Categories | Action & Adventure |
Author | John Grisham |
Publisher | Puffin Books; Reprint edition (May 2, 2017) |
Language | English |
Paperback | 240 pages |
Item Weight | 6.4 ounces |
Dimensions |
5 x 0.63 x 7.69 inches |
I. Book introduction
Theodore Boone: The Scandal is the sixth book in the Theodore Boone series written by John Grisham. It was released May 10, 2016. 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 on the test, and Theodore Boone becomes involved. As he and his eighth-grade classmates are also being tested, the fairness of the test is of particular concern to him.
Theodore Boone returns in this sixth adventure from international and worldwide bestseller John Grisham!
Thirteen-year-old Theodore Boone 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 at another local middle school, Theo finds himself thrust in the middle of a cheating scandal. With insider knowledge and his future on the line, Theo must follow his keen instincts to do what’s right in the newest case for clever kid lawyer Theo Boone.
Editorial Reviews
- “Not since Nancy Drew has a nosy, crime-obsessed kid been so hard to resist.”—The New York Times
- “Classic Grisham.”—The Los Angeles Times
- “Smartly written.”—USA Today
- “Grisham is an absolute master.”—Washington Post
- “Edge-of-your-seat drama, sophisticated plotting, and plenty of spunk.”—Chicago Sun-Times
- “Gripping . . . I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.”—Scholastic News
About John Grisham
John Grisham (born February 8, 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas) is an American novelist, lawyer and former member of the 7th district of the Mississippi House of Representatives, known for his popular legal thrillers. According to the American Academy of Achievement, Grisham has written 28 consecutive number-one fiction bestsellers, and his books have sold 300 million copies worldwide. Along with Tom Clancy and J. K. Rowling, Grisham is one of only three authors to have sold two million copies on a first printing.
Grisham graduated from Mississippi State University and earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981. He practised criminal law for about a decade and served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1983 to 1990.
Grisham’s first novel, A Time to Kill, was published in June 1989, four years after he began writing it. Grisham’s first bestseller, The Firm, sold more than seven million copies. The book was adapted into a 1993 feature film of the same name, starring Tom Cruise, and a 2012 TV series which continues the story ten years after the events of the film and novel. Seven of his other novels have also been adapted into films:
- The Chamber,
- The Client,
- A Painted House,
- The Pelican Brief,
- The Rainmaker,
- The Runaway Jury, and Skipping Christmas.
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 Girsham lives on a farm in central Virginia.
II. Reviewer Theodore Boone: The Scandal
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1. DOGBITE DAVE reviews for Theodore Boone: The Scandal
I write this review based on my decades of experiences as a life time reader of all manner of books by all manner of authors.
I am a definite “fan” of Grisham having thoroughly enjoyed virtually all of his books.
The “Boone” series is obviously aimed at a much younger reader than one would expect for Grisham, legal type books.
The story lines are very simple. Some of the shaniligans of Boone are very tonge in cheek.
This tale revolves around school tests and involves just some of the reasons for educational failures when testing and results are linked to bonus’s for teachers.
All very Americanised but the parallels to the UK system are there.
Overall, a good read for all ages
2. LORETTA M.ULMER reviews for Theodore Boone: The Scandal
I really enjoy reading the Theodore Boone books in general and Theodore Boone: The Scandal in particular. As I have said before, these books are written for pre-teenage children, but are just as interesting and entertaining for adults.
This series teaches ethical and moral lessons to children and adults! Well done Mr. Grisham!
Theodore’s Uncle Ike is a disbarred lawyer, the reasons for being so are hinted at, but I suspect will be revealed in a future book! I look forward to this plot twist.
Read the book to get the whole story—it will be worth the time!
3. JUDE PIETRUCHA reviews for Theodore Boone: The Scandal
“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!
4. SANDI reviews for Theodore Boone: The Scandal
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.
5. OLIVER reviews for Theodore Boone: The Scandal
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).
6. CAROL JONES-CAMPBELL reviews for Theodore Boone: The Scandal
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.
