ALL RISE FOR THE HONORABLE PERRY T. COOK

Al Capone Does My Shirts meets Holes in this powerful middle-grade novel about ten-year-old Perry Cook born and raised in the Blue River County Coed Correctional Facility of Surprise, Nebraska.

Perry Cook has never had to sleep in a cell, even though he was born and raised at the Blue River Coed Correctional Facility of Surprise, Nebraska. Technically, Perry should not be living in a prison, but Blue River is his mother’s home, and the rest of the world is okay with it. Until the day Perry is discovered by the new, ambitious district attorney, Thomas Vanleer, and everything changes.

Perry Cook has never had to sleep in a cell, even though he was born and raised at the Blue River Coed Correctional Facility of Surprise, Nebraska. Technically, Perry should not be living in a prison, but Blue River is his mother’s home, and the rest of the world is okay with it. Until the day Perry is discovered by the new, ambitious district attorney, Thomas Vanleer, and everything changes.

Brought to foster with the Vanleer family, Perry is free for the first time... but he feels trapped. Perry’s mom’s parole hearing is just weeks away and she is supposed to be here with him. Instead, the rule-bending that had allowed Perry to stay with her could mean she will get more prison time. Desperate to be reunited with his mom, Perry goes on a quest to tell his story, his mom’s story, and the story of Blue River. But can he find a way to tell everyone what home means before he loses it forever?

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is award-winning author Leslie Connor’s heartfelt story about love, forgiveness, and how innocence makes us all rise up.

Leslie Connor is the author of several award-winning books for children, including Waiting for Normal, winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award, Crunch, Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel, and the young adult novels Dead on Town Line and The Things You Kiss Goodbye. She lives with her family in Connecticut.