A Dangerous Idea: The Scopes Trial, the Original Fight Over Science in Schools

One hundred years ago, a small-town science teacher ignited a nationwide debate over what students should learn in school--and who should decide.

* "Compelling." -School Library Journal, starred review
* "Timely." -Booklist, starred review
* "Insightful." -Horn Book, starred review
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

In 1925, when Tennessee lawmakers banned the teaching of evolution in public schools, teacher John Scopes challenged the law--and set off a gripping circus of a legal battle. Two masterminds faced off in a blistering courtroom debate over creationism and natural selection, each armed with the books they believed belonged in classrooms. Celebrity politician William Jennings Bryan relied on the Bible to make his case, while legal luminary Clarence Darrow defended Charles Darwin's groundbreaking books On the Origin of Species and The Descent of Man. Their clash would go down in history as the Scopes Monkey Trial.

A century later, here is the riveting truth of what happened and why it matters. For a nation still arguing about the books and ideas that young people should encounter, award-winning author Debbie Levy delivers an important, insightful and expertly-researched account of our history that illuminates the challenges we face today.

Author: Debbie Levy
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published: 01/14/2025
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.01lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.37w x 0.99d
ISBN: 9781547612215
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 10/14/2024
Booklist 11/01/2024 pg. 53
Kirkus Reviews 11/15/2024
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 01/01/2024
Horn Book Magazine 01/01/2025 pg. 103
School Library Journal 01/01/2025 pg. 71
Shelf Awareness 01/18/2025

About the Author

Debbie Levy is the author of more than thirty acclaimed books for young people, including the New York Times best-selling I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark (Sydney Taylor Book Award, National Jewish Book Award, Orbis Pictus Honor); Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Journey to Justice (Bank Street College Best Children's Book, Nerdy Book Award for Graphic Novels, 2021 YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens); and This Promise of Change: One Girl's Story in the Fight for School Equality (with Jo Ann Allen Boyce) (Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Robert F. Sibert Honor). In addition to writing books for young people, Debbie has experience as a newspaper editor and a lawyer.
www.debbielevybooks.com