The Client

The Client:
Mark is a street smart and mature eleven-year-old boy, who likes to smoke, but is determined to stay away from beer and pot, because he has seen how they can bring people down. Mark'sDad was an alcoholic, who tormented his family with physical and emotional abuse for years before Diane, Mark's mother, found the courage to divorce him. Mark is a father figure to his younger brother,Ricky, who looks up to Mark and goes to Mark for information about the real world. Mark teaches Ricky to ride a bike, protects him from bullies, and informs him about all he needs to know about sexand drugs. To his mother, Mark is a friend and caretaker. Diane relies on Mark to protect her from her abusive husband and constantly relies on Mark's maturity.....

Jerome Clifford's Garage

Thisis where Barry the Blade hides the dead body of Senator Boyette.

The Clearing

The clearing behind the Sway's trailer home is where Mark and Ricky go to sneak a smoke and where Jerome Clifforddecides to kill himself.

The Sway's Trailer

Mark and his family live in a trailer home that is eventually burned down, along with all of their belongings inside.

Ricky's Hospital Room

Rickystays in the hospital room for most of the novel. Diane, his mother, is forced to remain in that room, as well, waiting for Ricky to wake up. Ricky's hospital room is bugged by the FBI, when Markescapes from the detention center.

Foltrigg's Van

Foltrigg's white van is what he uses to travel, because he is secretly afraid of airplanes. The van is fully equipped with anything

SocialConcerns

The chief venue in The Client is the Memphis juvenile justice system, and the chief problem for the system is how to get eleven-year-old Mark Sway to reveal what he may know about a criminalcase. Through the frequent use of Mark's point of view, Grisham presents how the system seems callous, frightening, and unwilling to recognize Mark's good nature. While readers may know that the...