Here's more evidence that kids aren't a lost cause when it comes to reading. John Grisham, king of the courtroom thriller, has signed a deal to create a kid-oriented series featuring 13-year-old Theodore Boone. According to publisher Hodder & Stoughton and the Bookseller blog, Boone "knows more about the law than most lawyers do", as he becomes caught up in a local murder trial. The books -- the first will be released in June, the second next year -- are aimed at 9-12 year-olds but will also be sold in the adult sections of bookstores.
It's an interesting move for Grisham, who must be familiar with the phenomenal success of series such as Harry Potter and Percy Jackson and the Olympians, not to mention Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Lemony Snicket. Each has built a huge and devoted fan base among readers, while also sparking off-shoots such as movie adaptations.
In Virginia, where I once lived, there's a saying: "I may be dumb, but I ain't stupid." No one's accusing Grisham, a lawyer, successful author and part-time Virginian, of being dumb. And this move -- extending the Grisham brand to a new, highly lucrative audience -- shows he certainly ain't stupid.