Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas (Elizabeth Webster, 1) Hardcover – October 15, 2019

I love William Lashner's adult titles, and it's no surprise that I loved this one, too. Just the right blend of humor and kid-level scary.

Can't wait to see if there is any more in this series

Middle schooler and math whiz Elizabeth Webster has always flown under the radar, often hiding behind her hair. When out of the blue the most popular kid in school and the star athlete sits down at her lunch table one day, it comes as a total shock when he asks for her help. Henry tells her he’s struggling in math and asks her to tutor him. Reluctantly Elizabeth agrees, but as she approaches his creepy house for their first tutoring session she begins to have second thoughts. It turns out it was all a ruse, and Henry desperately needs her help in ridding his house of a ghost who keeps moaning Elizabeth’s name.This is Mr. Lashner’s first foray into fiction for young readers and he has crafted a winner. Elizabeth is a somewhat reluctant heroine, so it’s good she has a close group of friends on her side to help her. Each of them brings a different strength to the table. I like that there is some math and legal terminology in the story. No harm in getting a little education while enjoying a fun read. A great group of characters, loads of humor, and a lively plot make for a genuine page turner. A great read for all middle graders who enjoy fantasy and mystery stories. I hope to read more about Webster & Spawn, Attorneys for the Damned, Elizabeth Webster, Esq. in the future.

Middle-school math whiz Elizabeth Webster is shocked when the school’s star athlete Henry Harrison asks her to tutor him in math. But, when she shows up at his house, she discovers the real reason he wants her there…a ghost is haunting his house and it is calling her name! Soon, Elizabeth and her friends become embroiled in a web of strange family secrets, otherworldly characters, and a courtroom where demons and ghosts are called as witnesses. And, amidst all of this, they must solve a decades-old mystery to help the ghost so she can finally rest in peace.What I liked: great and unique characters. All of the side characters from Elizabeth’s best friend to her mother to the courtroom’s judge were entertaining and fun. The mystery was woven well into the story and was not so obvious that the reader knew what happened before the end. The reader gets to go along with Elizabeth as she discovers the truth about her family and her own destiny.What I did not like: I found the beginning a bit slow. I also am not sold on the narrator (Elizabeth) saying over and over, at the beginning, how if she only knew what was about to happen, she wouldn’t have gone, etc. However, the last half of the book was incredibly interesting as the kids begin to actually solve the mystery. But then at the very end, the author threw in a scene that left Elizabeth with a number of questions that I suppose will be answered in the next book, but I found that a bit annoying and unsatisfying for the reader.3.5 out of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.Author: William LashnerBook Series: Standalone at the momentRating: 5/5Publication Date: October 15, 2019Recommended Age: 10+ (some violence, some scary moments)Genre: MG FantasyPublisher: Disney PressSynopsis: Welcome to Elizabeth Webster's world, where the common laws of middle school torment her days . . . and the uncommon laws of an even weirder realm govern her nights.Elizabeth Webster is happy to stay under the radar (and under her bangs) until middle school is dead and gone. But when star swimmer Henry Harrison asks Elizabeth to tutor him in math, it's not linear equations Henry really needs help with-it's a flower-scented, poodle-skirt-wearing, head-tossing ghost who's calling out Elizabeth's name.But why Elizabeth? Could it have something to do with her missing lawyer father? Maybe. Probably. If only she could find him. In her search, Elizabeth discovers more than she is looking for: a grandfather she never knew, a startling legacy, and the secret family law firm, Webster & Son, Attorneys for the Damned.Elizabeth and her friends soon land in court, where demons and ghosts take the witness stand and a red-eyed judge with a ratty white wig hands out sentences like sandwiches. Will Elizabeth's father arrive in time to save Henry Harrison-and is Henry the one who really needs saving?Review: Oh my goodness I loved this book! I loved how intelligent it was, but how it simplified things for younger children. Not saying that children are dumb, but this book does have some legal terms and math terms and it was great to see how they can be incorporated into a MG book and how it can teach kids early on these terms. The book is interesting from beginning to end and the characters are wonderful and well developed.My only complaint is that the pacing was slow in places but it quickly picked up in a lot more. The ending feels a bit rushed as well to me.Verdict: A wonderful book! Highly recommend!

Elizabeth Webster prefers to stay under the radar and away from the spotlight in middle school. However, when the popular all-star swimmer Henry Harrison asks Elizabeth to tutor him in math, her invisible days are long gone. When Elizabeth arrives to tutor Henry, she realizes he has an ulterior motive. Henry's house is being haunted by a ghost calling Elizabeth's name. As Elizabeth investigates Henry's ghost, she makes a few startling discoveries and realizes is Henry really the one who needs saving?I thought the book was a very fun and laugh-out-loud read. The cast of characters were all lovable and helped our novice lawyer heroine along the way. It was fun seeing how each character grew and helped each other along. A must-read for any mystery fan!