“Big Ed is about to tell it again.”

From Leslie Connor’s All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook.

For the past eleven years, Perry has lived with his mother at the Blue Ridge Co-ed Correctional Facility in Nebraska. Even though he is a child that has never committed a crime, a special arrangement with his foster mother, the warden of Blue Ridge, has allowed him to grow up with his mother, Jessica. The minimum security prison has been the only home the boy has ever known, but both Perry and Jessica are looking forward for her upcoming parol hearing and the chance for a life on the outside. School is Perry’s only time away from Blue River and the start of this new year is full of excitement for Perry because he has homeroom with his best friend, Zoey. However, when Zoey’s stepfather, Thomas VanLeer, becomes the new district attorney and learns about Perry’s living situation, he gets Perry taken out of Blue River to live at the VanLeer house while he investigates the situation. Perry is terrified to be away from his mom and all the residents and guards that have become like family for him, but he keeps himself calm by counting down to his mom’s parole. A school project allows Perry the opportunity to find a way to connect with his mom by asking her about how they came to Blue River. Although the more Perry learns about his mom’s past and life on the outside, the more he realizes that he might be the only one who can set things right.

This story is full of heart and instantly interesting for readers. The characters are unique, but genuine, and the story develops at a balanced pace. With the exception of a handful of curse words, All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is a mesmerizing read that highlights understanding for both young and old readers.