Theodore Boone: the Abduction / John Grisham 217 p.

Another hit at my house for Grisham's 'kid lawyer,' Theodore Boone. This second installment has Theo at wit's end over the disappearance of his best friend, April Finnemore. Although she comes from a seriously dysfunctional family, Theo certainly doesn't expect her to vanish. When the police focus their time and resources on a man Theo believes is innocent, he goes to work with his fellow middle-schoolers to get to the bottom of things. A steady pace and nice balance of suspense and humor make this work; while Theo's investigations take him to the dark sides of town, he's grounded by his own loving, comfortable home.