I just finished two more books in the Theodore Boone series by John Grisham.  If you missed the first book in the series, let me introduce you to Theodore Boone, a kid who is already well on his way to being a lawyer.  He even takes on cases to defend in Animal Court (where no law degree or bar exam is required).  In fact, the Animal Court scenes are some of my favorites in these books.

In Theodore Boone:  Abduction (Dutton Juvenile 2011), Theo’s best friend April disappears one night, and Theo is probably the last person who talked with her.  While the town searches the streets, an escaped convict (and distant cousin of April) is the number one suspect.  While the police pursue false leads, Theo and his Uncle Ike try to track down April themselves.  Will they find her before it’s too late?

The tables are turned in Theodore Boone:  The Accused (Dutton Juvenile 2012).  Some one is after Theo.  He finds his bike tires repeatedly slashed.  Then the police find stolen computer tablets in his locker.  The final straw is a picture sent out over the Internet of Theo leaving the police station after being questioned.  Theo knows he is innocent, but even he can see that all the evidence is pointing right at him.  Can he figure out who robbed the computer store and framed him for the crime?  If not, he may get to experience the courtroom from a different side.

Readers looking for a smart kid detective who knows the law will enjoy these mysteries.