Trial by Journal

Ratings6

Average rating4.3

Lily Watson is twelve. She's in sixth grade. She's about to serve on a jury for a murder trial-all because of a new law saying a child must serve on the jury when a trial concerns a child victim. She'll be out of school for a month, and that means she'll have to go to summer school. And That Is So Unfair.

Fortunately, the jury experience isn't all bad. The jury stays in the Menagerie Hotel, where every room is decorated like a different animal. They get a behind-the-scenes tour at a local zoo, home to Priscilla, the world-famous gorilla artist. Lily even makes friends with a glamorous movie star who happens to be on the jury. But nothing--even the fact that the hotel is part of the Tyle-0-Tropolis, an incredible entertainment complex-changes the fact that the jury is witnessing the trial of a man who has been accused of killing Perry Keet, an eleven-year-old boy who disappeared one day at the zoo. Lily has her own thoughts on what happened to Perry, and if the real story isn't revealed in court, she's going to find out for herself what happened.

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Popular Reviews

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Deb Nance

A children's book (a graphic novel? a picture book?) by the same team of author and illustrator who wrote Regarding the Fountain, Trial by Journal is the story of a twelve-year-old who is chosen for a jury and is asked by her teacher to keep a journal of the experience. Like Regarding the Fountain, the charm of the book is as much in the clever way the illustrator uses pictures to add depth to the text of the story as it is in the story itself.

September 11, 2011

Sydney

Trial by Journal is a great example of a children's novel that uses a collective format. With a format reminiscent of My Secret War Diary by Marcia Williams, this book uses personal narration in the form of a journal augmented by newspaper clippings, secret notes, drawings, flyers, tickets, and more.

Readers should not expect this book to be a good representation of the legal process however you can learn more about how trials work. What drew me to Trial by Journal was the subtle humor which even adults can appreciate. The book is full of hidden clues and laughs. If you enjoy Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, or Theodore Boone you will probably enjoy this light funny mystery novel.

January 1, 2018