This was a really fun book! All the characters were very likable! The mystery was very compelling! The only thing I did not like about this book was that some parts were slow. Still, I can’t wait for the sequel!

Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas was a delightful surprise: Middle school math whiz Elizabeth is thrilled when cool kid Henry invites her over — but it turns out he’s asked her because the ghost haunting his room keeps calling Elizabeth’s name. That’s how Elizabeth discovers that she hails from a long line of attorneys for the dead, cursed, and otherwise paranormally distressed — a fact that may help explain why her dad has been absent for most of her life. As Elizabeth — with a little help from her friends — learns the ropes of the paranormal legal system, she discovers that Henry’s ghost’s case is more complicated than it initially appeared — and that it may actually be connected to her dad’s disappearance.

This book is weird — part legal thriller, part supernatural mystery — and the combo probably shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. Part of that might be the charm of the protagonist and her pals: Elizabeth, Henry, and Elizabeth’s best friend Natalie are believable tweens, and Elizabeth’s persistent curiosity and determination keep the book moving along. The end makes it clear that this is the first book in a series, but enough plot points get resolved to make the story feel finished. I think this would be a fun book to read as part of a courtroom legal study (there’s tons of legal information woven through the story) or as a fun alternative to traditional Halloween books.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

I loved this book. The atmosphere was everything I wanted it to be. I loved the plot and storyline in the book. I loved the characters in this story. It gave me all the feels I was looking for when I started reading this. I highly recommend this author. I loved the writing. I will be looking for other works in the future from this author.

I LOVED this book! Such an original take, I loved the world of the supernatural court system, as well as the strong friendships she built. I am nominating this for our local Battle of the Books for 2021. I must convince my fellow librarians that our students will love this story as much as I do.

It’s not often that my love of middle grade fiction and my chosen profession find common ground which is probably why I enjoyed Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas so much. A supernatural legal drama with a spunky, sullen preteen at the forefront? This book may as well have been tailor made for me (and for my own spunky, sullen preteen who I hope I can convince to check it out too sometime).

The story follows the (mis)adventures of Elizabeth Webster as she inadvertently finds herself drawn into a world she didn’t know existed courtesy of her local middle school heartthrob. When popular classmate Henry Harrison comes to her for help she doesn’t expect that he’s asking for help with a ghost that’s haunting him. But his request for assistance leads her to discover a family legal legacy that she never knew existed thanks for her generally absent father.

I mean, who would have thought the answer for getting rid of a ghost wouldn’t be an exorcism but an Action of Ejectment in the Court of Uncommon Pleas?

The Court of Uncommon Pleas is an ‘other world’ that could only come from the wild imagination of someone well versed in the legal profession. Author William Lashner clearly draws from his own experiences as an attorney to create a forum for spirits and creatures of the night to duke out their differences in a more civilized manor with attorneys at their side. It’s a juxtaposition to be sure and not the kind of plot you might expect for a middle grade novel but I’m obviously here for it.

With the help of her friends and her until-recently-estranged grandfather and his staff, Elizabeth Webster starts to uncover her lost family legacy as she steps up to take her place before the Court. Part ghost story, part legal thriller, and part middle school coming-of-age tale, Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas is an engaging read that would be a perfect – if perhaps unusual – Halloween-themed read.

Young readers shouldn’t be discouraged. The legal part of the story is very easy to understand and approachable. You learn as Elizabeth learns! And, of course, older readers can enjoy it as well. I did – especially the legal quips and jokes.

A REVIEW COPY AS PROVIDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS REVIEW AND BOOK TOUR.

This was a mysterious, funny, very slightly spooky adventure. A good middle grade read, and probably fun for lawyers. I would read the sequel that should happen.

A great middle grade novel full of ghosts, mysteries, and adventure. It's well written, engaging, and has a satisfying ending.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Author: William Lashner

Book Series: Standalone at the moment

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: October 15, 2019

Recommended Age: 10+ (some violence, some scary moments)

Genre: MG Fantasy

Publisher: Disney Press

Synopsis: 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!

This was such an amazing book, I was hooked from the very beginning! Elizabeth Webster is a descendant of Daniel Webster, the same one who made a deal with the devil and won. Because of this familial history Lizzie is able to work as a lawyer in the courts of the dead/demonic, which she finds out because of the haunting happening at her friend's house. Not only is Lizzie able to practice the law but it turns out that it's the family business, and that is why her absent father was often missing.

I'm really hoping this will be a series because I loved the characters and the flow of the story and there was some hinting that there might be another book based on a few unfinished plot points .

Middle graders love a good spooky story! I love the combination of mystery investigation and the paranormal.

This was an interesting and entertaining story. I’m not one for middle grade mostly, but this really held my attention! There were many funny moment’s and I really enjoyed our characters. I was also really glad Elizabeth started to come out of her shell and make friends.

All in all, this was a good middle grade story and it left me more entertained than I thought it would!

If there’s anything middle school kids love more than sarcasm, it’s witty almost-humor. My students pretend to groan at my corny puns, but secretly they love it. I mean, you remember middle school, right? It’s that point in life when everything seems like a cosmic joke. Elizabeth Webster has this attitude down pat!

There’s something to be said for a book that has positive messages while still being kid-appealing. Elizabeth’s friends are funny and smart, and her little brother Peter is as charming as can be. I love the strong theme topics of friendship and family that resonate through the story. There are a lot of funny one-liners, too, that might stir up some eye rolling from the teens in your life. Some grown-up issues are mentioned, but mostly seen through Elizabeth’s point of view…so not too descriptive.

I have to start off by stating how much Elizabeth's spunky energy and quips resonated with me. While she likes to keep a low profile at her middle school, she has a formidable spirit that is ready to take on the this world - and the next! Author William Lashner's world building was another enjoyable aspect of the book since his lively descriptions and atmospheric passages will have readers simultaneously demanding a Tim Burton film adaptation and the next installment in Elizabeth Webster's adventures.



Throughout the book, Lashner incorporated his own legal capacity to the story which provided a great backbone for the unfolding of this chilling legal thriller oriented for middle-grade readers and those looking for a unique, spooky read.

**Reviews can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth is content to keep her head down, have her one friend Natalie, be good at math and be boring. But when the most popular boy at school, Henry, singles her out to tutor him in math, Elizabeth can't get out of it. But what Elizabeth doesn't know, is that Henry does not want her for tutoring but because the ghost haunting him said her name. Elizabeth is now involved in the paranormal somehow, a mystery that may have something to do with her and she needs to get to the bottom of this.

I almost never read Middle Grade books but when I saw Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas I knew I had to read the book because it sounded so different and interesting and the creepy factor of the story goes well with Halloween coming up and my desire to read scary books. I am so glad that I took a shot on something new and out of my normal comfort zone since I found this to be really entertaining. I need to add more Middle Grade reads to my life since the pacing was perfect, with a nice fast plot and quick chapters that made the story very approachable. The characters were fun, even if at times seemed much older than the seventh grade they were in, but full of the right amount of drama. Add in the fact that a ghost can be sued and this is a fun mystery read.

The story wrapped up nicely with a cute conclusion that totally brought loner Elizabeth out of her shell and gave her friends she never expected and a goal for the future. I am completely satisfied with the ending and how the mystery of the story was solved, but that being said, I really hope that there will be another book in the series where Elizabeth can practice her lawyer skills for those of the supernatural leaning with her random assortment of friends!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this title.

There’s something to be said for a book that has positive messages while still being kid-appealing. Elizabeth’s friends are funny and smart, and her little brother Peter is as charming as can be. I love the strong theme topics of friendship and family that resonate through the story. There are a lot of funny one-liners, too, that might stir up some eye rolling from the teens in your life. Some grown-up issues are mentioned, but mostly seen through Elizabeth’s point of view…so not too descriptive.

I liked this book so much that I plan to listen to the audiobook with my own personal kids. Complete with haunted house and muttering ghost, it’s the perfect book to listen to during the Halloween season.

Elizabeth And The Court of Uncommon Pleas is seriously a fun middle-grade book! Full of ghosts and some hilarious bureaucracy of the underworld, your little ghouls and goblins will have a spectacular time reading this book. And it's perfect for the season!

"My name is Elizabeth Webster and my story, like every mystifying and horror-filled story in the whole of human history, begins in a middle school cafeteria."

Elizabeth Webster is a normal girl, trying to get through middle school as quickly and quietly as possible. She loves math, loves her friends, hates the cafeteria, and does not want to join debate club.

But her world gets turned upside down when swim star Henry Harrison sits with them at lunch, asking for Elizabeth's help.

Turns out, Henry is being haunted and the ghost asked for Elizabeth. Shocked, scared, and seriously curious, Elizabeth tracks down her dad and learns she comes from a long line of attorneys for the damned.

There's nothing I love more than adding the cute to the underworld. Put a demon in a courtroom, and I don't know, I'm enthralled. It's just so delightful. And while this book is middle grade, so the dark terrors are not so dark and not so terrifying, it is perfect for the tiny ghosts in your life.

Court of Uncommon Pleas is fun. It's spooky but not scary. I had the best time reading this, and love, love, LOVE Elizabeth so much! She's just the right amount of 7th grade sass mixed with snappy girl power. I can't wait to give this to my niece.

Lashner does an amazing job with the characters and the story, but I really enjoyed how the legal snt to win a copy of this book?ystem was made interesting. At least, I think it could spark some questions and curiosity of future lawyers turning these pages. While there may (or may not be) a courtroom in the underworld, exploring careers in fun ways that are also actual careers is such a creative way to plant that seed.

