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Leapholes
Ryan Coolidge hates middle school and is in the worst kind of trouble-trouble with the law. The one person who can help Ryan is a mysterious old lawyer named Hezekiah. Hezekiah may have magical powers, or he may have the most elaborate computerized law library ever conceived. Either way, together, Ryan and Hezekiah do their legal research by zooming through leapholes, physically entering the law books, and coming face-to-face with actual people from some of our nation's most famous cases-like Rosa Parks and Dred Scott-who will help Ryan defend himself in court. It is time travel with a legal twist, where law books and important legal precedents come to life.
- GenresFantasy
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 15, 2006
33 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
James Grippando
48 books1,209 followers The first thing you should know about bestselling author James Grippando is that he is no longer clueless—or so they say, after “A James Grippando Novel” was a clue for #38 Across in the New York Times crossword puzzle. James is the winner of the Harper Lee Prize for legal fiction and a New York Times bestselling author with more than 30 novels to his credit, including the popular series featuring Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck. His latest, "Goodbye Girl" (HarperCollins 2024), is the 18th in the Swyteck series. His novels are enjoyed worldwide in 28 languages. As an adjunct professor he teaches "The Law & Lawyers in Modern Literature" at the University of Miami School of Law. He is also counsel at one of the nation’s leading law firms, where he specializes in entertainment and intellectual property law, representing clients who have won more than 40 Tony Awards. He writes in south Florida with Atlas at his side, a faithful golden retriever who has no idea he’s a dog.
Series:
* Jack Swyteck
Series:
* Jack Swyteck
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 3, 2016
Personal Response: The book in general is pretty good, there are some points where the setting would shift so much that you don`t know what`s going on but in the end it came down to was it good to read and I would say yea.
Summary: Ryan is a boy who was once very popular until his father went to jail for a crime he did not commit. Ryan and his mother go to meet with him at the prison every weekend until Ryan decides he does not want to go so he ran away. As he is away he is hit by a car and taken to a "Hospital" where he "Kills some people" and goes to the World Court for the trial, while there he meets his new lawyer Hezekiah who shows him leap holes, these things that would bring you into the cases of books for a better understanding of things. As Ryan finds out the case was a setup for him to become a Legal Eagle, all he wants to do know is go home and as he does Hezekiah is trapped in the 1800`s . Ryan now goes to the time period and saves him to only find out that he was betrayed by one of his new friends. He meets Abraham Lincoln to get back to the 21st century and in the end he saved his friend Hezekiah.
How did the character grow: Ryan at the beginning was a kind of kid who would not listen to anyone and would get into trouble normally but as he progressed in the book he had gone to a more understanding and more responsible person.
Recommendation : I would recommend this book who like twisted endings or traitors. Also the people who liked this book would probably like books like the vault of dreamers series.
Summary: Ryan is a boy who was once very popular until his father went to jail for a crime he did not commit. Ryan and his mother go to meet with him at the prison every weekend until Ryan decides he does not want to go so he ran away. As he is away he is hit by a car and taken to a "Hospital" where he "Kills some people" and goes to the World Court for the trial, while there he meets his new lawyer Hezekiah who shows him leap holes, these things that would bring you into the cases of books for a better understanding of things. As Ryan finds out the case was a setup for him to become a Legal Eagle, all he wants to do know is go home and as he does Hezekiah is trapped in the 1800`s . Ryan now goes to the time period and saves him to only find out that he was betrayed by one of his new friends. He meets Abraham Lincoln to get back to the 21st century and in the end he saved his friend Hezekiah.
How did the character grow: Ryan at the beginning was a kind of kid who would not listen to anyone and would get into trouble normally but as he progressed in the book he had gone to a more understanding and more responsible person.
Recommendation : I would recommend this book who like twisted endings or traitors. Also the people who liked this book would probably like books like the vault of dreamers series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2018
Wasn't bad, but is certainly geared for a younger audience than Grippando's other books
July 28, 2008
I received this book as part of the advertising bag at the recent Texas Bar Leaders Conference that I attended a week ago. This book is published by the American Bar Association and is for teenage readers. I guess that the story was engaging enough. It did take a while for the author to get into the story, which made the last half of the book seem a little rushed. Also, it purports to take you through great cases in history, but really gives only a paragraph on many of them. Still, it would be a decent read for someone who is wanting to become a lawyer. I do not think that it is a modern classic though.
* The edition I read had quite a few typos in it. I think that it is sad that so many publishing companies are rushing to print and not spending extra time making sure that what I read is virtually error free. I can handle one mistake, but this book had mistakes throughout such as missing quotation marks, use of "than" instead of "that", missing periods, etc. Those kinds of mistakes can be quite annoying, and make me leary of the publisher.
* The edition I read had quite a few typos in it. I think that it is sad that so many publishing companies are rushing to print and not spending extra time making sure that what I read is virtually error free. I can handle one mistake, but this book had mistakes throughout such as missing quotation marks, use of "than" instead of "that", missing periods, etc. Those kinds of mistakes can be quite annoying, and make me leary of the publisher.
June 9, 2015
I had to read this book in the seventh grade in my Texas History class. Now, while pretty much everybody did not want to read a book about law-- well, I suppose it was pretty amazing. In my opinion, the book is absolutely original-- I mean, do YOU know of any books that involve traveling through time and books for help with a trial?!?! I didn't think so.
I don't remember why our teacher made us read the book, but now I'm glad she did. I really wish there was a sequel, or at least more legal eagle books.
I'd say this book was a like a Kingdom Keepers story except the challenge is to right history and to defend himself against a pretty tough jury.
I don't remember why our teacher made us read the book, but now I'm glad she did. I really wish there was a sequel, or at least more legal eagle books.
I'd say this book was a like a Kingdom Keepers story except the challenge is to right history and to defend himself against a pretty tough jury.
May 9, 2014
Well, I wondered how good a book would have be for the ABA (The American Bar Association) to publish its first young adult fiction novel.
It's NOT Harry Potter good; but it was interesting and held my attention. The hero's mentor in this book approves and initiates a LOT of questionable actions throughout. From kidnapping to horse-thievery, all in the name of working for the higher power of "Legal Good." In fact, with a great deal of justification, the hero's mother has to call the cops on this mentor...
But damn, I think this would make a great television series for kids.
It's NOT Harry Potter good; but it was interesting and held my attention. The hero's mentor in this book approves and initiates a LOT of questionable actions throughout. From kidnapping to horse-thievery, all in the name of working for the higher power of "Legal Good." In fact, with a great deal of justification, the hero's mother has to call the cops on this mentor...
But damn, I think this would make a great television series for kids.
December 20, 2014
I've read and enjoyed Grippando's Jack Swytec books. I picked this one up to see how he did with a middle reader book. This grabbed me. As an elementary teacher I'm always looking for books that will engage 5th or 6th grade boys. The book involves several moral choices, but presents them along with a thrilling plot line that was a real page turner. I'd highly recommend this for 4th graders on up through jr. high. Boys or girls should find it interesting.
November 27, 2011
Leapholes was historical fiction with a twist (or should I say a whirlwind). Ralph's father is in prison and he dreads having to visit him. He becomes frustrated one day and leaves his house on bike only to be involved in an accident. What happens next leaves him confused and no one believes what he is saying as he is taken on an incredible adventure.
January 14, 2016
This wasn't my favorite novel, but I enjoyed the concept and creativity of the story.
I like it when authors have innovative ideas. It is fun to read a different type of novel. I wish the ending was a little different. I thought it ended too abruptly.
This book was clean and I would recommend it.
I like it when authors have innovative ideas. It is fun to read a different type of novel. I wish the ending was a little different. I thought it ended too abruptly.
This book was clean and I would recommend it.
December 20, 2012
Not what I expected at all--I was pleasantly surprised. A seamless blend of law and history that's not only gripping, but the only book I've ever come across that holds law up as an honorable profession.
July 30, 2008
This is close to to the best book ever written, an amazing mixture of so many things, filled with never ending surprises!
March 20, 2015
never miss one of his books
August 26, 2017
This is a young adult book. A teen should enjoy it and learn many legal concepts. Some misconceptions also may arise - a defendant should be able to disqualify a judge who is biased. This option was not even mentioned.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews