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

Revealing little-known facts about the fight to teach evolution in schools, this riveting account of the dramatic 1925 Scopes Trial (aka “the Monkey Trial”) speaks directly to today’s battles over what students learn, the tension between science and religion, the influence of the media on public debate, and the power of one individual to change history. 

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 gripping work of historical nonfiction for kids brings the past to life, revealing:

• Science vs. Religion: Explore the explosive clash between Darwin’s theory of evolution and deeply held religious beliefs that divided a nation.
• Freedom of Speech: Discover how the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and a quiet teacher named John Scopes stood up to an unjust law banning what could be taught in schools.
• Legal Titans Clash: Witness the legendary courtroom showdown between two of America’s most famous figures, celebrated lawyer Clarence Darrow and politician William Jennings Bryan.
• The Media Circus: Go behind the scenes of the “Monkey Trial,” where souvenir vendors, protestors, and even real monkeys turned a small Tennessee town into a national spectacle.
• Historical Photos and Documents: See history for yourself with contemporary visuals, newspaper clippings, and evocative prose that make the 1920s feel immediate and real.