The Trials of Kate Hope

As a former school librarian and principal, I'm always excited to discover a great book for young teens which has a strong character facing challenging personal situations as well as issues involving social justice. I become even more excited if the book's main character happens to be a teenage girl, since I want my emerging teenage grand daughter to have role models who will serve her well by questioning social mores and standing tall for what is right. The Trials of Kate Hope by author Wick Downing (who also wrote the fabulous fictional story Leonardo's Hand) is just such a book! Kate Hope at age 14, through an unexpected loophole in the law, becomes an attorney, assisting her craggy, old, nearly blind grandfather lawyer in representing the under-served of Denver in the early 70's. When her grandfather becomes ill, Kate finds herself defending the clients on her own in the courts. There are so many great themes for a young person to explore in this book-a teenager's ongoing struggle to deal with the death of her father and brother when she was ten, sex and age discrimination in the 70's, the plight of immigrants seeking justice from a white-dominated legal system, and ultimately the purpose and intent of our American legal system. In addition to a great story line that would appeal to teen readers, there is the fun of getting into the heads of lawyers as the courtroom drama unfolds and a lot of incidental learning about the law. Author Wick Downing, also a lawyer by trade, has made the law accessible, engaging and appealing through his character, Kate Hope, who gives hope to others and gains hope for herself in overcoming her challenges. What a great read for young teens on their own or in book clubs or school settings! And what a refreshing change from books with characters involving over-used orphans or likable but improbable vampires.

It's the summer of 1973. Kate Hope is just your average 14-year-old girl. She's got school to deal with (though it's summertime). She's got a friend who's a boy who she's not quite sure if he's her boyfriend or not. And, oh yeah, she's a lawyer! Her almost-blind grandfather has had Kate helping him in his law office for the past few years. With his failing eyesight, he's needed help with the reading and researching of his cases. And he found a loophole in Colorado's law that allowed Kate to sit for the bar exam. It wasn't easy, but she passed the exam, and is now a practicing lawyer. At least that's what her law license says. Her grandfather still handles the trial work, but as his health comes and goes, Kate starts handling more of the responsibility. After he collapses and ends up in the hospital, Kate has to take a case to trial on her own. She's nervous and scared, but a dog's life or death depends on her. An elderly woman's dear pet is being blamed for an injury to a small child, but Kate and Miss Willow know Herman wouldn't intentionally hurt anyone! THE TRIALS OF KATE HOPE is an amusing look at what the life of a teen girl would be like if she could actually practice law. There's so much that Kate has to learn about life yet, but her youthful take on things may just let innocent people (and dogs!) go free! Reviewed by: Jaglvr

"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 jur

I would recommend buying this book for your daughters -- I thought it was excellent. Kate is a wonderful character and we get to see her struggle to be brave and do the right thing. We also get an interesting look at the legal system. The characters are developed well and you'll fall in love with the granddad, who teaches Kate so much. To me, it's a story about how a young girl develops courage, even though her stomach is shaking and she's losing sleep over the case she takes on as a very young lawyer. Developing courage and character isn't easy -- you do it by going through hard times. Kate does it beautifully and young teens who read this will absorb lessons about growing up without even knowing it.