All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook

By: Leslie Connor

Narrated by: Michael Crouch, Kathleen McInerney

From Leslie Connor, award-winning author of Waiting for Normal and Crunch, comes a soaring and heartfelt story about love, forgiveness, and how innocence makes us all rise up. All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is a powerful story, perfect for fans of Wonder and When You Reach Me.

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?

©2016 Leslie Connor (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

A refreshingly hopeful book.

The bond between Perry and his incarcerated mother,Jessica, gives this story its foundation and then weaves a unique tale of the struggle for redemption and resolution. The writing is fabulous. The characters are engaging. The antagonist District Attorney is not an overly evil man. He is egotistical and misguided, like so many who have power and use it to advance their narrow-minded agendas. The resolution is heartwarming, full of grace, hope and the wisdom of not festering in bitterness. Great story, great life-lessons— I will recommend this book to my friends, young and old.

Outstanding

Couldn’t wait to start listening everyday! Amazing story! Excellent story and wonderfully performed.
Well worth the purchase.

A great story teaching perspective is key

My kids (7, 9, & 12) and I loved this book. It's a captivating story teaching compassion and empathy.

it was a great book I would recommend it to you

loved it it was an amazing book 9 0ut of 10 read it it good

really good for middle School readers

I loved this book it really caught my attention. My love for this book's enormous.

Wonderful

4.5 stars. Wonderful, beautiful, and touching. I was so drawn in by the characters and the storyline that I was genuinely angry and indignant at the antagonist, who was not just some “bad guy,” but rather a well-meaning, misguided man whose good intentions cause more harm than good. Highly recommend.

Amazing

It was sad but also so interesting at the same time i loved the book and that is all i can say

Fun and Inspiring

This was a fantastic book! The narrators did a wonderful job of capturing the voices of Perry and Jessica, and drawing me in to the story. I kept finding things to do around the house so I could continue to listen! I loved the journey of Perry in discovering his (and his mother's) pasts. And Connor did a great job in writing the villain. Stepdad Tom was the quintessential condescending adult, but he also had heart and had redeeming qualities. The listening experience on this one was fun, especially since it was so much based on auditory storytelling among the inmates, and the narrators did a good job with the voices. Highly Recommended.
Audible 20 Review Sweepstakes Entry

A story every middle grader and parent should read

As one who works in the criminal justice field, I feel that this is a story for parents to read with their kids so they can be exposed to empathy. Inmates are not all the same as each one has their own story.

See review on my blog: https://shelfreflectionwithmj.blogspot.com

Excellent lesson in life!

Michael Crouch skillfully and lovingly voiced each character especially the honorable Perry Cook. This wonderful book gives us unique very human people in an unusual situation , and challenges us not to judge a book by its cover.