attitude.
"No more standardized testing. No more “teaching to the tests.” No more tracking. No more competition for the Honors track. No more special classes for gifted students and lesser classes for lesser students."
In reality this merely is a convenient escape, one that has been practiced increasingly in last half of the twentieth century in U.S.. along with other such "liberal" freedoms as holding all subjects an equal choice.
Which, in reality, translates to students in college taking algebra when they haven't done mathematics in high school and cannot do fractions, a really pathetic state. It ends up with a volatile situation in college because the students expect every subject to be easy on par with, say, rock or films, which they were allowed to do as an alternative to mathematics during high school.
But that's just as stupid as expecting a lifelong donut munching couch potato to suddenly be the star of American Ballet in one semester, or a quarter! In intellectual terms, since things aren't visible or physically touchable, this fact escapes most, and they think that holding all subjects equal is the golden attitude.
But really it's only the most convenient escape sought and found by the once beleaguered educators who were then constantly at warpath with those telling them to go easy, make "math" "fun", and so on, alon with how tests are bad and everyone deserves promotion equally.
If that were true, why won't everyone be considered a U.S. doctor and a lawyer, legally able to write prescriptions and getting paid like every rich lawyer? Because fraud stops at end of college?
............
"An hour later, Theo was suffering through a review of basic biology when his mind drifted back to his conversation with Pete. The poor kid was living a nightmare, afraid of getting punched by his brute of a father and afraid for his mother’s life. How was a kid like Pete supposed to sit through four days of testing, concentrate on the exams, and score well enough to get properly placed on the right track for high school? And that placement could well determine his future. It made little sense, at least to Theo."
Theo has his parents help the family, and Pete's father arrives at night creating a ruckus, demanding to see his family, and even throwing rocks at the house, shattering the glass screen, before being taken away by police. Grisham doesn't carry through with the serious issue, however, at least not immediately, but shies away instead from the really serious phenomenon, and instead compromises with a man who went astray due to his drinking and repeats after a few nights in prison. It's perhaps too demanding on courage to deal with this universal issue that plagues across time and around the globe.
He plunges instead into another serious issue, that of tests, grading, and cheating. But again, as with the domestic violence issue, he ducks in the typical style of - incorrectly labeled - "liberal" attitude and stance, to excuse it with a short paragraph about kids who are bright but lack support from parents due to their being low income group.
............
Seriously, are higher income society kids doing well in U.S.? Who's kidding who?!!!!
Fact is, kids from higher income groups do well only when their parents expect them to do so and to earn their way in life to match, or do better than, the life they were given as children. But if their level is higher economically, for any reason, such as being amonst the rich or otherwise high social strata such as royals, or titles landed gentry, then the usual attitude is of entitlement rather than otherwise, and teachers are treated like servants rather than givers of knowledge, with expectations of automatic good grades, with a whip of careers of those teachers who might be honest enough to not cheat, being completely destroyed, the very first time they do so.
It's only that when teachers at a low income group school cheat, they are punished when caught. At the other end, the punishment is the same but for reverse crime, that of honest grading.
In another typical twist though, it's the person who complained about the cheating is the one worried about whether the complaint was a crime! Typical, because - as often enough reflected even on screen - U.S. culture holds someone complaining about a crime as morally lower than the actual criminal, and this is so often enough even when it's the victim who complains; this bulky culture pervades so much it's held up not only in schools but at homes too, with families teaching the children to not "snitch", instead of seeing that without complaints against criminals, crime flourishes. It's as if one expects clean surroundings without a cleaner, and despises anyone who discovers or points out unclean spots. But surely, if one has a lack of ability to deal with crime, it couldn't be morally more correct to suffer it in silence rather than speak about it to authorities?
That attitude of blaming the complainant rather than the criminal has roots in church supporting a silent suffering from those not in power, whether it's about domestic violence or not a domestic one.
And while one is on the topic, the middle strata that can support a child during education but with a clear understanding that the child must do one's best at performance and the future must depend on it, is a very thin strata in most societies. The upper strata has its future assured via properties far too secure, so the child has only to learn to keep the status quo at the very least, and isn't burdened with expectation of learning anything at school, much less aspire to a demanding profession.
............
In a bizarre twist April feels guilty about sending the complaint so much so she writes to the authorities identifying herself as the source of the trouble!
There's that bully culture again, making snitching worse than crimes such as physical assault or theft.
And Theo has a class where everyone agrees that cheating on tests isn't a crime! Everyone also agrees that suspension or expulsion is appropriate punishment for cheating.
If it isn't a crime, why punishment? Because U.S. turns everything upside down, and defines crime as strictly those activities punishable with prison time?
............
Another point through the story is about Theo and his friend April being victims of this cheating by the teachers, since the cheating brought the grades of several others up.
But this ignores the basic fundamental difference between U.S. where they use competitive grading and elsewhere where they do it objectively. In U.S. they expect a bell curve for grades because statistics tells them to, and they aren't prepared to deal with the whole class doing one hundred percent correct, or simply refusing to take the test, or walking out after answering half the questions correctly. Or any such variations thereof.
In reality anything can happen, though, and objective grading without strict adherence to the curve makes far more sense. Which would have meant that schools would know that anyone over a certain percentage would be automatically sent up, and cheating by others would only mean that some perhaps undeserving candidates were sent up too.
Theo and April were victims, not of the cheating by teachers, but of the stupid competitive grading system of U.S..
............
The conclusion of the case is typical of the, again, - falsely labled - "liberal" attitude.
"No more standardized testing. No more “teaching to the tests.” No more tracking. No more competition for the Honors track. No more special classes for gifted students and lesser classes for lesser students."
In reality this merely is a convenient escape, one that has been practiced increasingly in last half of the twentieth century in U.S.. along with other such "liberal" freedoms as holding all subjects an equal choice.
Which, in reality, translates to students in college taking algebra when they haven't done mathematics in high school and cannot do fractions, a really pathetic state. It ends up with a volatile situation in college because the students expect every subject to be easy on par with, say, rock or films, which they were allowed to do as an alternative to mathematics during high school.
But that's just as stupid as expecting a lifelong donut munching couch potato to suddenly be the star of American Ballet in one semester, or a quarter! In intellectual terms, since things aren't visible or physically touchable, this fact escapes most, and they think that holding all subjects equal is the golden attitude.
But really it's only the most convenient escape sought and found by the once beleaguered educators who were then constantly at warpath with those telling them to go easy, make "math" "fun", and so on, alon with how tests are bad and everyone deserves promotion equally.
If that were true, why won't everyone be considered a U.S. doctor and a lawyer, legally able to write prescriptions and getting paid like every rich lawyer? Because fraud stops at end of college?
............
April 18, 2020
Grisham makes a seemingly serious, promising beginning, about the question of domestic violence, strapping burly males who endanger lives of their own families.
"An hour later, Theo was suffering through a review of basic biology when his mind drifted back to his conversation with Pete. The poor kid was living a nightmare, afraid of getting punched by his brute of a father and afraid for his mother’s life. How was a kid like Pete supposed to sit through four days of testing, concentrate on the exams, and score well enough to get properly placed on the right track for high school? And that placement could well determine his future. It made little sense, at least to Theo."
Theo has his parents help the family, and Pete's father arrives at night creating a ruckus, demanding to see his family, and even throwing rocks at the house, shattering the glass screen, before being taken away by police. Grisham doesn't carry through with the serious issue, however, at least not immediately, but shies away instead from the really serious phenomenon, and instead compromises with a man who went astray due to his drinking and repeats after a few nights in prison. It's perhaps too demanding on courage to deal with this universal issue that plagues across time and around the globe.
He plunges instead into another serious issue, that of tests, grading, and cheating. But again, as with the domestic violence issue, he ducks in the typical style of - incorrectly labeled - "liberal" attitude and stance, to excuse it with a short paragraph about kids who are bright but lack support from parents due to their being low income group.
............
Seriously, are higher income society kids doing well in U.S.? Who's kidding who?!!!!
Fact is, kids from higher income groups do well only when their parents expect them to do so and to earn their way in life to match, or do better than, the life they were given as children. But if their level is higher economically, for any reason, such as being amonst the rich or otherwise high social strata such as royals, or titles landed gentry, then the usual attitude is of entitlement rather than otherwise, and teachers are treated like servants rather than givers of knowledge, with expectations of automatic good grades, with a whip of careers of those teachers who might be honest enough to not cheat, being completely destroyed, the very first time they do so.
It's only that when teachers at a low income group school cheat, they are punished when caught. At the other end, the punishment is the same but for reverse crime, that of honest grading.
In another typical twist though, it's the person who complained about the cheating is the one worried about whether the complaint was a crime! Typical, because - as often enough reflected even on screen - U.S. culture holds someone complaining about a crime as morally lower than the actual criminal, and this is so often enough even when it's the victim who complains; this bulky culture pervades so much it's held up not only in schools but at homes too, with families teaching the children to not "snitch", instead of seeing that without complaints against criminals, crime flourishes. It's as if one expects clean surroundings without a cleaner, and despises anyone who discovers or points out unclean spots. But surely, if one has a lack of ability to deal with crime, it couldn't be morally more correct to suffer it in silence rather than speak about it to authorities?
That attitude of blaming the complainant rather than the criminal has roots in church supporting a silent suffering from those not in power, whether it's about domestic violence or not a domestic one.
And while one is on the topic, the middle strata that can support a child during education but with a clear understanding that the child must do one's best at performance and the future must depend on it, is a very thin strata in most societies. The upper strata has its future assured via properties far too secure, so the child has only to learn to keep the status quo at the very least, and isn't burdened with expectation of learning anything at school, much less aspire to a demanding profession.
............
In a bizarre twist April feels guilty about sending the complaint so much so she writes to the authorities identifying herself as the source of the trouble!
There's that bully culture again, making snitching worse than crimes such as physical assault or theft.
And Theo has a class where everyone agrees that cheating on tests isn't a crime! Everyone also agrees that suspension or expulsion is appropriate punishment for cheating.
If it isn't a crime, why punishment? Because U.S. turns everything upside down, and defines crime as strictly those activities punishable with prison time?
............
Another point through the story is about Theo and his friend April being victims of this cheating by the teachers, since the cheating brought the grades of several others up.
But this ignores the basic fundamental difference between U.S. where they use competitive grading and elsewhere where they do it objectively. In U.S. they expect a bell curve for grades because statistics tells them to, and they aren't prepared to deal with the whole class doing one hundred percent correct, or simply refusing to take the test, or walking out after answering half the questions correctly. Or any such variations thereof.
In reality anything can happen, though, and objective grading without strict adherence to the curve makes far more sense. Which would have meant that schools would know that anyone over a certain percentage would be automatically sent up, and cheating by others would only mean that some perhaps undeserving candidates were sent up too.
Theo and April were victims, not of the cheating by teachers, but of the stupid competitive grading system of U.S..
............
The conclusion of the case is typical of the, again, - falsely labled - "liberal" attitude.
"No more standardized testing. No more “teaching to the tests.” No more tracking. No more competition for the Honors track. No more special classes for gifted students and lesser classes for lesser students."
In reality this merely is a convenient escape, one that has been practiced increasingly in last half of the twentieth century in U.S.. along with other such "liberal" freedoms as holding all subjects an equal choice.
Which, in reality, translates to students in college taking algebra when they haven't done mathematics in high school and cannot do fractions, a really pathetic state. It ends up with a volatile situation in college because the students expect every subject to be easy on par with, say, rock or films, which they were allowed to do as an alternative to mathematics during high school.
