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All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2016)For use in schools and libraries only. Eleven-year-old Perry was born and raised by his mom at the Blue River Co-ed Correctional Facility in tiny Surprise, Nebraska. His mom is a resident on Cell Block C, and so far Warden Daugherty has made it possible for them to be together. That is, until a new district attorney discovers the truth-and Perry is removed from the facility and forced into a foster home. When Perry moves to the "outside" world, he feels trapped. Desperate to be reunited with his mom, Perry goes on a quest for answers about her past crime. As he gets closer to the truth, he will discover that love makes people resilient no matter where they come from . . . but can he find a way to tell everyone what home truly means?
381 pages, Library Binding
First published March 1, 2016
335 people are currently reading
6724 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Connor
11 books432 followersFrom the author's website:
My life began suddenly (you can even ask my mother) in an antique farmhouse outside of Cleveland, Ohio. I was born right on the family room floor ~ no time to get to the hospital! I swear, I’ve been in a hurry ever since.
When I was in fourth grade we moved to a neighborhood full of kids outside of Schenectady, New York. My Dad worked for a company that sold some of the finest printing papers in all the land. He often brought home big, beautiful, heavy books that pinned me to my chair when I held them in my lap, and I loved to turn the pages, look at the photography and illustrations and smell the ink.
As a kid I took dancing lessons and did gymnastics. I could be found upside-down in odd places like the middle of the stairway, not that I recommend it! My bedroom was a messy nest full of paint sets and paper scraps, embroidery threads and sewing projects. In school I was good at some things and not at all good at others. Still, I found my passions. I went to college, first at SUNY, Cobleskill, where I received an associate’s degree in agriculture, and later at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Ct. where I earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art.
At first, I was interested in children’s books from an illustrator’s point of view. But the writing part surprised me ~ came up from behind and tapped me on the shoulder. I realized that my head and heart were very full of stories and that I should pay attention! My ideas come from everyday life, and I write for readers of all ages.
I live in the Connecticut woods with my husband and three children. (Well, the kids are getting big and they all drive cars now so they come and go a lot these days.) We keep our bird feeders full, do a little gardening and stack a lot of firewood. I hike the trails near my home almost every morning. Then I make a pot of tea and get to work. Usually, my loyal Writing Dogs are right by my side. (Sometimes I even borrow dogs from my neighbors. You can’t have enough dogs.)
I love making artisan pizzas and pots of soup and my favorite treat is dark chocolate. I also love to ride my bike down to the diner to meet my friends for breakfast and more tea. (Hmm...that’s a lot of eating, isn’t it?)
Life is fine!
My life began suddenly (you can even ask my mother) in an antique farmhouse outside of Cleveland, Ohio. I was born right on the family room floor ~ no time to get to the hospital! I swear, I’ve been in a hurry ever since.
When I was in fourth grade we moved to a neighborhood full of kids outside of Schenectady, New York. My Dad worked for a company that sold some of the finest printing papers in all the land. He often brought home big, beautiful, heavy books that pinned me to my chair when I held them in my lap, and I loved to turn the pages, look at the photography and illustrations and smell the ink.
As a kid I took dancing lessons and did gymnastics. I could be found upside-down in odd places like the middle of the stairway, not that I recommend it! My bedroom was a messy nest full of paint sets and paper scraps, embroidery threads and sewing projects. In school I was good at some things and not at all good at others. Still, I found my passions. I went to college, first at SUNY, Cobleskill, where I received an associate’s degree in agriculture, and later at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Ct. where I earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art.
At first, I was interested in children’s books from an illustrator’s point of view. But the writing part surprised me ~ came up from behind and tapped me on the shoulder. I realized that my head and heart were very full of stories and that I should pay attention! My ideas come from everyday life, and I write for readers of all ages.
I live in the Connecticut woods with my husband and three children. (Well, the kids are getting big and they all drive cars now so they come and go a lot these days.) We keep our bird feeders full, do a little gardening and stack a lot of firewood. I hike the trails near my home almost every morning. Then I make a pot of tea and get to work. Usually, my loyal Writing Dogs are right by my side. (Sometimes I even borrow dogs from my neighbors. You can’t have enough dogs.)
I love making artisan pizzas and pots of soup and my favorite treat is dark chocolate. I also love to ride my bike down to the diner to meet my friends for breakfast and more tea. (Hmm...that’s a lot of eating, isn’t it?)
