Ringside 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial

The time is 1925, and the Butler Act of Tennessee was recently passed. This act bans the teaching of evolution in the classroom. The state of Tennessee felt that teaching that mankind evolved from lower animals would imply that the bible was wrong about creationism. One day in Dayton, TN, twenty-four year old J.T. Scopes substituting as a science teacher teaches the section about evolution that is in the class's biology text. He is asked to comply with being arrested for breaking the law. He agrees. This incident puts Dayton on the map. The notoriety of the case causes people to pour in from all over. Encouraged by this influx, simian-like statues and masks are selling like hotcakes. Rooms are rented out to reporters and restaurants are doing really well. It appears like the circus has come to town, the media circus that is. The author of "Ringside," Jen Bryant tells a fictional story of the Scopes Trial using some real historical elements and characters. She wrote "Ringside" for children ages 12 and up. Much of it is written in poetic form which makes the words flow and very easy to read. The tale is also written in the form of narratives which were taken from characters involved with the trial. The narrators are of different ages, races and genders. The reader gets to view the case as it might have appeared from someone like them. I loved this touch because it really brought the issues with the case to life. You get to see the Scopes Trial from all angles. I found "Ringside" to be a fascinating way to learn about a real event that took place in our history. It taught me a lot about a case that I hear mentioned frequently, but actually had little background. It was also incredible to see what people were allowed to get away with. Even the judge who was a part time minister was allowed to ban scientific witnesses from the trial. It never had any hope of being won. Scope's attorney, Clarence Darrow, demonstrated his brilliance during a case that had no hope. I highly recommend this book. It would be a great addition to a summer reading list for children, or an awesome book to be read by history or science students who will be introduced to evolution or the Scopes trial.

A most interesting read!! As the name implies this is a book about the Scopes trial but unlike other books that may cover this topic, here its told from the perspective of some of the towns people and reporters. I believe that this is actually a book for young adults but it is extremely good and very very well done and I think that it will appeal to all ages. I was a bit hesistant to request it because I am tired of all the religious bashing that seems to have become very popular in the last few years but that is not what happens here at all. Every side is presented respectfully and shown to be intelligent. In my opinion, the author does not take sides with either group but presents the best of both sides(with a few nutters of course). I was also happy that we get to see both groups,Christians and Agnostics/Atheists as intelligent and not foaming at the mouth radicals. It was refreshing to see many Christian presented as being open minded enough to embrace the bible and the concept of evolution at the same time. Though this book is only about 227 pages, it manages to create characters who have depth and are not two dimensional. The cast of characters were intriguing and very interesting. Some of the characters fall out over their different stances on the issue and many have their horizons broadened by the experience. To me the one relationship that dissolves that was sad to see was that between Clarence Darrow and Willam Jenning Bryan. The two men had apparently been very good friends but being forced to support their beliefs in such a public forum as the court destroyed their relationship irreparably. My favorite characters here were Willy Amos and Marybeth Dodd. Willy Amos is a young black boy who dreams big but never actually thinks that anything will come of it. When he meets Clarence Darrow he is inspired to believe, despite the odds, that maybe one day regardless of the color of his skin, he may have a share of the American dream. Marybeth Dodd on the other hand is a 17year old girl who wants more of her life than her small town or father may consider appropriate for a woman. I would recommend this book heartily.

"Ringside, 1925" focuses on the Scopes Monkey trial and how it affected the people living in Dayton, Tennessee, where the trial took place. While the trial was real, author Jen Bryant uses the viewpoint of fictional characters in the novel. These characters include high school students Peter Sykes, Jimmy Lee Davis, and Mary Beth Dodd; 12 year old Willy Amos who helps his handyman father; Tillie Stackhouse who puts up many of the out of town visitors in her "mansion"; bible thumper Betty Barker; Constable Fraybel; Methodist Minister Ernest McManus who travels to Dayton to watch the trial; and young reporter Paul LeBrun. "Ringside, 1925" is a well-written, well-researched children's book. The historical events are well done and Bryant does a good job of capturing the circus-like atmosphere of the Scopes trial and the town the trial was held in. What makes this book so great, however, are the characters - the fictional ones that take turns narrating the book. Having some of the characters be from the school where Scopes taught is a great touch and the tension between friends Jimmy Lee and Peter shows how the trial divided the town. Mary Beth shows how women were treated in those days as she longs to spread her wings beyond Dayton and is afraid her father will hold her back. For me the most moving character was twelve-year old Willy Amos, who is unable to go to school because of the color of his skin and is forced to scramble for any way to earn money that he can as is his father. His character stuck with me long after I finished reading the book. "Ringside, 1925" is an excellently done children's historical novel.

Ringside - 1925 by Jen Bryant is one of the most unique and original novels for young people I have had the pleasure of reading from quite some time now. The author, Ms. Bryant, has used the same methods that Edgar Lee Masters used at the turn of the last century, in completing his work, Spoon River Anthology. Where Masters told the story of a town through a series of poems taken from the epitaphs of various members of the village, Bryant in this case, has told the story of the famous Scopes Monkey Trial, Dayton, Tennessee, 1925, through the voices of various citizens of Dayton, reporters, and most importantly, the young people who were members of J.T. Scopes' Biology Class. The entire novel is done in free verse! The author goes from character to charter and back again, telling the story of the trial and the impressions and impact it had upon those who were there, those who witnessed the actual events as they unfolded. Each character has his or her, unique voice. In using her free verse method, I am glad to say that the author has not bogged us down with a lot of vague and obscure metaphors. The target group for this work is young people, age twelve and up, and I have found that few things turn them off from any sort of poetry quicker than this. Their intellectual data base simply is not large enough at this stage in their lives for them to appreciate it. The author has also skillfully avoided another pitfall that will absolutely kill a book for today's kids...that is the use of regional, racial and chronological dialects. Yes, the author touches on these lightly, but does it in a manner that is quite readable and understandable. Bottom line is that this lady KNOWS how to write for young people! I always note that most teens, when they first open a book, look at the number of pages, the size of type and do a quick evaluation in their minds as to how long it will take them to read it. No problems here; this is a very "user friendly" book. It is fast reading, understandable, and the kids will get a sense of quick accomplishment as they read. Jen Bryant has been able to perfectly capture the essence of the times, both the place, and the people. I must admit that when I first became aware of this work, I gritted my teeth, and was prepared to plow through yet another rant describing the poor ignorant, bigoted and narrow "hillbillies" of rural America during those times. Being from and living in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri, I am quite sensitive to this. I was pleasantly surprised. Ms. Bryant was able to capture the nature of the people perfectly, while leaving them the dignity they deserved (even the few characters that did not deserve it). This book is full of humor and I found myself laughing several times. The main thrust though, is to get kids to think and think independently, to have thoughts of their own, to form their own opinions, to keep open minds as they go through life. The author has accomplished this, in my opinion

Powerful novel about the most important trial in American history. Jen Bryant's accessible, sparsely-told story is sparkling and is perfect for kids, teen, and curious grownups alike.