The Monkey Trial: John Scopes and the Battle over Teaching Evolution

Kirkus Best Book * School Library Journal Best Book * New York Public Library Best Book for Kids * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best

Arrested? For teaching? John Scopes’s crime riveted the world, and crowds flocked to the trial of the man who dared to tell students about a forbidden topic—evolution. The year was 1925, and discussing Darwin’s theory of evolution was illegal in Tennessee classrooms. Lawyers wanted to challenge the law, and businessmen smelled opportunity. But no one imagined the firestorm the Scopes Trial would ignite—or the media circus that would follow.

As reporters, souvenir-hawking vendors, angry protestors, and even real monkeys mobbed the courthouse, a breathless public followed the action live on national radio broadcasts. All were fascinated by the bitter duel between science and religion, an argument that boiled down to the question of who controls what students can learn—an issue that resonates to this day.

Through contemporary visuals and evocative prose, Anita Sanchez vividly captures the passion, personalities, and pageantry of the infamous “Monkey Trial,” highlighting the quiet dignity of the teacher who stood up for his students’ right to learn.

This compelling work of nonfiction for kids brings the Trial of the Century to life with:

• The Scopes Trial: Follow the riveting story of John Scopes, the young teacher arrested for discussing Darwin’s theory of evolution in his Tennessee classroom.
• Science vs. Religion: Explore the passionate, nationwide debate that pitted deeply held religious beliefs against scientific discovery, an issue that still resonates today.
• Courtroom Drama: Witness the epic legal battle between two of America’s most famous lawyers, Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan, as they clash over the future of education.
• 1920s America: Step back in time to the Roaring Twenties and experience the media circus of the “Monkey Trial,” complete with reporters, protestors, and real monkeys descending on a small Tennessee town.