But that's just as stupid as expecting a lifelong donut munching couch potato to suddenly be the star of American Ballet in one semester, or a quarter! In intellectual terms, since things aren't visible or physically touchable, this fact escapes most, and they think that holding all subjects equal is the golden attitude.
But really it's only the most convenient escape sought and found by the once beleaguered educators who were then constantly at warpath with those telling them to go easy, make "math" "fun", and so on, alon with how tests are bad and everyone deserves promotion equally.
If that were true, why won't everyone be considered a U.S. doctor and a lawyer, legally able to write prescriptions and getting paid like every rich lawyer? Because fraud stops at end of college?
............
"An hour later, Theo was suffering through a review of basic biology when his mind drifted back to his conversation with Pete. The poor kid was living a nightmare, afraid of getting punched by his brute of a father and afraid for his mother’s life. How was a kid like Pete supposed to sit through four days of testing, concentrate on the exams, and score well enough to get properly placed on the right track for high school? And that placement could well determine his future. It made little sense, at least to Theo."
Theo has his parents help the family, and Pete's father arrives at night creating a ruckus, demanding to see his family, and even throwing rocks at the house, shattering the glass screen, before being taken away by police. Grisham doesn't carry through with the serious issue, however, at least not immediately, but shies away instead from the really serious phenomenon, and instead compromises with a man who went astray due to his drinking and repeats after a few nights in prison. It's perhaps too demanding on courage to deal with this universal issue that plagues across time and around the globe.
He plunges instead into another serious issue, that of tests, grading, and cheating. But again, as with the domestic violence issue, he ducks in the typical style of - incorrectly labeled - "liberal" attitude and stance, to excuse it with a short paragraph about kids who are bright but lack support from parents due to their being low income group.
............
Seriously, are higher income society kids doing well in U.S.? Who's kidding who?!!!!
Fact is, kids from higher income groups do well only when their parents expect them to do so and to earn their way in life to match, or do better than, the life they were given as children. But if their level is higher economically, for any reason, such as being amonst the rich or otherwise high social strata such as royals, or titles landed gentry, then the usual attitude is of entitlement rather than otherwise, and teachers are treated like servants rather than givers of knowledge, with expectations of automatic good grades, with a whip of careers of those teachers who might be honest enough to not cheat, being completely destroyed, the very first time they do so.
It's only that when teachers at a low income group school cheat, they are punished when caught. At the other end, the punishment is the same but for reverse crime, that of honest grading.
In another typical twist though, it's the person who complained about the cheating is the one worried about whether the complaint was a crime! Typical, because - as often enough reflected even on screen - U.S. culture holds someone complaining about a crime as morally lower than the actual criminal, and this is so often enough even when it's the victim who complains; this bulky culture pervades so much it's held up not only in schools but at homes too, with families teaching the children to not "snitch", instead of seeing that without complaints against criminals, crime flourishes. It's as if one expects clean surroundings without a cleaner, and despises anyone who discovers or points out unclean spots. But surely, if one has a lack of ability to deal with crime, it couldn't be morally more correct to suffer it in silence rather than speak about it to authorities?
That attitude of blaming the complainant rather than the criminal has roots in church supporting a silent suffering from those not in power, whether it's about domestic violence or not a domestic one.
And while one is on the topic, the middle strata that can support a child during education but with a clear understanding that the child must do one's best at performance and the future must depend on it, is a very thin strata in most societies. The upper strata has its future assured via properties far too secure, so the child has only to learn to keep the status quo at the very least, and isn't burdened with expectation of learning anything at school, much less aspire to a demanding profession.
............
In a bizarre twist April feels guilty about sending the complaint so much so she writes to the authorities identifying herself as the source of the trouble!
There's that bully culture again, making snitching worse than crimes such as physical assault or theft.