Life is fine!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,165 reviews
May 17, 2016
4.5 stars. Now this is what I like to see in a middle grade novel. Yes, there are tough issues and real world problems, but that doesn't mean it has to be depressing! Perry sees a lot of injustice, both in the formal legal sense and in his personal relationships. He gets angry, he gets sad. But he also fights, has hope, and builds off of the support he gets from some amazing friends (I love the characters in this book--the variety and strength in each is awesome.) The writing is excellent with several key details I appreciated. For instance, while with his foster family, Perry never refers to anything as his, just "the room he's staying in" or "the bed they let him use" and so forth. Home is with his mother. Speaking of, the addition of chapters from Jessica's perspective, while I thought odd at first, provide fantastic perspective to the story. I enjoyed her character's voice. And while the ending is totally predictable, I still love a happy ending (*heartfelt sigh*).
I wish I could've given it the full five stars, but there are some odd gaps, jumps, and skips. For instance: Brian, the token bully character, has too quick of turnaround. The depth behind his change of heart is missing. Also, Perry's father. Jessica shares her fond memories of him and how wonderful he was...but she never told him about his son, Perry? I wish she had just put in one sentence about why she cut ties. Small complaints, really. I'm getting picky about details.
Honestly, on the whole, I loved this book and will be quick to recommend it. The legalese and making-a-family-with-those-around-you theme makes me think of Three Times Lucky, while the fight for family and strong main character is like Some Kind of Courage. Really though, this is a pretty unique book and topic. Go and read!
I wish I could've given it the full five stars, but there are some odd gaps, jumps, and skips. For instance: Brian, the token bully character, has too quick of turnaround. The depth behind his change of heart is missing. Also, Perry's father. Jessica shares her fond memories of him and how wonderful he was...but she never told him about his son, Perry? I wish she had just put in one sentence about why she cut ties. Small complaints, really. I'm getting picky about details.
Honestly, on the whole, I loved this book and will be quick to recommend it. The legalese and making-a-family-with-those-around-you theme makes me think of Three Times Lucky, while the fight for family and strong main character is like Some Kind of Courage. Really though, this is a pretty unique book and topic. Go and read!
April 27, 2021
CW:
Well that was a thoroughly entertaining and heartwarming middle school novel!
The 'found family' storyline was so sincere and warm and I loved that part of the novel. I really valued Jessica's point of view as her love and hopes for their future pulled at my parent heart strings. Perry was such an open and gutsy kid and his determination to show that his upbringing in a prison was one filled with love and support drove the story forward brilliantly. A great middle school novel!
Well that was a thoroughly entertaining and heartwarming middle school novel!
The 'found family' storyline was so sincere and warm and I loved that part of the novel. I really valued Jessica's point of view as her love and hopes for their future pulled at my parent heart strings. Perry was such an open and gutsy kid and his determination to show that his upbringing in a prison was one filled with love and support drove the story forward brilliantly. A great middle school novel!
March 19, 2018
Extra character development, more showing and less telling, make this message-driven book both longer and richer, and more engaging, than most earnest MG fare. And what a concept! I could say lots more, but I'd rather you find the time to read it for yourself.
Btw, I do know someone who recently served time, and most of what is related here does seem plausible according to what my friend has told me.
And I never knew about making a 'worm' from the paper off a disposable straw before; I'll have to test that next time I'm in a casual restaurant.
And I will look for more by the author.
Btw, I do know someone who recently served time, and most of what is related here does seem plausible according to what my friend has told me.
And I never knew about making a 'worm' from the paper off a disposable straw before; I'll have to test that next time I'm in a casual restaurant.
And I will look for more by the author.
November 10, 2016
There is absolutely no way I would put this book into the hands of children with incarcerated parents. And this makes me very, very sad and extremely disappointed. One in 28 school-aged children have a parent in the prison system, a fact acknowledged in the author's note, and yet they won't be able to relate to hardly anything in this book. It should be labeled as fantasy. And I know there would be no way a child could be raised in a low-security prison, (my husband was a deputy in the jail division for 10 years and rolled his eyes and lectured at pretty much everything I had to tell him), but I'm okay with that story line. What I'm not okay with is the perfect characters and the details of Jessica's crime. I know this is for children, and sugar-coating the reality of this situation may be needed...a bit, but these rose-colored glasses are too thick. Kids with incarcerated parents have flaws, are struggling, and they need to know they are not alone, it's okay, good can come from their situations, people care about them, etc. Very disappointed.
I'm giving this 2 stars only because I believe there is a HUGE need for this subject matter, but I really wanted to give it 1 star because it was so poorly done.
I'm giving this 2 stars only because I believe there is a HUGE need for this subject matter, but I really wanted to give it 1 star because it was so poorly done.
May 19, 2017
We chose this book as our third staff book club book. What a special story! I loved so many characters - Perry, his mother, the warden, Big Ed, Mrs. Samuels, Zoey, Miss Maya, and even Brian. Connor explores home and family through a correctional facility where Perry has been allowed to grow up as close to his mother as possible, fostered by Warden Daugherty. This story also explores what it means to pay for one's mistakes, forgiveness, and redemption. The ending was a tear-jerker! I want to pass this book on to my students who read and loved Ruby on the Outside by Nora Raleigh Baskin.
