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You Be the Jury #1
You Be the Jury
The court is now in session, and you are the jury. You examine the evidence. You spot the clues. You decide: Guilty or Not Guilty. Ten courtroom mysteries with illustrated clues. Answers are given-but don't peek. The final verdict is up to you.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 1, 2024
The other day we drove up the coast to one of the little towns near us, Cambria to go on a walk with our corgis, Oliver and Oscar. We took the opportunity after our walk, to visit the local library in town. While I was perusing the shelves, I was thrilled to find some free children’s books available for my Little Free Library Shed. This was one of them.
In it, the author offers 10 short courtroom mysteries for kids to solve, as if they are actually on a jury case. Which in many respects, gives them their own opportunity to learn what it feels like to have this experience.
Each story provides a case, visual exhibit evidence and then the verdict is written out upside down at the end of each story.
While being provided the information on the case, readers are also asked to deliberate the merits of the case before considering their verdict to the case. Will readers consider the same verdict as the one offered at the end of each case?
The cases are simple, yet fun and offer a unique challenge for kids. Although, to be honest, my husband and I had a fun time playing along reading the various cases, together!
Reading level: Ages 9 – 12 years+ – Grades 4th – 6th
In it, the author offers 10 short courtroom mysteries for kids to solve, as if they are actually on a jury case. Which in many respects, gives them their own opportunity to learn what it feels like to have this experience.
Each story provides a case, visual exhibit evidence and then the verdict is written out upside down at the end of each story.
While being provided the information on the case, readers are also asked to deliberate the merits of the case before considering their verdict to the case. Will readers consider the same verdict as the one offered at the end of each case?
The cases are simple, yet fun and offer a unique challenge for kids. Although, to be honest, my husband and I had a fun time playing along reading the various cases, together!
Reading level: Ages 9 – 12 years+ – Grades 4th – 6th
July 18, 2011
these books were so much more fun before i was old enough to actually be on a jury.
i do not look forward to tomorrow...
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things i learned at jury duty today:
9 am means 930, and 330 means 345
the "computers" at jury duty are terrible
while non-asian court officers have zero difficulty pronouncing polysyllabic chinese and korean names, my two-syllable french name will cause endless variations and stumblings.
if don't forget the lyrics is not considered a weapon of mass destruction, i want to know why.
two hour lunch breaks lose their appeal when you are in the middle of nowhere and have been sitting and reading for four and a half hours already.
i am the only person in queens county without a cell phone.
many people do not read their juror instructions and must be sent home.
and lastly and bestly:
no one wants me on their jury!!!
4 years off, suckers....
i go watch law and order now.
i do not look forward to tomorrow...
************************************************************************
things i learned at jury duty today:
9 am means 930, and 330 means 345
the "computers" at jury duty are terrible
while non-asian court officers have zero difficulty pronouncing polysyllabic chinese and korean names, my two-syllable french name will cause endless variations and stumblings.
if don't forget the lyrics is not considered a weapon of mass destruction, i want to know why.
two hour lunch breaks lose their appeal when you are in the middle of nowhere and have been sitting and reading for four and a half hours already.
i am the only person in queens county without a cell phone.
many people do not read their juror instructions and must be sent home.
and lastly and bestly:
no one wants me on their jury!!!
4 years off, suckers....
i go watch law and order now.
August 30, 2020
Even better than the Encyclopedia Brown stories! Almost all are solvable by logic and observation of given evidence, and yet they really made me think. Also, I was annoyed with myself about the ones I didn't get, as I should have. I am glad my library has a few of this series and will look for more elsewhere.
June 11, 2008
I don't know if I was ever good at these... but I enjoyed rereading them.
September 17, 2013
HOW CAN I GET OVER THIS BOOK?!!!!! It was so good and I wanted to read the whole series but then i go to the library website and they say they don't even have one of them!!! I was instantly disappointed and wanted to move to a different city to be able to get this book. It has many more books in the series.
What I Liked: It had evidence so you could be investigating and they were all very realistic stories.
What I Liked: It had evidence so you could be investigating and they were all very realistic stories.
January 5, 2009
This fun book was recommended to me by my 10 year old cousin-a cutie! She said I'd like it and she was right! The premise is simple-the author presents a short court case and you must be the jury and weigh the evidence. I am a little concerned that there were a few I missed-but it was delightful. : ) Thank you, Leah!
January 24, 2009
This book is totally fantastic!
You get to read a crime, look at evidence, and solve it using the evidence from the story and pictures.
There are many cases inside one book, and they are all very different and fun.
Although, some are very tricky, I had a lot of fun with this book.
You get to read a crime, look at evidence, and solve it using the evidence from the story and pictures.
There are many cases inside one book, and they are all very different and fun.
Although, some are very tricky, I had a lot of fun with this book.
September 30, 2015
I remember reading these years ago, so when I saw this book for sale in a second hand store, it was a nice trip down memory lane :)
June 24, 2023
This was probably a better book when it was first released, but it's a bit dated, since one of the cases involves a typewriter, which most younger readers in particular would not be familiar with to understand why it's important to the verdict. (Incidentally, it's strange that something that could easily be correctly blamed on a child's misbehaviour would instead first go to court proceedings, but, eh, it's a puzzle book...)