Overall, I think this is a fast read for more mature readers and a ton of fun for middle grade level readers. It's smart, fast-paced, and has a fantastic cast of characters. Highly recommend!

Thank you Rockstar Book Tours and Disney-Hyperion for sending me a copy and including me on this tour!

Elizabeth's parents are divorced. She's staying with her mom, stepbrother, and stepdad who is also a lawyer like her biological father. She's used to her father not being around and then suddenly appearing in the most bizarre of places and situations. This time, however, his absence has been the longest she can remember and she's now wondering if there's much more to it than just her dad being busy with work.

Then she meets Henry Harrison, the famous swimmer at their school. Her world turns upside down when this jock approaches their table at lunch and asks her tutor him in math. It turns out Henry's dilemma is not related to linear equations, but rather to something that will let her know more about her heritage and even the current location of her dad. Soon enough, the three of them, Lizzie, her best friend Natalie, and Henry, find themselves in the middle of solving Beatrice Long's murder that happened long before they were all born.

At first, I was annoyed by Elizabeth because her sarcasm seemed too much for me. But then I had to remind myself that she is a teenager, and we all had that annoying phase (lol no offense). As I progressed, she grew on me and I found her remarks witty. But I believe nothing can beat Natalie to it. I loved both Lizzie and Natalie's characters, but Natalie just steals the show when she speaks with just the right amount of sass. I'd say I can relate to her more. Lizzie is sassy and smart too, but she's the reserved type.

It was a slow start for me but the story picked up its pace and became more exciting somewhere in the middle. This book made me laugh and the ending almost made me cry. I thought this was about ghosts and weird creatures, but more than anything, this is about self-discovery and family relationships.

Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas by William Lashner surprised me in more ways than one. I didn't expect much from a spooky Disney middle-grade book, but here I am, still stumped with all the emotions I felt after finishing it. Step into Lizzie's world with her and her team as she suddenly becomes a lawyer in such a unique court. Trigger warnings include mental health issues, death of a loved one, and a bit of gore.

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

With Halloween just around the corner, this is the just the book to sit down with! Since historic Philadelphia is a place I have visited and walked in many times, I especially enjoyed the setting. Write more books in Philly! The rich lineage behind Elizabeth’s last name, and her heritage also a layer of history which could be studied. Story wise, I was interested and engaged all the way through. The pacing is great, characters have a synergy together and there are enough plot twists and turns to hook readers.

Content

There is some content which fits older readers more than middle grade. The author adds some elements of crime, psychological profiles and graphic descriptions which may be disturbing to young readers. There is also mention of adultery. Until the last chapters it reads like MG, but a bit mature for that genre in the wrapping up and dream sequences.

Overall, I hope this is series, because I would love to read more of the Webster adventures. I was pleasantly surprised!

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Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas by William Lashner is a middle grade novel currently scheduled for release on October 15 2019. 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?

Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas has a wonderful premise and I greatly enjoyed the character building. I liked Elizabeth, she had the blend of spunk and vulnerabilities that rang true for a middle school girl. Her family and friends were nicely rounded with much more depth than I usually see in novels for this age group. I liked the relationship between Elizabeth and Natalie, and how two girls celebrated their differences while keeping their friendship. I also enjoyed the relationship Elizabeth had with her mom and step father- that they clearly cared about her and let her be herself and express herself was wonderful. I was glad to see that there was some humor, and plenty of odd visuals sprinkled through the story. Although I have to admit that I sometimes found myself skimming some of the descriptions so that I could get back to the plot and action a little quicker. I liked the variety of twists and turns in the story- solving the mystery surrounding Beatrice's death, finding Elizabeth's father, and so on. I liked that it was not a simply solution, but at the same time it really felt like a long read. It also felt like it was clearly a set up for a series, and while I am intrigued by the secrets Elizabeth's mom might be keeping, I am not sure that all the build up was enough to really hook me. It was a good read, it just did not capture my attention the way I expected something with this blend of coming of age, mystery, and supernatural secrets to.

Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas is a a novel that the upper elementary and middle school set will enjoy. I liked the premise and the execution- but it was a book that I could easily put down when I needed to.

This was such a great MG fantasy! I loooooved our MC, Lizzie, and watching her navigate the horror that is Junior High. When swimming superstar Henry Harrison asks Lizzie with some help involving a ghost that goes by the name of Beatrice Long, Lizzie finds herself on a journey of discovery. Between discovering that ghosts are real, her dad is actually a lawyer to the damned, and Henry Harrison is not all who he appears to me be, Lizzie is in for a ride of a lifetime.

I really enjoyed all the characters in this (Natalie is soo funny) and the dialogue was so snarky and witty! The pace of the book moved so smoothly I zoomed through this pretty fast! You’ve got mystery, ghosts being sued, twists and turns, CReePy, and an ending that will leave you hanging! This had fun spooks and was just an all around read that’s going to be perfect for Halloween time. I give this 5 out of 5 stars.