Some gems:
Big Ed: "Seek to understand before you seek to be understood."
"No matter where you live, you have a community of some kind. And you can be a contributor."
Perry: "But I cannot help knowing this: counting your wins doesn't mean that you don't know what your losses are. You do."
Zoey: "Aww...this sad. Once you know the person, well, it makes you care."
Some gems:
Big Ed: "Seek to understand before you seek to be understood."
"No matter where you live, you have a community of some kind. And you can be a contributor."
Perry: "But I cannot help knowing this: counting your wins doesn't mean that you don't know what your losses are. You do."
Zoey: "Aww...this sad. Once you know the person, well, it makes you care."
July 10, 2017
At first I was like nah.....not going to like this novel, it is too unrealistic. There is no way a child would be allowed to be raised in a minimum security prison. But, as the story developed, the author raised so many important issues and relationships that my original thinking was overtaken. I ❤️ the protagonist Perry, who despite being bullied, handles himself with grace and pride. His bully is Brian Morris who grows out of being a bully. The author shows this by allowing Brian to take time to understand people's stories. I also loved how Perry helped his Mom's parole hearing by learning how to tell his story through video and voice over,a kind of "genius hour" project. This book would be a jumping off point if one would want to do more research on the problems of the US prison system and its lack of recidivism rate.
April 2, 2023
همونطور که امیدوار بودی، لسلی کانر، پری تی.کوک و تمام شخصیتهایی که خلق کردی قلبم رو بهدست آوردن.
درسته که هیچوقت توی واقعیت این اتفاق نمیافته که کسی مثل برایان (و توماس ونلیر) یهو متحول و آدم خوبهی ماجرا بشن. :)) ولی اینکه حداقل توی کتابها این اتفاق میافته خوشحال کنندهست. دومین کتابی بود که از لسلی کانر میخوندم و ایمان آوردم که باید سراغ بقیهشون هم برم.
با تشکر از سولی عزیزم که بهم معرفیش کرد. :))
درسته که هیچوقت توی واقعیت این اتفاق نمیافته که کسی مثل برایان (و توماس ونلیر) یهو متحول و آدم خوبهی ماجرا بشن. :)) ولی اینکه حداقل توی کتابها این اتفاق میافته خوشحال کنندهست. دومین کتابی بود که از لسلی کانر میخوندم و ایمان آوردم که باید سراغ بقیهشون هم برم.
با تشکر از سولی عزیزم که بهم معرفیش کرد. :))
November 14, 2016
This is my favorite MG book for the year. It is funny, sad, and much more. Most of all it is a really interesting book.
Perry lives in a jail, Blue River, a minimum-security facility. The warden allowed it, and he lives there since he was born. His mother is an inmate, that made a few mistakes. She was accused with manslaughter. She drove drunk, got into an accident and a man was killed.
The warden lives with the following belief: minimum security has always meant maximum potential. Our residents have made mistakes. But they come here to rise up again, and make good choices.
Perry moves to the “outside” world, in spite of his good life in Blue River, where his family resides for years. The new district attorney decided that this is not a place for a kid, and he takes him away. His mother waiting for a parole hearing that now got delayed (related to Perry staying there with her?). His visitations are now limited too. Perry doesn't know much about the crime, and he goes searching for the truth, trying to help his mother.
You are going to fall in love with Perry. So be prepared. Engaging book, that loses points only for being too good to be true. . 4 solid stars, that could be 5, if it wasn't too perfectly wrapped up.
Perry lives in a jail, Blue River, a minimum-security facility. The warden allowed it, and he lives there since he was born. His mother is an inmate, that made a few mistakes. She was accused with manslaughter. She drove drunk, got into an accident and a man was killed.
The warden lives with the following belief: minimum security has always meant maximum potential. Our residents have made mistakes. But they come here to rise up again, and make good choices.
Perry moves to the “outside” world, in spite of his good life in Blue River, where his family resides for years. The new district attorney decided that this is not a place for a kid, and he takes him away. His mother waiting for a parole hearing that now got delayed (related to Perry staying there with her?). His visitations are now limited too. Perry doesn't know much about the crime, and he goes searching for the truth, trying to help his mother.
You are going to fall in love with Perry. So be prepared. Engaging book, that loses points only for being too good to be true. . 4 solid stars, that could be 5, if it wasn't too perfectly wrapped up.
August 13, 2018
A really heartwarming, well-developed story about a boy raised with his Mom in prison. Very cute and yet it never downplays real emotions. It also never gets too intense for middle school readers which I liked. (It very easily might have) A really solid read! Thank you, Ginnie!
