Richie's Picks: THE TRIALS OF KATE HOPE by Wick Downing, Houghton Mifflin,
April 2008, 329 p., ISBN: 978-0-618-89133-7
"I hate being fourteen. My calves are huge, my ankles are thick, my chest
is a cavity, and my right elbow is larger than my left one."
In so many ways Kate is a typical fourteen-year-old who is beginning her
summer vacation. But in 1973 Denver, Colorado, at the height of the modern
Women's Rights Movement, Kate is actually a one-of-a-kind teenager: She is now a
practicing attorney.
"My stomach hurt as I zipped back to the office. 'Your young man called,'
Mrs. Roulette said, 'He'd like you to call him.'
"'Mike Doyle is not my young man!' The office had emptied except for Miss
Willow, who sat huddled in a corner. 'I can't call him now. Miss Willow and
I have to be in Judge Steinbrunner's courtroom in twenty minutes.'"
Having spent quality time with her curmudgeonly, sharp-but-nearly-blind,
attorney grandfather, Kate has taken advantage of an old law that was still on
the books in Colorado to obtain her law license. (In his Authors Note the
author presents the case for this being possible.)
"'It's Kate Hope!' the receptionist said, smiling at me. She knew who I
was, which was nice. All the receptionists, and secretaries, and the women who
did all the work that men got credit for, knew who I was. I got energy from
them too, because they wanted me to succeed. 'How are you, honey?'
"'Great,' I lied."
While Kate is primarily working by assisting her grandfather -- including
helping with a case quite topical for 2008 involving a Mexican citizen who is
in Denver on a work permit -- she ends up taking charge of a death penalty
case: Elderly Miss Willow's only family -- her dog, Herman -- has been accused
of getting loose in City Park and biting the Pearsan's baby. He is about to
be euthanized unless Kate does something quickly:
"Her voice was one step from hysteria. 'There's no time to lose. Officer
Milliken wants to put an end to the dog today. He will take the paperwork to
the city attorney's office himself, and will walk it through.'
"'What does that mean?'
"'He will have the city attorney write up an order, ordering Animal Control
to "destroy" Herman! That's what the law calls killing dogs. Then he will
take the order to the judge and have it signed, and come back to the shelter,
and...' Her voice trailed off to a gasp.
"'And what?'
"'He will see to Herman himself.'
"I was shocked. 'You mean he'll kill him personally?'
"'Yes.'
"'Why?' I asked. 'Is he a sadist or something? What's the big hurry? Why
does it have to be today? What about Miss Willow?'"
The series of steps Kate takes in trying to determine what really happened
that day in City Park and the extended effort she puts forth in trying to save
Herman's life is dramatic, realistic, and eye-opening. Author Wick Downing
is a retired lawyer who has written numerous legal thrillers for adults. The
manner in which he has fit together the pieces of the tale of the dog makes
THE TRIALS OF KATE HOPE an exceptionally quick and engaging 300+ page read.
"As the jurors filed back into the box, I considered my options. Was
suicide an alternative? No, I thought, trying to cheer myself up. Mom would kill
me."
For young adolescents caught up in trying to understand exactly how adults
determine what is fair, and for those who are fascinated by the processes and
rituals of our system of laws and the seeking of justice, THE TRIALS OF KATE
HOPE provides an intriguing, entertaining (and frequently ugly) look at the
inner workings of American jurisprudence.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
Moderator, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_school_lit/
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
http://www.myspace.com/richiespicks
**************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family
favorites at AOL Food.
(http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/
* LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
* LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home