Alex Cross's TRIAL
by James Patterson, Richard DiLallo
Little, Brown 2009
Easy read — content targets 9th–12th grade
Reading level 6.3 (6th grade) but themes aimed at ages 14+
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Genre
Themes
- Racial injustice and lynching
- Courage and moral responsibility
- Justice versus mob rule
- Family legacy and storytelling
- Power and corruption
- Civil rights and activism
- Love and loyalty under threat
- Community complicity and silence
About this book
Framed as a story Alex Cross writes for his children, this historical legal thriller follows idealistic Washington, D.C., attorney Ben Corbett in the early 1900s. At President Theodore Roosevelt’s request, Ben returns to his Mississippi hometown to investigate lynchings and rampant Klan terror. There he teams up with Abraham Cross and his daughter, Moody, to confront violent racism, corruption, and a deadly conspiracy that culminates in a harrowing courtroom trial—and tests the limits of courage, justice, and sacrifice.
Setting: United States, 1906—Washington, D.C., and the Jim Crow South (Eudora, Mississippi); courtrooms, small-town streets, and rural enclaves under Klan threat
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alex Cross's TRIAL right for my child?
It depends — here's what to consider for Alex Cross's TRIAL. The reading level is AR 6.3, which is typical for 6th grade. The interest level is rated Upper Grades (9–12), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 14+ (9th–12th grade). Themes include Racial injustice and lynching, Courage and moral responsibility, Justice versus mob rule.
How long does it take to read Alex Cross's TRIAL?
At a typical 6th grade reading pace, Alex Cross's TRIAL takes around 7.5h to finish. The book has 79,000 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does Alex Cross's TRIAL have an AR quiz?
Yes — Alex Cross's TRIAL has an AR quiz available, worth 11 points. Your child will need to take and pass the quiz through their school's Accelerated Reader program to earn credit. The quiz is typically 5–20 multiple choice questions about plot, characters, and setting.
What grade level is Alex Cross's TRIAL?
Alex Cross's TRIAL has an AR reading level of 6.3, which places it at a 6th grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Upper Grades (9–12) — this reflects the age-appropriateness of the content and themes, not just the reading difficulty. A strong younger reader may handle the words fine while the themes are aimed at an older audience, or vice versa.