I love these types of puzzles, but they're not easy to come by, and most of the ones I'm familiar with are from Donald Sobol, who has recycled multiple puzzles between his Encyclopedia Brown and Two-Minute Mysteries collections, so most of the ones I've read, I tend to remember the solution already when I reread the book.
I just reread this volume, and I was surprised not to have remembered the solutions to any of them! I certainly do for other volumes in the series, so that was a nice treat! That said, the solutions make sense (except the last one, where it's not COMPLETELY clear that the lantern is hanging from the ceiling but could be on the table), and it's unambiguous that the verdicts are correct.
Would love to recommend this to others, but the typewriter thing makes that harder for younger readers. Puzzle fans, definite recommend!
I love these types of puzzles, but they're not easy to come by, and most of the ones I'm familiar with are from Donald Sobol, who has recycled multiple puzzles between his Encyclopedia Brown and Two-Minute Mysteries collections, so most of the ones I've read, I tend to remember the solution already when I reread the book.
I just reread this volume, and I was surprised not to have remembered the solutions to any of them! I certainly do for other volumes in the series, so that was a nice treat! That said, the solutions make sense (except the last one, where it's not COMPLETELY clear that the lantern is hanging from the ceiling but could be on the table), and it's unambiguous that the verdicts are correct.
Would love to recommend this to others, but the typewriter thing makes that harder for younger readers. Puzzle fans, definite recommend!
September 17, 2026
There are 'cases' laid out with testimony, evidence, and photos to view. The true verdict is given at the end.
Given that this was published in 1992, there's a bit of a language barrier for ELL's. Some of the "clues" that proved innocence or guilt were a bit far-fetched, but they loved it and were so pleased every time I boomed, "Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury..."
Given that this was published in 1992, there's a bit of a language barrier for ELL's. Some of the "clues" that proved innocence or guilt were a bit far-fetched, but they loved it and were so pleased every time I boomed, "Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury..."
July 3, 2017
This book was fine. The mysteries were good but it was really dated.
January 17, 2018
This was fun to read with the boys
April 12, 2019
First saw this book and its sequels in jr hugh/high school; fascinating cases and analyses!
Read
September 10, 2023Found this book which id owned as a kid, whilst cleaning put the garage. It was a good bit of nostalgia mixed with puzzle solving.
May 2, 2011
This book deserves 4 stars because it actually can help you like if you want to be with the court buisness. So i would recomend this book for 4th graders and higher. I think this would be a fun book to read for little kids to read because it will be a challenge to the little kids because they dont know what to do. So I would recommend my teacher to read this book because it will actually suit the teachers age because it will still be a challenge for them. They will give you proof of pictures and the dates and age and you have to figure out if they are guilty of innocent. My favorite and most challengin story was the last one. And thats the only one that she is innocent! The people are so crazy and strict in this book like old mans and its funny. This should be funny for old men.
So I hope there would be one were you have to predict that the kid is lying and you have to see by the look in his eyes if he is lying. This is my book review.
So I hope there would be one were you have to predict that the kid is lying and you have to see by the look in his eyes if he is lying. This is my book review.
July 14, 2025
3.5⭐
I really enjoyed reading this book. It's great for older primary school or high school students.
Even as an adult, it was fun to try to look for clues and figure out who was guilty or not.
I enjoyed the 10 cases provided, and I think for children, it would be loads of fun to work through each one. They aren't super long, with confusing or an immense amount of information that could be foreboding or confusing to the reader.
Although some old items are used, such as a typewriter, due to when the book was written, it was a fun time.
No 🌶️[Not a romance or has any romance]
I really enjoyed reading this book. It's great for older primary school or high school students.
Even as an adult, it was fun to try to look for clues and figure out who was guilty or not.
I enjoyed the 10 cases provided, and I think for children, it would be loads of fun to work through each one. They aren't super long, with confusing or an immense amount of information that could be foreboding or confusing to the reader.
Although some old items are used, such as a typewriter, due to when the book was written, it was a fun time.
No 🌶️[Not a romance or has any romance]
September 1, 2010
Easy but great, I love thease books!!!
July 28, 2011
Think Encyclopedia Brown mysteries are hard? Try this! This book has ten different courtroom mysteries that you have to figure out. Stuck? Don't worry, the answers are in the book.
August 29, 2011
I think this is great for elementary school/early middle school AIS. Develop critical thinking skills and read for details. Easy reading level.
Read
June 28, 2012LOVED these books! It made me realize that it's in the best interest of our country never to have me be on one...
August 7, 2014
Loved it!
Currently Reading
February 5, 2019I’ve chosen to read “you be the jury” written by Marvin Miller. The book is a fine book to pass time but not the best book if you are looking for more of a book to read for fun. My favorite character was Mr Compson who was supposedly hit by a golf ball. He claimed he was hit by a golf ball because he lives on a golf course but then is proven wrong. From the case of the squashed scooter it says “To his horror he saw his scooter lying crushed under the wheels of Butch Brando’s car. I liked that quote because I thought it was a good way of saying he saw his scooter underneath someone’s car. I really liked the way the book was organized all together because there were multiple stories in the same book so you wouldn’t really get bored of the book.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews