A GUIDE FOrA GUIDE FOrA GUIDE FOrA GUIDE FOrA GUIDE FOrA GUIDE FOrTEAChErS & LIBrArIANSTEAChErS & LIBrArIANSTEAChErS & LIBrArIANS

BrING ThE COUrTrOOMBrING ThE COUrTrOOMBrING ThE COUrTrOOMTO ThE CLASSrOOMTO ThE CLASSrOOMTO ThE CLASSrOOM

#1InTERnATIOnALBESTSELLInGAUTHOR

JOHN GRISHAMJOHN GRISHAMJOHN GRISHAMJOHN GRISHAMJOHN GRISHAMJOHN GRISHAM

www.TheodoreBoone.com

InthesmallcityofStrattenburg,therearemanylawyers,andthoughhe’sonlythirteenyearsold,TheoBoonethinkshe’soneofthem.Hedreamsofbeingagreattriallawyer,ofalifeinthecourtroom.

ButTheofindshimselfincourtmuchsoonerthanexpected.Because he knows so much—maybe too much—he issuddenly dragged into the middle of a sensational murdertrial.Thestakesarehigh,butTheowon’tstopuntil justiceisserved.

Whenhisbestfriend,April,disappearsfromherbedroominthemiddleofthenight,noone,notevenTheoBoone—whoknowsAprilbetterthananyone—hasanswers.

Asfearripplesthroughhissmallhometownandthepolicehitdeadends,it’suptoTheotousehislegalknowledgeandinvestigativeskillstochasedownthetruthandsaveApril.

John grishAmistheauthorof23novels,oneworkofnonfiction,andonecollection of stories. His works have been translatedinto39languages.TheodoreBoone:KidLawyerishisfirstbookforchildren.Hewasthehonorarychairofthe2011ALAnationalLibraryWeek.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS for

ThEODOrE BOONE: kid lawyer• ReadersquicklylearnaboutTheo’spassionforlaw;whataboutthisdisciplineissoappealingtohim?

Whatareyoupassionateabout?Howdoyoushowyourcommitmenttothatareaofinterest?

• DescribeTheo.Whatmakeshimsuchadynamiccharacter?Ishethetypeofpersonyouwouldwanttobefriend?Whyorwhynot?

• Oneoftheimportantsettingsinthenovelisthecountycourthouse.Thenarratorstates,“Theolovedthecourthouse,withitsairofauthority,andpeoplehustlingimportantlyabout,andsombernoticesandschedules tackedto thebulletinboards.Mostofall,Theo loved thecourtroomsthemselves.”Whatmakesthecourthouseand,particularly,thecourtroomssospecialforTheo?Isthereapublicplacethatyouareespeciallyfondofvisiting?Ifso,whatmakesthisspotspecialtoyou?

• AprilFinnemoreisdescribedas“notjustanygirl.”SheisaspecialfriendofTheo’s,andheissensitivetothedifficultsituationsheisfacinginwhichshemustdecidewhichparentshehopestoremainlivingwithafterherparents’divorceisfinalized.Haveyoueverhadafriendwithadifficulthomelife?Inwhatwayshaveyoubeenabletohelpthemcopewiththeirsituation?

• ThelawfirmofBoone&BooneismuchlikeasecondhomeforTheo(heevenhashisownoffice);whydoeshespendsomuchtimethere?Whatdoeshegleanfromthisdailyexposure?

• ConsiderTheo’sdescriptionsofhisparents’offices.Howdoeshedescribetheserooms,andwhatcanreadersinferabouthisparents’personalitiesandinterestsfromthesedescriptions?

• Theo’s understanding of the financial problems faced by Sandy Coe’s parents allow him to offer Sandysage advice which ultimately helps protect Sandy’s home from being foreclosed by a mortgagecompany.Thinkofatimewhenyouwereabletoofferafriendoracquaintanceusefuladvice.Inwhatwaysdidyourcounselhelpyourfriend?Haveyoubeengivenusefulguidancefromafriend?Whatmadeyoudecidetofollowhis/hersuggestion?Whatweretheultimateresults?

• Fromyourexperience,doyouthinkit’sdifficultformostpeopletoreachoutforhelp?Considerthecharactersinthenovel;whodotheyturntoforassistance?Towhomdoyouturnwhenyouareinneed?

• Given the rarity of this type of case, the Duffy murder trial draws a great deal of attention fromthemedia,aswellaslocalcitizensofStrattenburg.Inyouropinion,whatmakesacaselikethissointriguing?Istherealocalinterestissuethatyouarefollowing?Ifso,whatisthecaseandwhataboutitisinteresting?

• Theo’suncleIkeisunconventionalinmanyregards.Whatmakeshimsuchaninterestingandunusualcharacter?Doyouhavearelativewho“marchestothebeatofhis/herowndrum”?Whataboutthemisunique?

• Mrs.Boonestatesthat“peopleinsmalltownsspendtoomuchtimelookinguptoordownonothers.”Doyoubelievethistypeofbehaviorisexclusivetopeoplefromsmalltowns?Whyorwhynot?

• Throughout thestory, readers learn that theBoone familyparticipates inanumberofcommunityserviceendeavors;whyaretheseimportanttothem?Arethereanywaysyouandyourfamilychoosetogivebacktoyourcommunity?Ifso,whatdoyoudo?

• BasedonyourknowledgefromTheo’sdescriptions,wouldyouenjoybeingastudentinMr.Mount’sgovernmentclass?Whyorwhynot?

• ThoughTheorealizesthatthestakeswillberaisedifhemovesforwardwithsharinghisknowledgeabouttheDuffycase,hedoessoanyway.Doyouthinkhemadetherightdecision?Predictthelong-termeffectsofthisaction.

• Usingthephrase,“Thisisastoryabout...”supplyfivewordstodescribeTheodoreBoone:KidLawyer.Explainyourchoices.

ExTENSION ACTIvITIES for the

ThEODOrE BOONE BOOkSExPLOREjUSTICESySTEMSTHROUGHOUTTHEWORLD.

• TheAmericanjusticesystemisrootedinearlierEuropeantraditions,butelsewhereintheworld,thosechargedwithcrimesfaceverydifferent judicialprocesses.Selectacountryandexplorehow those accused of crimes are determined to be innocent or guilty. Possible suggestionsincludecountrieswherelawsarebasedontribaltraditions,religion,orpolitical ideology.Havestudentscreateadigitalreportoftheirfindings.

COnSIDERTHEROLEOFTHECOURTREPORTER.• Oneoftheimportantjobsofthoseinvolvedinatrialisthecourtroomreporter.Courtreporters

makeword-for-word reportsof courtcases,meetings, speeches,and other eventsandplayacriticalroleinlegalproceedings.Theirwrittenaccountsofspokenwordsaremadeintoofficialrecords.Theyareexpectedtocreateacompleteandaccuratelegalrecord.Accuracyiscrucial.Texts of spoken words may also be needed for letters, records, and proof in court. Considerthe following: What type of training does a court reporter need? How long does this trainingtypicallytakeandwheredocourtreporterslearntheircraft?Stenotypingandvoicewritingaretwocommonlyusedmethodsofcourtreporting.Havestudents investigatethesetwomethodsofreportingandcreateaVenndiagramdetailingthesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthesetechniques.

HOSTMOCKTRIALS!• OncestudentshavereadTheodoreBoone:KidLawyerandhaveabetterunderstandingofthe

layoutofthecourtroomandtheformatinwhichatrialisconducted,allowthemtostagetheirownmocktrials.

• Forsecondarystudents,considerhostingthefollowingmocktrials:• Putafamousliterarycharacterontrialfortheiractions.Examplescouldinclude:

• Mr.andMrs.WormwoodorMissTrunchbullfromMatilda• TomSawyerorWardenWalkerfromTheAdventuresofTomSawyer

• Researchandreenactafamouscourttrial.Examplescouldinclude:• TheSalemWitchTrials• ThePlessyvFergusonTrial• TheDredScottTrial• TheScopesTrial

• Foryoungerstudents, use thedebate and trial guidelines learnedand puta famous fairy talecharacterontrialfortheirindiscretions.Characterscouldinclude(butarenotlimitedto):

• TheWolffromTheThreeLittlePigs• jackfromjackandtheBeanstalk• TheBigBadWolffromLittleRedRidingHood• GoldilocksfromGoldilocksandtheThreeBears• TheWitchfromHanselandGretel

BrING ThE COUrTrOOM TOThE CLASSrOOM with

ThEODOrE BOONESETTING ThE STAGE: UNDErSTANDING

ThE COUrTrOOM LAYOUTTheo helps arrange an all-day field trip for his Government class to watch the opening of the trial.Priortothetrip,Theosetsthestagefortheexperiencebypresentingareportanddiagramofthemaincourtroom,explainingwhereeachtrialparticipantwillbeseated,aswellashisroleinthetrial.Usingthedescriptions in thebookfromChapter2, re-createthecourtroomstructureand labelwhereeachparticipantwillbeseated.Besuretolabeleachstationwiththenamesofthecharactersprovidedinthenovel.

PLACE THE FOLLOWInG TERMS In THE BOxES BELOW: Defense Lawyer, Spectators, judge,Witness,CourtReporter,Prosecution,Bailiff,AdditionalWitnesses,jury,Defendant,CourtClerk

AnSWERS(fromtop,lefttoright):judge,Witness,Bailiff,CourtReporter,CourtClerk,jury,Prosecution,DefenseAttorney,Defendant,AdditionalWitnesses,Spectators.

rOLES OF ThE MEMBErS OF ThE COUrT DUrING A TrIALProsecution & Defense

• Createalistofmainarguments• namealistofwitnesses

Prosecution Lawyers • Addressthejury• Presentthearguments• Questionwitnessesinordertoconvincethejuryofthedefendant’sguilt

Prosecution Witnesses • Respondtoquestionsposedbythelawyersfortheprosecution• Respondtoquestionsposedbythelawyersforthedefense

Defense Lawyers • Addressthejury• Presentthearguments• Questionwitnessesinordertoconvincethejuryofthedefendant’sinnocence

Defense Witnesses • Respondtoquestionsposedbythelawyersfortheprosecution• Respondtoquestionsposedbythelawyersforthedefense

Jury • Servesastheaudienceforallargumentspresentedinthetrial• Evaluatestheargumentspresentedbytheprosecutionandthedefenseinordertodeterminethe

guiltorinnocenceofthedefendant• judgestheeffectivenessandmeritoftheargumentsandevidencepresentedbytheprosecution

anddefenseteams• Votesontheoutcomeofthetrialaccordingtotheestablishedcriteriaonly

Clerk of Court • Workswiththechiefjudgeinoverseeingthecourt’sadministration• Assistsinmanagingtheflowofcasesthroughthecourt• Maintainscourtrecords• Keepsallphysicalevidencesecure

Bailiff • Enforcestherulesofbehaviorincourtrooms

The Judge • Decideswhichdisputedfacts(evidence)maybepresentedtothejury• Providesjuryinstructionsandexplainswhattheapplicablelawistothejury

Witnesses • Havespecificknowledgeofwhathappened• Dotellthejurywhattheythinkorfeel• Donotpresentgossip

Expert Witnesses • Knowthespecificfactsinthecase• Usetheirspecializedknowledgetohelpthejuryunderstandcomplexevidence

GLOSSArY OF LAW TErMINOLOGYACquiTTAL : A jury verdict that a criminal defendant is not guilty, or the finding of a judge that theevidenceisinsufficienttosupportaconviction.

ADmissiBLE: Atermusedtodescribeevidencethatmaybeconsideredbyajuryorjudgeincivilandcriminalcases.

