When a proposed highway bypass threatens farms and a school in his town, thirteen-year-old Theo Boone gets involved in a heated local fight
Theo takes on a highway
Theo Boone, the thirteen-year-old son of two lawyers in the town of Strattenburg, learns that a new highway bypass is planned that would cut through farmland, homes and close to his friend's family farm and an elementary school. The town is divided, and powerful people stand to make money. Theo joins the campaign against the bypass and soon finds himself caught up in public meetings, protests and pressure from adults, while also dealing with a dog that has been badly hurt.
Who will enjoy it
Middle-grade readers interested in law and civic life, fans of the earlier Theo Boone books, and families looking for stories about standing up for your community.
What you will get
A middle-grade legal story in which young Theo Boone gets involved in a divided town's fight over a highway bypass and learns how local decisions are made.
Theodore Boone: The Activist Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Children’s Books · Kid lawyer · Environmental cause · Local politics
Length
289 pages · ≈ 8 h
More about this book
Grisham uses Theo's story to show young readers how local government works: public hearings, zoning, environmental reviews and the influence of money. The explanations are clear, and they are woven into a story with real stakes for characters Theo cares about. Short chapters and plain language keep the civics lessons accessible, and the town of Strattenburg feels like a real place with its own history.
Theo is a likeable hero, earnest and curious, and his relationships with his parents, his uncle Ike and his friends feel warm and natural. The subplot involving his dog adds emotion. The book also shows that adults disagree honestly about such projects, and Theo has to learn that not everyone opposing him is a villain. His growing friendship with April and his loyalty to his classmates add a gentle personal side to the public drama.
This entry is less of a mystery than earlier books, and readers expecting a courtroom drama may find the pace slow. The resolution is neat. Some readers may find the politics one-sided. For young readers curious about law, activism and how communities make decisions, it is an engaging and informative read. About 289 pages in the Dutton hardcover; some listings say 304.
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer
Theodore Boone: The Abduction
Theodore Boone: The Accused
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Nate the Great
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
When You Reach Me
Number the Stars
Chasing Vermeer
The People of Sparks
The Two Princesses of Bamarre
The Hundred Dresses