7. KELLEN SHANNON reviews for Theodore Boone: The Scandal
“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.
8. RICHARD JANZEN reviews for Theodore Boone: The Scandal
This is the only book that I have read of the series which Grisham has written for younger readers. I was particular drawn to this one, since it deals with teachers who cheated on their students’ results on standardised tests. Standardised tests are controversial, and I was curious how the issue would be treated. I am sure that I would’ve loved this book and probably the whole series as a young reader. Recommend.
9. CONNOR IVANOFF reviews for Theodore Boone: The Scandal
In the book “Theodore Boone: The Scandal,” the genre was mystery. We did not know what was going to happen, and when it seemed like they had finished solving everything, something else happened! The first main character was Theo. Theo was a very adventurous character who had dreams of becoming a lawyer. The next main character was April. April belonged to a strange family who didn’t spend time with her. She was the one who started the drama in the story. The last main character was the Judge. Theo and the Judge were friends and the Judge wanted to help Theo, but he could only help him so much.
In the book, they had to take standardized tests, and there was multiple schools in this small town. Two of the schools were really good, but one of the schools was very far down from the others. Five teachers decided to change the test scores and they face problems. The last question was the criminal system or the charges being released. It was the Judges call.
The setting was in a small town, Strattenburg. The setting was also in the present. In this book, the most common conflict is Man vs Man. The main line of the story is in court, and that requires Man vs Man. There was also some Man vs Society in this book. The school teachers had to hear the opinions of everyone else about what their punishment should be.
The three most exciting parts of the book are very easy to find out once you read the book. The first one is the letter. April sent a letter that made the whole court case happen. The second most exciting part was the court trial. You did not know what was happen and that made the genre “mystery.” The last most exciting part was after the court case. I will not spoil the end, but it was interesting to see what everyone did after the court case.
The three reasons why I think you would like the book was because it is a very “hard to guess” plot. You can think one thing will happen and the other thing happens. The second reason is because it is very educational regarding law. The last reason is because there are multiple books in the series. Most people read one book and think that it is over, but not with this series! In conclusion, if you like mystery, a “hard to guess plot,” or just a good story, this book is for you!
10. MARY ANN reviews for Theodore Boone: The Scandal
Teaching to the Test or Teaching to Learn It is that time of year where kids are having to take tests to prove that they are learning something, but some schools are failing. They are failing because they have a higher concentration of immigrant families or one parent families or they have a harder time with the work than other kids. The teachers at one such school didn’t want their kids punished for not being in a nicer neighborhood or have two parents who can help them with their work or parents who speak English and have college educations. They meet after the testing and change the answers on the test allowing their kids to look like they are making progress, but they are caught and an investigation starts. The teachers are charged with a crime, conspiracy. They seek out representation.
Learning should not be all about how many questions can you answer on a test. How well you can do taking tests, some kids are really bright and just can’t take a test. Some kids need more help and others need less. Funding that depends on testing is a way that has forced many school districts to fall in line and do the testing with all the other schools in a state. Testing should be a progression where kids are allowed to learn at their own speed and maybe be far ahead on one subject and slower in another. Learning should be fun, not stressful.
Sorry about the soap box. I pulled my children from a school district because of bullying, but in the process learned more than I care to learn about the testing.
The book was very good and very timely. It was a wonderful read, that I highly recommend.
III. Theodore Boone: The Scandal Quotes
The best book quotes from Theodore Boone: The Scandal by John Grisham
“Say, Mr. Mount, I have an idea. Since I don’t want to be on the Honors track, and since I’m far too smart for the slow track, why can’t I just take a pass and be normal and skip all these tests?”
Theo listened carefully as they continued walking. “Has this happened before?”
“Yes, but he’s never hit me. A few months back, my mom threatened to call the police and he settled down. He said he would kill her if she ever told anyone. But if she tells the police now, then he’ll just go to jail and lose his job. We don’t have much money, Theo. My mom works two part-time jobs, and, well, I guess we’re just in big trouble. What’s my mom supposed to do? Keep it quiet and keep getting beat up until he kills her, or tell the police everything and put him away in jail? We don’t know what to do, Theo.”Theo wasn’t sure what to do, but he had to do something. If he did nothing, Pete’s mother and maybe Pete himself could be in real danger. Theo said, “My mother will know what to do. She’s the best divorce lawyer in town, and she’s not afraid of anything. Can you and your mom come to our office this afternoon?”
Theo stopped and put a hand on Pete’s shoulder. “Here’s the deal, Pete. I’m not sure what to do and you’re not sure what to do, but we’re just kids, right? My mother deals with this stuff all the time, and she’ll give your mom the best advice possible. She will know exactly what to do. Trust me, and trust her. I’ll give you the address of our office, and I’ll talk to my mother. I’ll meet you there this afternoon, and things will start to get better. I promise.”
Excerpted from Theodore Boone: The Scandal by John Grisham
Chapter 1
Theodore Boone woke up in a foul mood. In fact, he’d gone to bed in a foul mood, and things had not improved during the night. As a few rays of morning sun lit his room, he stared at the ceiling and tried to think of ways to avoid this entire week. Generally, he enjoyed school—his friends, the teachers, most of the classes, debating—but there were times when he just wanted to stay in bed. This was one of those times, the worst week of the year. Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, and running through Friday, he and every other eighth grader would be stuck at their desks taking a series of dreadful tests.
Judge knew something was wrong, and at some point had left his spot beside Theo’s bed and assumed his spot on top of the covers. Mrs. Boone frowned on the idea of the dog sleeping in Theo’s bed, but she was downstairs having her quiet time with the morning newspaper and wouldn’t know. Or would she? Occasionally she noticed dog hair on the covers and asked Theo if Judge was sleeping with him. Most of the time Theo said yes, but quickly followed the admission with the question: “What am I supposed to do?” He couldn’t watch the dog while he, Theo, was sound asleep. And, to be honest, Theo didn’t really want the dog in the bed with him. Judge had the irritating habit of stretching himself out smack in the middle of things and expecting Theo to retreat to the edges, where he often came within inches of crashing to the floor and waking up with a sore head. No, Theo preferred that Judge sleep on his little doggy bed down below.
The truth was, Judge did whatever he wanted to do, and not only in Theo’s room but in every room in the house.
On days like today, Theo envied his dog. What a life: no school, no homework, no tests, no pressure. He ate whenever he wanted, napped most of the day at the office, and seemed unconcerned about most things. The Boones took care of his needs, and he did anything he wanted.
Reluctantly, Theo got out of bed, rubbed his dog’s head, said good morning, but not with as much enthusiasm as usual,and went to the bathroom. Last week the orthodontist had readjusted his braces, and his jaws still ached. He grinned at himself in the mirror, took stock of the mouthful of metal that he despised, and tried to find hope in the fact that he might get the braces off just in time to start the ninth grade.
He stepped into the shower and thought about the ninth grade. High school. He just wasn’t ready for it. He was thirteen and quite content at Strattenburg Middle School, where he liked his teachers, most of them anyway, and was captain of the Debate Team, almost an Eagle Scout and, well, thought of himself as a leader. He was certainly the only kid lawyer in the school, the only kid he knew of who dreamed of being either a big-time trial lawyer or a brilliant young judge. He couldn’t make up his mind. In the ninth grade he would be just another lowly freshman at the bottom of the pile. Freshmen got no respect in high school. Middle school was okay because Theo had found his place, a place that would disappear in a few months. High school was all about football, basketball, cheerleaders, driving, dating, band, theatre, large classes, clothes, shaving, and, well, growing up. He just wasn’t ready for it. Most of his friends wanted to hurry along and grow up, but not Theo.
He stepped out of the shower and dried off. Judge was watching him and thinking about nothing but breakfast. Such a lucky dog.