June 8, 2016
One in twenty-eight school-aged children have a parent in the prison system. This fact is acknowledged by Leslie Connors in her author's note, and one reason I chose to read this book. Working with a number of young people with incarcerated parents, I want to be able to recommend books that reflect this reality. This pick, though, was lacking. I did not find Jessica's (Perry's mother's) "crime" believable, and Perry is almost too perfect of a kid. The story drags in portions. For students who have a parent in prison, parts of the story are either lacking in emotion and detail, or soften it so much it's not believable, even to middle grade readers. The book is oddly and overly subtle in its depictions of any sort of racial diversity, particularly for a novel about prison life. Thomas VanLeer, however, is a solid depiction of well-intentioned adults working in the system that do more harm than good.
For readers seeking upper elementary or middle great fiction that depicts families impacted by incarceration, I'd recommend "Ruby on the Outside" by Nora Raleigh Baskin instead.
For readers seeking upper elementary or middle great fiction that depicts families impacted by incarceration, I'd recommend "Ruby on the Outside" by Nora Raleigh Baskin instead.
April 20, 2017
Honestly, it was an amazing book. I recommend to anyone who hasn't read it. It is a Caudill nominee, and one of the bast, too
June 1, 2016
Two sentence summary: Engaging story about a boy somewhat unlawfully raised in a prison who is found out and then sent to live with the DA who is delaying his mother's parole hearing. Think of a cross between One For the Murphys and Orange is the New Black.
Perhaps my favorite aspect of this story is how Leslie Connor portrays the primary villain, District Attorney Thomas VanLeer. VanLeer is evil, but his type of evil is so evil not even he is aware of just how evil he is. VanLeer is a liar and a belittler. For example, when talking to Perry about Perry's arrangement in prison, VanLeer says, "Well, it might have seemed fine, but it wasn't right. I wouldn't make you try to understand that, Perry, that's the stuff we grown-ups have to sort out."
And perhaps that's the most fascinating part about VanLeer: he has ripped a son from a mother, he is an obstructionist and an obfuscator, and at the end of the day, he's still convinced he's doing the right thing for the right reasons and that the ends will justify the means.
VanLeer (and to a lesser extent, Perry's encarcerated mother) provide middle grades readers with fascinating character studies about when it's okay to lie to somebody and what doing the right thing can really mean.
I also appreciated Connor's attempts to write an uplifting family story about prisons and prisoners that would be appropriate for an elementary school audience. I think here is where Connor struggles the most -- enter World's Most Unlikely Parole Hearing and World's Most Sympathetic Reason to be Incarcerated -- but I liked how she weaved a few darker ideas into the text for some older readers. This includes, for example, the number of prisoners Perry and the other prisoners refer to as the Cold Ones because they're so emotionally detached, and the constant awareness of others' privacy around their stories, and examples of some prisoners who made poor judgements earlier in life and are now paying for it.
Some readers might be daunted by the length (344 pages) and others might get confused at the occasional point of view switches to Perry's mom. Still, I'm really intrigued to know what students will think of this one.... the prison setting makes it more interesting to students who otherwise might not pick up middle grades books.
Perhaps my favorite aspect of this story is how Leslie Connor portrays the primary villain, District Attorney Thomas VanLeer. VanLeer is evil, but his type of evil is so evil not even he is aware of just how evil he is. VanLeer is a liar and a belittler. For example, when talking to Perry about Perry's arrangement in prison, VanLeer says, "Well, it might have seemed fine, but it wasn't right. I wouldn't make you try to understand that, Perry, that's the stuff we grown-ups have to sort out."
And perhaps that's the most fascinating part about VanLeer: he has ripped a son from a mother, he is an obstructionist and an obfuscator, and at the end of the day, he's still convinced he's doing the right thing for the right reasons and that the ends will justify the means.
VanLeer (and to a lesser extent, Perry's encarcerated mother) provide middle grades readers with fascinating character studies about when it's okay to lie to somebody and what doing the right thing can really mean.
I also appreciated Connor's attempts to write an uplifting family story about prisons and prisoners that would be appropriate for an elementary school audience. I think here is where Connor struggles the most -- enter World's Most Unlikely Parole Hearing and World's Most Sympathetic Reason to be Incarcerated -- but I liked how she weaved a few darker ideas into the text for some older readers. This includes, for example, the number of prisoners Perry and the other prisoners refer to as the Cold Ones because they're so emotionally detached, and the constant awareness of others' privacy around their stories, and examples of some prisoners who made poor judgements earlier in life and are now paying for it.
Some readers might be daunted by the length (344 pages) and others might get confused at the occasional point of view switches to Perry's mom. Still, I'm really intrigued to know what students will think of this one.... the prison setting makes it more interesting to students who otherwise might not pick up middle grades books.
June 17, 2016
I've had lots of success booktalking this one at schools. The kids are super interested to find out why Perry lives in a prison, and even more why he LIKES it and is upset when he moves into a normal house.
My favorite part of this book was the description of the mindset one develops in prison. Big Ed's rules and tips for serving time are also applicable to life on the outside and I think a big part of what makes Perry such a good person.
Speaking of Perry being a good person, my big criticism of this book is that Perry and Jessica are a little too perfect to feel real. On top of that, the whole setup is idealized in a way that might make kids who have incarcerated loved ones in real life roll their eyes. The warden is a humanitarian with a heart of gold. There are no mean guards. There are some prisoners that Perry keeps his distance from, but there's no drama around that. A little too good to feel true. But this is a children's book and I certainly don't think the author meant to convey the experience of an average child with an incarcerated parent. I mean, come on. Perry lives in the prison until he's 12 and he's basically a perfect human child. This might as well be named Pollyanna Prison.
I think this is a Newbery contender because of the interesting plot, the exploration of themes around being incarcerated, and the depiction of the villain Mr. Thomas Van Leer. I'm always cheering authors who give us villains with real character besides being evil. Van Leer is a great example of someone who's a bad guy *because* he's well meaning and can't see past the end of his own nose. Very realistic.
My favorite part of this book was the description of the mindset one develops in prison. Big Ed's rules and tips for serving time are also applicable to life on the outside and I think a big part of what makes Perry such a good person.
Speaking of Perry being a good person, my big criticism of this book is that Perry and Jessica are a little too perfect to feel real. On top of that, the whole setup is idealized in a way that might make kids who have incarcerated loved ones in real life roll their eyes. The warden is a humanitarian with a heart of gold. There are no mean guards. There are some prisoners that Perry keeps his distance from, but there's no drama around that. A little too good to feel true. But this is a children's book and I certainly don't think the author meant to convey the experience of an average child with an incarcerated parent. I mean, come on. Perry lives in the prison until he's 12 and he's basically a perfect human child. This might as well be named Pollyanna Prison.
I think this is a Newbery contender because of the interesting plot, the exploration of themes around being incarcerated, and the depiction of the villain Mr. Thomas Van Leer. I'm always cheering authors who give us villains with real character besides being evil. Van Leer is a great example of someone who's a bad guy *because* he's well meaning and can't see past the end of his own nose. Very realistic.
March 13, 2017
A really sweet story. I enjoyed it immensely.
November 2, 2017
Prachtig verhaal over het gevangenisleven, vriendschap/familie en het hebben van een thuis. Meer nog is het een verhaal over mensen, hoe zij kunnen veranderen, ook al zitten ze "binnen de poort".
•
De 11-jarige Perry is opgegroeid in de Blue Rivergevangenis in Surprise, Nebraska. Zijn moeder zit daar een straf van 15 jaar uit. Hij wordt plots door een ijverige OvJ in diens huis gehaald "want een gevangenis is geen huis voor een kind". Perry gaat naar de brugklas (in de VS zijn ze jaar eerder dan NL) waar hij een goede vriendin Zoey heeft. Voor een schoolproject moeten ze over hun afkomst vertellen en Perry besluit de gevangenisbewoners voor het eerst naar hun Blue Riververhalen te vragen (vanwege hun privacy was hij daar nooit op uit). Zo leert hij ook zijn moeders verhaal kennen.
•
Blijkbaar speelt Perry's vader voor hem geen rol, er worden nauwelijks vragen over hem gesteld. Als lezer wilde ik dat plaatje compleet hebben maar voor de hoofdpersoon klopte het.
Ik vond niet dat er vanuit een Nederlander bezien erg veel verschil was tussen NL-Amerikaans systeem. Geen horrortoestanden in de gevangenis, want beperkt beveiligde gemengde instelling. Ook wordt er geen nadruk gelegd op school, waardoor het voor een Nederlands kind goed leesbaar is.
•
Wat me zeer verraste was dat dit boek in de bieb een B-exemplaar is. Ik vond het een stevige C, geschikt vanaf brugklas.
•
De 11-jarige Perry is opgegroeid in de Blue Rivergevangenis in Surprise, Nebraska. Zijn moeder zit daar een straf van 15 jaar uit. Hij wordt plots door een ijverige OvJ in diens huis gehaald "want een gevangenis is geen huis voor een kind". Perry gaat naar de brugklas (in de VS zijn ze jaar eerder dan NL) waar hij een goede vriendin Zoey heeft. Voor een schoolproject moeten ze over hun afkomst vertellen en Perry besluit de gevangenisbewoners voor het eerst naar hun Blue Riververhalen te vragen (vanwege hun privacy was hij daar nooit op uit). Zo leert hij ook zijn moeders verhaal kennen.
•
Blijkbaar speelt Perry's vader voor hem geen rol, er worden nauwelijks vragen over hem gesteld. Als lezer wilde ik dat plaatje compleet hebben maar voor de hoofdpersoon klopte het.
Ik vond niet dat er vanuit een Nederlander bezien erg veel verschil was tussen NL-Amerikaans systeem. Geen horrortoestanden in de gevangenis, want beperkt beveiligde gemengde instelling. Ook wordt er geen nadruk gelegd op school, waardoor het voor een Nederlands kind goed leesbaar is.
•
Wat me zeer verraste was dat dit boek in de bieb een B-exemplaar is. Ik vond het een stevige C, geschikt vanaf brugklas.
November 25, 2016
Engaging and unique, this book had such incredible potential. Since when have you read an elementary school novel where the protagonist was raised in a minimum-security facility? I started out loving the book, laughing out loud and thinking, "Can't wait to share this." By the end I was clicking off stars if you will for just too much. There was just too much coincidence. There was just too much radical change and too many of the same stories of "innocence". The penal system didn't come out looking good at all and neither in a broad sense did lawyers. With a realistic setting, I guess I expected more realism.
Perry Cook is an amazing kid and the philosophies weaving throughout the story are uplifting if you will and meant to be foundation beliefs for anyone. It is a statement about how impressionable children truly are and the value of teaching them while young. I felt that the book needs adult supervision and input.
Perry Cook is an amazing kid and the philosophies weaving throughout the story are uplifting if you will and meant to be foundation beliefs for anyone. It is a statement about how impressionable children truly are and the value of teaching them while young. I felt that the book needs adult supervision and input.
February 9, 2017
Readers and teachers should be wary: this book presents a romanticized view of incarceration and the author ignores the way the American prison system disproportionately affects black and brown families. The premise is silly and the saccharine tone is heavy-handed, plus Perry is a remarkably boring main character.
June 29, 2016
Loved the story & the characters.. We don't see a lot of kid lit books with incarcerated parents, and I appreciate that! Took away a star because I felt it was just a bit too long. Will definitely be sharing this one with students next year!
January 27, 2018
This book was very interesting to read... But though I enjoyed it this book was rather slow in some parts and easy to predict. I gave it 4 stars because it was different because I had never read a book like it before.
March 19, 2016
Rarely is this situation addressed in this way in literature, but for this 9-13 age group this may be uniquely appropriate. I don't recount the plot since that is summarized above.
While I (as an ex-children's librarian) enjoyed reading it, it had such a 'fairy tale' veneer to it that its purpose seemed weakened. That's not unusual for children's books, but the subject matter puts a different light on it since this addresses a societal situation. In her Acknowledgments, Leslie Connor cites the heartbreaking statistic that "About one in twenty-eight school-aged children in the United States has a parent in prison." That alone is painful. What she tries to do with this well-written, touching, even charming story is admirable. Perhaps for one of those children with a parent in prison, it will be enough to give them hope wherever it can be. May each parent be like some of the non-cold "rez" characters in this book. I fell for Perry, loved many of the other characters, and enjoyed the mystery plot. I would give it five stars, but the gloss dampens it a little. Yet this is for 9-13 age range. Having some experience with children in unbearable situations that might be somewhat comparable to Perry's, I have seen that what may appear as "too young" for already weary children - isn't. They embrace it. They hug a safety blanket for dear life even at 13.
I do recommend this book. The ends are tied up neatly, but sometimes that does happen in life. When it does, great.
(I received this ARC from a friend who owns a bookstore. There was no expectation of a review.)
While I (as an ex-children's librarian) enjoyed reading it, it had such a 'fairy tale' veneer to it that its purpose seemed weakened. That's not unusual for children's books, but the subject matter puts a different light on it since this addresses a societal situation. In her Acknowledgments, Leslie Connor cites the heartbreaking statistic that "About one in twenty-eight school-aged children in the United States has a parent in prison." That alone is painful. What she tries to do with this well-written, touching, even charming story is admirable. Perhaps for one of those children with a parent in prison, it will be enough to give them hope wherever it can be. May each parent be like some of the non-cold "rez" characters in this book. I fell for Perry, loved many of the other characters, and enjoyed the mystery plot. I would give it five stars, but the gloss dampens it a little. Yet this is for 9-13 age range. Having some experience with children in unbearable situations that might be somewhat comparable to Perry's, I have seen that what may appear as "too young" for already weary children - isn't. They embrace it. They hug a safety blanket for dear life even at 13.
I do recommend this book. The ends are tied up neatly, but sometimes that does happen in life. When it does, great.
(I received this ARC from a friend who owns a bookstore. There was no expectation of a review.)
February 14, 2016
What it's all about...
Perry T. Cook has lived in a minimum security prison with his mom ever since he was born. He is exceptionally happy. His bedroom is next to the warden's office and he has incredible relationships with many of the inmates. The warden's niece takes him to school, he has little jobs at the prison, he is smart and well adjusted. He and his mom look forward to the day when she will be paroled and they will have a house of their own. And then...a wrench is thrown into Perry's lovely life. A new DA doesn't think Perry should be living at this prison and without warning...Perry is packed up and gone!