AffiDAviT: Awrittenorprintedstatementmadeunderoath.

APPEAL : Arequestmadeafteratrialbyapartythathaslostononeormoreissuesthatahighercourtreviewthedecisiontodetermineifitwascorrect.

BAiL : Therelease,priortotrial,ofapersonaccusedofacrime,underspecifiedconditionsdesignedtoassurethatperson’sappearanceincourtwhenrequired.Alsocanrefertotheamountofbondmoneypostedasafinancialconditionofpretrialrelease.

BriEf: Awrittenstatementsubmittedinatrialorappellateproceedingthatexplainsoneside’slegalandfactualarguments.

BurDEn of Proof: The duty to prove disputed facts. In civil cases, a plaintiff generallyhas the burden of proving his or her case. In criminal cases, the government has the burden of proving thedefendant’sguilt.

ConviCTion: Ajudgmentofguiltagainstacriminaldefendant.

CounsEL:Legaladvice;atermalsousedtorefertothelawyersinacase.

CourT: Government entity authorized to resolve legal disputes. judges sometimes use “court” to refer tothemselvesinthethirdperson,asin“thecourthasreadthebriefs.”

DEfEnDAnT: Inacriminalcase,thepersonaccusedofthecrime.

EviDEnCE: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder(judgeorjury)todecidethecaseinfavorofonesideortheother.

JuDgE: An official of the judicial branch with authority to decide lawsuits brought before courts. Usedgenerically,thetermjudgemayalsorefertoalljudicialofficers,includingSupremeCourtjustices.

Jury: Thegroupofpersonsselectedtoheartheevidenceinatrialandrenderaverdictonmattersoffact.

moTion:Arequestbyalitiganttoajudgeforadecisiononanissuerelatingtothecase.

orAL ArgumEnT:Anopportunityforlawyerstosummarizetheirpositionbeforethecourtandalsotoanswerthejudge’squestions.

PLAinTiff:Apersonorbusinessthatfilesaformalcomplaintwiththecourt.Incriminalcases,itisthestate.

PLEA:Inacriminalcase,thedefendant’sstatementpleading“guilty”or“notguilty”inanswertothecharges.

PrECEDEnT: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and legal issues similar to a disputecurrentlybeforeacourt.

ProsE:Representingoneself.Servingasone’sownlawyer.

ProsECuTE:Tochargesomeonewithacrime.Aprosecutortriesacriminalcaseonbehalfofthegovernment.

rECorD: A written account of the proceedings in a case, including all pleadings, evidence, andexhibitssubmittedinthecourseofthecase.

sEnTEnCE: Thepunishmentorderedbyacourtforadefendantconvictedofacrime.

sTAnDArD of Proof: Degree of proof required. In criminal cases, prosecutors must prove adefendant’sguilt“beyondareasonabledoubt.”

TEsTimony: Evidencepresentedorallybywitnessesduringtrialsorbeforegrandjuries.

vErDiCT: Thedecisionofatrialjuryorajudgethatdeterminestheguiltorinnocenceofacriminaldefendant.

WiTnEss: Apersoncalleduponbyeithersideinatrialtogivetestimonybeforethecourtorjury.

ThEODOrE BOONE—LAW TErMINOLOGY MATChING GAMEWrite the letter of the correct defi nition next to each term.

1. Brief

2. Jury

3. Conviction

4. Plaintiff

5. Acquittal

6. sentence

7. Witness

8. Admissible

9. Defendant

10. Affi davit

a. A written statement submitted in a trial or appellate proceeding that explains one side’s legal and factual arguments

b. The punishment ordered by a court for a defendant convicted of a crime

c. A judgment of guilt against a criminal defendant

d. A person called upon by either side in a trial to give testimony before the court or jury

e. A person or business that fi les a formal complaint with the court. in criminal cases, it is the state.

