Monkey Town: The Summer of the Scopes Trial - Softcover

Kidd, Ronald

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1442442115 ISBN 13: 9781442442115

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2011

Synopsis

In a story rife with first love and the pain of growing up, master storyteller Ronald Kidd reincarnates the most enduring trial of the twentieth century. School is out in the summer of 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee. For Frances Robinson, a fifteen-year-old daydreamer with a crush on her teacher, John T. Scopes, summer vacation promises tennis, and Coca-Colas from her father's drug store. But when Frances's father, the school board chairman, has Scopes arrested for teaching evolution, the sleepiest place on earth becomes a hotbed for famous thinkers, including H. L. Mencken, Clarence Darrow, and William Jennings Bryan. Overnight the world is flocking to Dayton to decide: Are people really descended from monkeys? Does the theory of evolution have a place in biology class? As Frances sees the man she loves crumbling beside her, she begins to question her town, her neighbors, and the father she has always trusted. Readers will devour this colorful yet tender story - reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird - told from the perspective of a young girl as she evolves into a woman.

About this title

About the Author

Ronald Kidd is the author of the highly acclaimed Monkey Town: The Summer of the Scopes Trial, as well as On Beale Street. His novels of adventure, comedy, and mystery have received the Children's Choice Award, an Edgar Award nomination, and honors from the American Library Association, the Library of Congress, and the New York Public Library. He is a two-time O'Neill playwright who lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

From AudioFile

Frances Robinson wants to spend her summer practicing tennis with the love of her life, teacher Johnny Scopes. Soon, however, her hometown of Dayton, Tennessee, becomes the epicenter for the infamous Scopes Trial, and Frances faces a wider world in her own small town. Ashley Albert narrates each of the main characters with distinction. Her portrayal of famous journalist H.L. Mencken is rich and humorous--it leaves the listener wanting more dialogue from this provocative character. Albert also gives the Southern town the perfect ambiance through her treatment of Dayton residents, from Frances herself to the local judge. The complexity of Francess coming-of-age experience entwined with the story of the trial over evolution is fascinating, thanks to Alberts easy pace, distinct vocalizations, and energetic reading. J.M.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Edition details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1442442115
• ISBN 13: 9781442442115
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288