Why I wanted to read it...
This book just sounded lovely...sweet and sad and funny and lovely. I have a fondness for middle grade books. This is truly a beautiful one.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
Perry was the character who resonated with me. He was so happy with what he had. I loved the way he and his mom would get excited when they had a chance to eat steamed broccoli in the prison's small kitchen. And later...when Perry wasn't living at the prison any more...he brought her broccoli as if it was a bunch of flowers! Teary eyed...
Why you should read it, too...
This is a lovely book about injustice, compassion and even redemption. Readers who enjoy sweet books like this will cheer for Perry and his mom!
March 22, 2018
I really loved this story! Although I thought it was going to be cheesy, it really ended up being one of my favorites. Perry Cook has grown up in a minimum security prison with his mom, who is an inmate. This book had a little bit of mystery added to the drama, which kept me interested until the very end. Great read!
March 23, 2019
Absolutely perfect in every way. Well written, real characters, great imagery, and a story previously untold. And this is an important story for kids and adults alike. NEWBERY. Really, this should totally win.
May 4, 2016
Great book! While the premise of the story is highly unlikely, the author took a "what if" approach and told a great story. Good writing, fleshed out (and believable) main characters. I'm going to have to try another book by Leslie Connor.
February 26, 2018
Despite the improbable setting and events there were many touching things about this book. Talking about the story would be a good way to get kids to re-examine some preconceived values. I think that the target audience is probably Grade 5-Grade-8.
February 7, 2017
Every so often I read a book that really impacts me. I wasn't expecting it from a J Fiction book but I was completely blown away! What a beautiful, deeply moving read. I highly recommend it!
April 13, 2018
This is so, so, so, so, SO good! And it made me so happy! I'm calling it early. I think this is going to be one of my favorite books I read this month.
April 14, 2024
Eleven-year-old Perry T. Cook was born and raised by his mom at Blue River, a Co-ed Correctional Facility in tiny Surprise, Nebraska. His mom is a resident and the Warden, Warden Daugherty, has made it possible for them to be together. That is, until a new district attorney discovers the truth and Perry is removed from the facility and forced into a foster home.
When Perry moves to the “outside” world, he feels trapped. Desperate to be reunited with his mom, Perry goes on a quest to reunite them and to find answers about her past crime.
This was a very sweet story. It has very unrealistic plot points but that’s part of what allows fiction to so easily capture the imagination. It’s written to middle schoolers but I found it interesting and moving. I’ll admit, I was teary eyed as it ended.
There’s something about the center of the story that resonated with me and I think would resonate with anyone. It is, at its heart, a story about a little boy who just wants to go home. He just wants to be with his mom. And that’s very real.
Is it unrealistic? Yes.
Is it saccharine? Yes.
Is it crushingly optimistic of negative events in a way that is almost nowhere reflected in the real world? Of course it is.
But I still liked it.
When Perry moves to the “outside” world, he feels trapped. Desperate to be reunited with his mom, Perry goes on a quest to reunite them and to find answers about her past crime.
This was a very sweet story. It has very unrealistic plot points but that’s part of what allows fiction to so easily capture the imagination. It’s written to middle schoolers but I found it interesting and moving. I’ll admit, I was teary eyed as it ended.
There’s something about the center of the story that resonated with me and I think would resonate with anyone. It is, at its heart, a story about a little boy who just wants to go home. He just wants to be with his mom. And that’s very real.
Is it unrealistic? Yes.
Is it saccharine? Yes.
Is it crushingly optimistic of negative events in a way that is almost nowhere reflected in the real world? Of course it is.
But I still liked it.
November 20, 2015
Trying to find a really good uplifting, wholesome children's book in a sea of reads that deal with real life harsh topics from child abuse to terminal illness can be really tough for a children's bookseller like myself. However, a real gem can shine through the pile of repetitive sad themes and I'm glad I discovered this outstanding novel by Leslie Connor in our ARC's at work.
In this story, Perry T. Cook grew up with his incarcerated mother in a small-town minor state penal facility. Immediately, you think, as a reader, that this is going to be another tragic, melancholy tale of a dysfunctional family and the main character is going to put through the ringer as the story progresses. I assure you this is nothing like of the sort. If you liked Gennifer Choldenko's Al Capone Shines My Shoes series, Louis Sachar's Holes, and the optimistic innocence of Kimberly Willis Holt's Dear Hank Williams, then Perry T. Cook is the perfect character to represent the wide-eyed symbol of hope and human empathy for All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook.
Here, our protagonist has grown up with a different perspective on prison life and the characters in the pen become his surrogate family as he and his mother adapt to this unorthodox way of life. When Harry is taken away by social services and placed in foster care, he sets about a strategy of having his mother released by revisiting her court case and proving her innocence. It's this type of determination that makes readers cheer for the unsung hero and makes him such a enjoyable person to connect with.