f. The group of persons selected to hear the evidence in a trial and render a verdict on matters of fact

g. A jury verdict that a criminal defendant is not guilty, or the fi nding of a judge that the evidence is insuffi cient to support a conviction

h. in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime

i. A written or printed statement made under oath

j. A term used to describe evidence that may be considered by a jury or judge in civil and criminal cases

AnSWERS:1.A;2.F;3.C;4.E;5.G;6.B;7.D;8.j;9.H;10.I

the evidence in a trial and render a verdict on matters of fact

g. A jury verdict that a criminal defendan is not guilty, or the fi nding of a judge that the a conviction

h. in a of the crime

i. A written or printed statement made under oath

j. A t may be considered by a jury or judge in civil and criminal cases

AnSWERS:1.testimony;2.verdict;3.warrant;4.sentence;5.prosecute;6.plea;7.plaintiff;8.motion;9.mistrial;10.evidence;11.conviction;12.counsel;13.acquittal;14.appeal;15.bail

sETTing:Wheredidithappen?Whendidithappen?

ProBLEm (Confl ict):Whatwaswrong?Whatwastheproblem?

soLuTion (Conclusion):Howdidtheysolvetheproblem?

ChArACTErs:Whoarethemostimportantpeopleinthestory?

EvEnTs (sequencing):Whathappenedfirst?next?Thenwhathappened?

ThEODOrE BOONE: the abductionSTOrY ANALYSIS ChArT: POST-rEADING ACTIvITY

PurPosE: StudentsdemonstrateknowledgeofbasicstoryelementsinTheodoreBoone:TheAbduction.

DirECTions:Afteralessononstoryelements,readTheodoreBoone:TheAbductiontotheclassandhavestudentscompletethechartbelowconsideringsetting,characters,problems(conflict),events(sequencing),andsolution(conclusion).Extend thisactivitybyallowingstudents tocreate theirownshortstoriesthatfollowthesamemystery/thrillerplotlineasTheodoreBoone:TheAbduction.

Whatwaswrong?Whatwastheproblem? Whathappenedfirst?next?Thenwhathappened?

rEADErS’ ThEATErReaders’theateroffersstudentsanopportunityforinterpretiveoralreadingastheyusevoices,facialexpressions,andhandgesturestointerpretcharactersinstories.

Readers’theaterbuildsreaders’confidence,bringsstoriestolifethroughperformance,animatescontentareas,andimprovesreadingability,comprehension,andoralreadingskills.HaveyourstudentsactoutorwatchthisReaders’Theaterscript

basedonthecharacterofTheoBoone.

ThEoDorE BoonE AnD ThE ThriLL of righTs

ChArACTEr LisT

Judge:Strictandserious,allbusinesswhenitcomestothelaw.

Prosecutor:Arrogantandheadstrong,hasapersonalgrudgewithTheo.

Theo Boone:Representinghimself,knowledgeableaboutthelawbutstilljustakid.

Witness Brooke flynn: Security guard, responsible for guarding the Bill of Rights, easilyflustered.

Bailiff: Responsiblefortheswearinginofthewitness.

Judge: All right everyone, as you know we are dealing with the case of the State of new york v.TheodoreBooneregardingthetheftoftheBillofRights.Prosecution,itisyourturntocallawitnesstothestand.

Prosecutor:yourhonor,theprosecutionwouldliketocallMs.BrookeFlynntothestand.

Bailiff: Doyousweartotellthetruth,thewholetruth,andnothingbutthetruth?

Brooke:Ido.

Prosecutor:Ms.Flynn,don’tyouthinkthatI’mhandsomeandfunnyandsmartandawesomeand...

Theo:Objection,yourhonor!Irrelevant!Thequestionhasnothingtodowiththecase!

Judge:Sustained.

Prosecutor:Fine,letmerephrasethequestion.Ms.Flynn,don’tyouthinkthatTheodidit,thathewasthere,thathetooktheBillofRights,andthatitwasdefinitelyhim,and—

Theo:Objection!Leadingthewitness!He’sputtingwordsinhermouth!