And Theo has a class where everyone agrees that cheating on tests isn't a crime! Everyone also agrees that suspension or expulsion is appropriate punishment for cheating.
If it isn't a crime, why punishment? Because U.S. turns everything upside down, and defines crime as strictly those activities punishable with prison time?
............
Another point through the story is about Theo and his friend April being victims of this cheating by the teachers, since the cheating brought the grades of several others up.
But this ignores the basic fundamental difference between U.S. where they use competitive grading and elsewhere where they do it objectively. In U.S. they expect a bell curve for grades because statistics tells them to, and they aren't prepared to deal with the whole class doing one hundred percent correct, or simply refusing to take the test, or walking out after answering half the questions correctly. Or any such variations thereof.
In reality anything can happen, though, and objective grading without strict adherence to the curve makes far more sense. Which would have meant that schools would know that anyone over a certain percentage would be automatically sent up, and cheating by others would only mean that some perhaps undeserving candidates were sent up too.
Theo and April were victims, not of the cheating by teachers, but of the stupid competitive grading system of U.S..
............
The conclusion of the case is typical of the, again, - falsely labled - "liberal" attitude.
"No more standardized testing. No more “teaching to the tests.” No more tracking. No more competition for the Honors track. No more special classes for gifted students and lesser classes for lesser students."
In reality this merely is a convenient escape, one that has been practiced increasingly in last half of the twentieth century in U.S.. along with other such "liberal" freedoms as holding all subjects an equal choice.
Which, in reality, translates to students in college taking algebra when they haven't done mathematics in high school and cannot do fractions, a really pathetic state. It ends up with a volatile situation in college because the students expect every subject to be easy on par with, say, rock or films, which they were allowed to do as an alternative to mathematics during high school.
But that's just as stupid as expecting a lifelong donut munching couch potato to suddenly be the star of American Ballet in one semester, or a quarter! In intellectual terms, since things aren't visible or physically touchable, this fact escapes most, and they think that holding all subjects equal is the golden attitude.
But really it's only the most convenient escape sought and found by the once beleaguered educators who were then constantly at warpath with those telling them to go easy, make "math" "fun", and so on, alon with how tests are bad and everyone deserves promotion equally.
If that were true, why won't everyone be considered a U.S. doctor and a lawyer, legally able to write prescriptions and getting paid like every rich lawyer? Because fraud stops at end of college?
............
July 14, 2018
Theo and his 8th grade class have a week of standardized testing and they hate it. When the results come out, Theo learns that his test scores were just barely too low and keep him out of the Honors track in high school. But his friend April, learns that one of the schools in the county apparently cheated and, also being bumped from Honors, April decides to write an anonymous letter revealing the cheating scandal. This has consequences she never expects and before long, six teachers are on trial for conspiracy. Theo of course, feels himself to be essential to the case, since he was one of the "victims" of the scandal, and wants to experience as much of the trial as possible.
I gotta wonder what happened here. My first and foremost question, especially reading this right after "The Fugitive" and knowing that this is the last book in the series, is what happened to Omar Cheepe's promise to make Theo pay? The author never delivered on the promise to keep going after Theo (in some way or another) because Omar and his buddy Paco aren't even in this story. So what was the point of that little mini-cliffy? That was disappointing. My second question is what happened to Theo's personality in this one? There's a major cheating scandal and he has inside information and for once he doesn't want anything to do with it? This is the same character that would butt his nose into other people's business and be a part of everything, but in this case he just wants him and April to stay out of it? Especially when it directly affects him? That didn't make much sense. But Theo's personality returns towards the end as he's making every possible effort to get into the court room during the trial, because now suddenly he's a victim and this case is very important to him.
Mostly, this story felt fairly disjointed and there were plenty of events that felt really unconnected...kinda like the 3rd story. The Boyscouts and that whole episode with the abusive father at the beginning - they all felt so pointless. What was the connection to them? Why was so much time spent on them when there was apparent purpose? Maybe the abusive father was meant to show that a kid couldn't possibly concentrate on testing in those conditions, but did we need to spend 30% of the book on it? I also took issue with the ending of the story. As a teacher, I totally understand the ins and outs of testing, their evils (although not many schools I know of use them to place kids on future tracks) and some of their benefits (more rigorous testing forces teachers to increase the rigor of curriculum and challenge kids...which also has benefits and repercussions). But I don't know many school districts who would just throw away state testing and the connected state funding without some SERIOUS discussion about exactly where else that budget money is coming from. It's all well and good to get rid of the testing, but the money that school district just lost is probably going to result in teachers losing jobs, larger class sizes and less money for materials and building maintenance. That won't exactly make the situation any better. That felt like a lazy ending for Grisham and a huge cop out.
Side note: In what ACTUAL school do 8th graders still get recess on a playground?!?!?
I gotta wonder what happened here. My first and foremost question, especially reading this right after "The Fugitive" and knowing that this is the last book in the series, is what happened to Omar Cheepe's promise to make Theo pay? The author never delivered on the promise to keep going after Theo (in some way or another) because Omar and his buddy Paco aren't even in this story. So what was the point of that little mini-cliffy? That was disappointing. My second question is what happened to Theo's personality in this one? There's a major cheating scandal and he has inside information and for once he doesn't want anything to do with it? This is the same character that would butt his nose into other people's business and be a part of everything, but in this case he just wants him and April to stay out of it? Especially when it directly affects him? That didn't make much sense. But Theo's personality returns towards the end as he's making every possible effort to get into the court room during the trial, because now suddenly he's a victim and this case is very important to him.
Mostly, this story felt fairly disjointed and there were plenty of events that felt really unconnected...kinda like the 3rd story. The Boyscouts and that whole episode with the abusive father at the beginning - they all felt so pointless. What was the connection to them? Why was so much time spent on them when there was apparent purpose? Maybe the abusive father was meant to show that a kid couldn't possibly concentrate on testing in those conditions, but did we need to spend 30% of the book on it? I also took issue with the ending of the story. As a teacher, I totally understand the ins and outs of testing, their evils (although not many schools I know of use them to place kids on future tracks) and some of their benefits (more rigorous testing forces teachers to increase the rigor of curriculum and challenge kids...which also has benefits and repercussions). But I don't know many school districts who would just throw away state testing and the connected state funding without some SERIOUS discussion about exactly where else that budget money is coming from. It's all well and good to get rid of the testing, but the money that school district just lost is probably going to result in teachers losing jobs, larger class sizes and less money for materials and building maintenance. That won't exactly make the situation any better. That felt like a lazy ending for Grisham and a huge cop out.
Side note: In what ACTUAL school do 8th graders still get recess on a playground?!?!?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2017
It’s the time every elementary and middle school student dreads, standardized testing time. Theo is in eighth grade, and this test now decides what courses he will be able to take in high school. He is very tired of testing all week, and is relieved when his boy scout troop offers a camping trip for all of its eighth grade members. After he returns, he has a frozen yogurt with his good friend April, and they discuss their test scores. They are disappointed that they both missed honors classes by one point. He is surprised to learn though, that a friend of her friend knows that some teachers at East middle school, one of three schools involved in the statistics, cheated on the tests. April wants to take action, but Theo is not so sure.
I enjoyed this book, and found that Theo’s experiences are very relatable when testing arrived. I do feel that the teachers were in the wrong, but had a reasonably good reason for doing it. If I were in Theo’s situation, I probably would have done the same thing, but try to stay out of it as much as possible. I would definitely recommend this series to a friend, and read any new books that are released (the book is set up for a following one).
I enjoyed this book, and found that Theo’s experiences are very relatable when testing arrived. I do feel that the teachers were in the wrong, but had a reasonably good reason for doing it. If I were in Theo’s situation, I probably would have done the same thing, but try to stay out of it as much as possible. I would definitely recommend this series to a friend, and read any new books that are released (the book is set up for a following one).
July 19, 2018
The thirteen year old Theodore Boone is involved (secretly) in yet another burning issue in Strattenburg. But this time it’s his friend April who becomes cause for his involvement. To be honest, the plot looks ‘just okay’ type and written for the sake of continuity. The same Animal Court & Judge Yeck in the exact middle part of the story is very much predictable though as it comes across all the previous books. I thought the story of this part would be much more engaging as it was in the previous parts. The main highlight is the involvement of Marcella & Woods Boone against Jack Hogan for the scandal. The little partnership between Henry Gantry and Theo is very cute and very much encouraging. Overall, the plot could have been a bit more intense. Having said that, this book would still keep you interested only because of the young Theodore Boone. A very good book and hopefully there’s an upcoming part and a much more gripping storyline for it. Fingers Crossed!!!
December 2, 2017
"The Scandal" is a fictional mystery novel following the life of Theodore Boone, a thirteen year old kid who is known around town as "kid lawyer" because of his knowledge of law and court. During his 8th grade end of the year exams, East High School takes a dramatic rise in test scores since the previous year and the town's suspicions rise. As Theo and his two lawyer parents get involved in the case, Theo's future in school hangs in the balance.
I liked this book mostly because of the non stop conflicts. Many different problems arise from the suspicious test scores. Others are irrelevant and just pure filler but they still are interesting.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy mystery and drama. I would however recommend reading the first book "Kid Lawyer" before reading any of the others so the characters can be better introduced and understood so then reading the other books won't be as confusing.
I liked this book mostly because of the non stop conflicts. Many different problems arise from the suspicious test scores. Others are irrelevant and just pure filler but they still are interesting.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy mystery and drama. I would however recommend reading the first book "Kid Lawyer" before reading any of the others so the characters can be better introduced and understood so then reading the other books won't be as confusing.
June 24, 2018
This was another adorable installment in this series. I adore Theo and his compassion and curiosity. The fact that his BFF, April, learns a valuable lesson about selfish motives and meddling, makes this a unique mystery/court case.
This book did feel a touch disjointed as it starts with a case about a drunk and abusive father and takes a sharp turn toward the case about teachers and test scores, however because both cases were interesting, I tolerated the whiplash.
I also thought the Boy Scout and hiking stuff was thrown in haphazardly.
Good, cute, just a touch sloppy for Grisham.
This book did feel a touch disjointed as it starts with a case about a drunk and abusive father and takes a sharp turn toward the case about teachers and test scores, however because both cases were interesting, I tolerated the whiplash.
I also thought the Boy Scout and hiking stuff was thrown in haphazardly.
Good, cute, just a touch sloppy for Grisham.
October 30, 2020
8 de 10*
Theodore Boone é uma série, escrita por John Grisham, destinada a um público mais jovem (recomendado a partir dos 12 anos). Como tal, parti para esta leitura e esta opinião colocando-me, mentalmente, nessa faixa etária. A verdade é que foi uma leitura bastante agradável de fazer, levezinha (claro) e num ambiente escolar, mas bem escrita e bem desenvolvida.
Comentário completo em:
https://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.co...
Theodore Boone é uma série, escrita por John Grisham, destinada a um público mais jovem (recomendado a partir dos 12 anos). Como tal, parti para esta leitura e esta opinião colocando-me, mentalmente, nessa faixa etária. A verdade é que foi uma leitura bastante agradável de fazer, levezinha (claro) e num ambiente escolar, mas bem escrita e bem desenvolvida.
Comentário completo em:
https://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.co...
December 13, 2017
A different theme to John Grisham's writing. The series describes a 13 year old boy who's parents are lawyers and his desire is to become one as well. Describes school's standardized testing and what occurred in scoring those tests. Not that much of a plot, but did leave me tired for all the activity this kid did.
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