The Trial

Jen Bryant's 'The Trial' is a historical verse novel that transports readers to Flemington, New Jersey, in 1935, during the highly publicized trial of Bruno Hauptmann for the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's infant son. Told from the perspective of twelve-year-old Katie Leigh Flynn, the book uses a series of poignant poems to describe the trial's profound impact on her small town and its residents. It's an excellent choice for children aged 8-12, offering a unique and accessible way to learn about a significant historical event while exploring themes of community, justice, and collective grief. Parents should be aware that the book deals with the sensitive topic of a child's death, though it is handled with care and focuses more on the community's reaction than graphic details.

Living in Flemington, New Jersey, in 1935, twelve-year-old Katie Leigh Flynn describes, in a series of poems, the effect on her small town of the ongoing trial of Bruno Hauptmann for the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's baby son.