Judge:Sustained.Proceed.

Prosecutor:Grr...okay.Ms.Flynn,Theoseemslikethetypeofkidwhowetsthebedanddoesmeanstuff,right?

Theo:OBjECTIOn!Lackofpersonalknowledge,andirrelevant!!

Judge:SUSTAInED!Prosecutor,gettothepoint.

Prosecutor:Iwasgettingthere!Ahem.Ms.Flynn,wheredidyoufindthestolendocument?

Theo:OBjECTIOn!Ummm...leadingthewitness?

Judge:Overruled,thisisrelevant.

Brooke:IfoundtheBillofRightsin...TheoBoone’sbackpack.

Prosecutor:Thankyou.nofurtherquestions,yourhonor.

Judge:Allright,Theo,yourwitness.

Theo:Thankyou,yourhonor.Ms.Flynn,we’vebeenprimarilyhearingirrelevantquestions,butI’dliketofocusmoreonquestionsregardingwhathappenedthedayofthecrime.Isthatallrightwithyou?

Brooke:Ofcourse.

Theo:WherewereyouonthedaytheBillofRightswasstolen?

Brooke:Iwasatwork,soIwasthereatthelibraryallday.IwasguardingtheBillofRights.

Theo:notoncedidyouleaveyourpost?Allday?

Brooke:nope,notallday.

Theo:SoyousawmestealtheBillofRights?

Brooke:Ididn’tphysicallyseeyoutakeitwithmyeyeballs.Therewasamomentwhenmybackwasturnedanditcouldhavehappenedthen...

Theo:Soyoudidleaveyourpost?

Brooke:Well,justforamoment,therewasacommotionand—

Theo:Soyoulied?

Brooke:yeah,butnotonpurpose.Ididn’tmeantolie.

Theo:Whatelseareyoulyingabout?

Brooke:nothing!IneversawyoutaketheBillofRights,okay?Therewasadisplaythatfellover,Iwenttohelp,andwhenIcamebacktheBillofRightswasgone.Idon’tknowwhathappened!Ican’tbeintwoplacesatonce.Imessedup!Don’ttellmysupervisor,please.Ineedthisjob!

Theo:nofurtherquestions,yourhonor.

Brooke:you’regood,kid.Realgood.

Judge:Thiscertainlyseemstoputreasonabledoubtinmymind,andasthisisacriminalcasethatisallthatisneededforTheotobefoundinnocent.

Prosecutor: OBjECTIOn,yOURHOnOR!!!

Judge:ToWHAT,Prosecutor?

Prosecutor:To...melosing.

Judge: Overruled.

Visitwww.theodoreboone.comtoseetheStoryPiratesperformTheodoreBooneandtheThrillofRights.

E-mailschoolandlibrary@us.penguingroup.comtorequestyourFREETheodoreBooneActivityKit.Pleasesupplyyourmailingaddressandspecifyifyouarealibrarianorateacher.

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ONE PErSON kNOWS ThE WhOLE TrUTh . . . AND hE’S ONLY ThIrTEEN YEArS OLD

MEET ThEODOrE BOONEThEODOrE BOONEThEODOrE BOONE• johnGrisham’strademarkhigh-quality

writingandstorytelling

• Experienceanewgenre:CourtroomDramaforKids

• IdealformysteryreadersfinishedwithnancyDrewandTheHardyBoys

• Brimmingwithsuspenseandintriguethatwillkeepkidsguessingandpagesturningrightuntiltheend

• Connectstosocialstudies,history,andgovernmentcurriculum

• Tiesintoactivitiessuchasmockdebatesandtrials

• Perfectforreadersages8andup

Questions? Comments? Looking to share teaching or l ibrary event stories?E-mail us at schoolandlibrary@us.penguingroup.com

DuttonChildren’sBooksAdivisionofPenguinyoungReadersGroup•AlsoavailablefromPenguinAudio

www.TheodoreBoone.com•www.penguin.com/teachersandlibrarians

9783001182210