All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is sure to appeal to older grade schoolers and middle readers for several reasons. One, Perry is such a lovable character that you can't help but love him. Two, his representation as the underdog makes him very appealing to young readers that they'll be moved by the story. Three, he is just an all-around nice guy. Four, he is very relatable. Lastly, Perry is such a fascinating character. How can you not like this guy?
In closing, All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is such a marvelous story. It's got all the themes of a really great read and youngsters will enjoy it for it's underlying messages of family and courage.
Definitely keep this on your radar! It's really very good!
In this story, Perry T. Cook grew up with his incarcerated mother in a small-town minor state penal facility. Immediately, you think, as a reader, that this is going to be another tragic, melancholy tale of a dysfunctional family and the main character is going to put through the ringer as the story progresses. I assure you this is nothing like of the sort. If you liked Gennifer Choldenko's Al Capone Shines My Shoes series, Louis Sachar's Holes, and the optimistic innocence of Kimberly Willis Holt's Dear Hank Williams, then Perry T. Cook is the perfect character to represent the wide-eyed symbol of hope and human empathy for All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook.
Here, our protagonist has grown up with a different perspective on prison life and the characters in the pen become his surrogate family as he and his mother adapt to this unorthodox way of life. When Harry is taken away by social services and placed in foster care, he sets about a strategy of having his mother released by revisiting her court case and proving her innocence. It's this type of determination that makes readers cheer for the unsung hero and makes him such a enjoyable person to connect with.
All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is sure to appeal to older grade schoolers and middle readers for several reasons. One, Perry is such a lovable character that you can't help but love him. Two, his representation as the underdog makes him very appealing to young readers that they'll be moved by the story. Three, he is just an all-around nice guy. Four, he is very relatable. Lastly, Perry is such a fascinating character. How can you not like this guy?
In closing, All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is such a marvelous story. It's got all the themes of a really great read and youngsters will enjoy it for it's underlying messages of family and courage.
Definitely keep this on your radar! It's really very good!
August 1, 2016
Perry T. Cook, eleven, has grown up in a minimum-security prison. His mother is incarcerated; she’s a resident, in for manslaughter. But we also learn that she’s worked to attain a degree in social work while there. Perry has been allowed to stay in his own little room near the warden’s office. He’s close to many of the residents, has some rules (doesn’t every kid?), and is happy. He’s looking forward to his mom being released on parole. He’s a good kid with a great friend at school, Zoey, a young girl who sticks with Perry through everything, and he sticks with her too. The wrench thrown in the story comes from Zoey’s father, a new DA who’s recently discovered about Perry and believes it’s a terrible situation. He manages to get custody as a foster parent, and all of a sudden Perry and Zoey are together, all the time, and Perry is no longer in the only home he's ever known. This is the stepfather that Zoey has been complaining about!
Through the entire story, Perry’s voice stands out clear and steady, which happens to be an important trait honored in this book. I was interested to read the story and discover that so many seemed to hold their emotions in check. Some very tough things happened, and there were no things thrown across the rooms, no screams, anger and sadness only in thoughts. There were some private sobs. I felt sympathy for those in the book, that underlying tension that couldn’t seem to be shown. Also, I felt admiration for those who were trying hard to make something good in their lives. Maybe after years of holding things in, some really struggle to show feelings. And so did Perry, although we knew his thoughts through the strong voice given by Leslie Connor. Most of the time, Connor tells the story from Perry’s point of view, and occasionally, his mother, Jessica’s. What a good boy he is, and how well he handles condescension and bullying, and how loyal and loving he is to all his friends. I enjoyed the story very much, wonder about it being a read aloud, calling for a great discussion to the questions: Is this character too good to be true? Could we all strive to be a little more like Perry?
Through the entire story, Perry’s voice stands out clear and steady, which happens to be an important trait honored in this book. I was interested to read the story and discover that so many seemed to hold their emotions in check. Some very tough things happened, and there were no things thrown across the rooms, no screams, anger and sadness only in thoughts. There were some private sobs. I felt sympathy for those in the book, that underlying tension that couldn’t seem to be shown. Also, I felt admiration for those who were trying hard to make something good in their lives. Maybe after years of holding things in, some really struggle to show feelings. And so did Perry, although we knew his thoughts through the strong voice given by Leslie Connor. Most of the time, Connor tells the story from Perry’s point of view, and occasionally, his mother, Jessica’s. What a good boy he is, and how well he handles condescension and bullying, and how loyal and loving he is to all his friends. I enjoyed the story very much, wonder about it being a read aloud, calling for a great discussion to the questions: Is this character too good to be true? Could we all strive to be a little more like Perry?
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