Monkey+Town

Sophia Wright ¾ B October 11, 2009 “Monkey Town” Written by Ronald Kidd, Reviewed by Sophia Wright

It all started on a lazy afternoon in June of 1925. Frances Robinson was cleaning up after a long day in her father’s well-known drug store. Robinson’s drug store was the hot spot of the boring and devilishly sunny town of Dayton, Tennessee, where one would go for a Coca-Cola and a great discussion. But today, the discussion seemed somehow different. Her high-school teacher, who was also her secret crush, seemed to be a big part of the conversation. But things would have to wait until dinner for her to figure out what exactly was going on. That night at dinner, her father excitedly told her about Dayton’s chance of a lifetime, and what it had to do with her high school teacher. You see, Johnny Scopes had taught evolution in one of his biology classes, which at the time was a much bigger issue than it would be today. Her father was going to “arrest” Johnny and hold a trial to raise publicity for Dayton. It made sense, for years before a coal and iron company shut down and people flooded out of Dayton in search of work. After that, Dayton had become the sleepiest place on earth, with a dwindling population, and never anything exciting going on. Frances’s father was hoping that a large trial would steer Dayton out of the monotonous doldrums in which it seemed to be stuck. A few weeks later, the trial had started. Though Frances’s father promised it wouldn’t change Johnny at all, his life began to crumble. People who he thought were his friends began betraying just sot they could get themselves in the newspaper. Since this was a very important event in the 20's, there would be no question that they would be on the first page, and idea that only drove them to do more outrageous things to Johnny. In fact, Johnny’s girlfriend had her picture taken with him, and the headline wrote "Johnny Scopes: Womanizer?". Piles and piles of nasty things were burying Johnny; and Frances, the only friend he had left, was powerless. Would Johnny win the trial and clear his name? Or will he have to live a life of discrimination?

I would recommend this book because it contains a very good argument between two lawyers: one is an expert on the bible, and the other is an agnostic who is simply searching for an explanation. For people like me who love a good argument, this book is wonderful and exciting. However, there is a slight stretch in the middle of the story where nothing new happens, and the experience is a bit dry. But if you get through that portion, you are in for a very rewarding and satisfying ending. Be sure to read this book, for I am sure you will admire it as much as I have.