One Sentence Summary
The Rooster Bar, by John Grisham, is a legal fiction thriller about three law school friends: Mark, Todd, and Zola; who try to survive a rigged system and expose the student loan scam.
Book Genre
The Rooster Bar is a legal fiction thriller.
Main Topic of the Book
The main topic of the book is the student loan debt crisis and how it is being used to rob innocent students of their future.
Key Ideas
The key ideas in the book include:
- The Student Loan Debt Crisis: The book thoroughly details the student loan debt crisis and how it affects students’ lives and futures.
- Exploitative Practices: The book exposes the exploitative practices used by for-profit universities to keep students in a cycle of debt.
- Personal Connections: The characters’ personal connections to their old law school friends, mentors, professors, and the shady figures involved in their case add suspense and complexity to the story.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
- The Beginning: Three friends from the same law school—Mark, Todd, and Zola—recount how they became caught up in the student loan debt crisis and together they decide to fight back against the predatory practices of their law school.
- The Middle: The three friends begin their research and investigation into the student loan sharks and discover a direct connection between the loan sharks and their law school. Meanwhile, their personal lives continue to suffer as they become more and more embroiled in the case.
- The End: After much hard work, the three friends are finally able to uncover the truth behind their law school’s shady business dealings and take the proper action against the perpetrators. In the end, the three emerge stronger and wiser, and with a newfound appreciation for life.
Key Takeaways
The key takeaways from The Rooster Bar include:
- Understanding the Student Loan Debt Crisis: The book offers an in-depth look at the student loan debt crisis and how it affects college and law school students.
- Exposing Exploitative Practices: The book sheds light on the exploitative practices used by for-profit universities to keep students in a cycle of debt.
- The Power of Resilience: The story illustrates the power of resilience as Mark, Todd, and Zola confront the rigged system and expose the student loan scam.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
John Grisham is one of the best-selling authors of all time and is renowned for his legal fiction thrillers. He has written numerous books, including 16 legal stories, 10 novels of suspense, 1 non-fiction book, and several children’s books. He is a recipient of the NAACP Image Award, Humanitarian Award, and the University of Mississippi’s Golden Medical Alumni Award.
Target Audience
The target audience for The Rooster Bar is adult readers.
Publisher and First Publication Date
The Rooster Bar was first published in October 2017 by Doubleday.