As Theo brushed his teeth, or rather cleaned his braces, he admitted that life was changing. High school was slowly rising on the horizon. One of its most important and unpleasant warning signs was standardized testing, a horrible idea cooked up by some experts far away. Those people had decided that it was important to give the same tests at the same time to every eighth grader in the state so that the folks in charge of Strattenburg Middle School and all the other schools would know how they stacked up. That was one reason for the tests. Another reason, at least in Strattenburg, was to separate the eighth graders into three groups for high school. The smartest would be fast-tracked into an Honors program. The weaker students would be placed on a slower track.And the average kids would be treated normally and allowed to enjoy high school without special treatment.
Yet another reason for the tests was to measure how well the teachers were doing. If a teacher’s class did really well, he or she would qualify for a bonus. And if the class did poorly, all kinds of bad things might happen to the teacher. He or she might even be fired.
Needless to say, the entire process of testing, scoring, tracking, and evaluating teachers had become hotly controversial. The students, of course, hated it. Most of the teachers didn’t like it. Almost all parents wanted their kids in the Honors classes, and almost all were disappointed. Those with kids on the “slow track” were mad, even embarrassed.
And so the debate raged. Mrs. Boone was firmly opposed to the testing, so, of course, Mr. Boone supported it. The family had talked about testing for weeks, over dinner and in the car, and even while watching television. For a month, the eighth-grade teachers had been preparing the students for the tests. “Teaching to the tests,” was the favorite description, which meant no creative teaching was being done and no one was having fun in class.
Theo was already sick of the tests, and they had not even started.
He dressed, grabbed his backpack, and went downstairs, Judge at his heels. He said hello to his mother, who, as always, was curled up on the sofa in her robe, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper. Mr. Boone always left early and joined his friends for coffee and gossip at the same downtown diner.
Theo fixed two bowls of Cheerios and put one on the floor for Judge. They almost always ate in silence, but occasionally Mrs. Boone joined them for a chat. She did this when she suspected something was bothering Theo. Today, she entered the kitchen, poured more coffee, and took a seat across from her son. “What’s up today?” she asked.
“More reviewing, more practicing how to take the tests.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Not really. I’m just tired already. I don’t do well on these tests, so I don’t like them.”
It was true. Theo was almost a straight-A student, with an occasional B in the sciences, but he had never done well on standardized tests. “What if I don’t make the Honors track next year?” he asked.
“Teddy, you’re going to excel in high school, college, and law school, if you choose to go there. Don’t worry about where they put you in the ninth grade.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Her words felt good in spite of the fact that she called him “Teddy,” a little nickname that, thankfully, only she used, and only when they were alone.
Theo had friends whose parents were turning flips and losing sleep over the tests. If their kids didn’t make Honors, the parents were convinced their kids were headed for miserable lives. The whole thing seemed silly to Theo.
She said, “I suppose you know that there is a backlash across the country against these tests. They are becoming very unpopular, and there appears to be widespread cheating.”
“How do you cheat on a standardized test?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ve read about some of the cheating. In one district the teachers changed answers. Hard to believe, isn’t it?”
“Why would a teacher do that?”
“Well, in that case, the school was not very good and on probation with the district. Plus, the teachers wanted to qualify for a bonus. None of it makes any sense.”
“I think I’m getting sick. Do I look pale?”
“No, Teddy. You look perfectly healthy.”
It was eight o’clock, time to move. Theo rinsed both bowls and left them in the sink, same as always. He kissed his mom on the cheek and said, “I’m off.”
“Do you have lunch money?” she asked, the same question five days a week.
“Always.”
“And your homework is complete?”
“It’s perfect, Mom.”
“And I’ll see you when?”
“I’ll stop by the office after school.” Theo stopped by the office every day after school, without fail, but Mrs. Boone always asked.
“Be careful,” she said. “And remember to smile.”
“I’m smiling, Mom.”
“Love you, Teddy.”
“Love you back.”
Theo stepped outside and said good-bye to Judge, who would ride in the car with Mrs. Boone to the office where he would spend his day sleeping and eating and worrying about nothing. Theo jumped on his bike and sped away, once again wishing he could be a dog for the next four days.
….
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