The Trial

by Jen Bryant

Imagine you are Bruno Richard Hauptmann, accused of murdering the son of the most famous man in America.

In a compelling, immediate voice, 12-year-old Katie Leigh Flynn takes us inside the courtroom of the most widely publicized criminal case of the 20th the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh’s baby son. And in doing so, she reveals the real-life figures of the trial—the accused, the lawyers, the grieving parents—and the many faces of justice.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Poetry, Novel In Verse, Middle Grade, Fiction, Historical

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Jen Bryant (Jennifer Fisher Bryant) writes picture books, novels and poems for readers of all ages. Her biographical picture book: A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, illustrated by Melissa Sweet,received a Caldecott Honor award and her historical novel in verse RINGSIDE 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial is an Oprah Recommended Book for ages 12 & up. Other titles include Pieces of Georgia (IRA Young Adult Choices Pick), The Trial (about the 1935 Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial), a 1960’s-era novel Kaleidoscope Eyes (a Jr. Library Guild selection), Georgia’s Bones, celebrating the creative vision of artist Georgia O’Keeffe, Music for the End of Time, based on a true story about WWII, and Abe’s Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln.

Jen has taught writing and Children’s Literature at West Chester University and Bryn Mawr College and gives lectures, workshops and school presentations throughout the year. She lives with husband, daughter and their Springer Spaniel in Chester County, PA.

Reviews

[Michael Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre:Poetry, Historical Fiction

Rating: ****
The historical context of the Lindbergh family tragedy is captured beautifully through the lens of a teenage girl.

Summary:
After the Lindbergh baby is kidnapped, the trial for the man suspected of the crime is set to take place in a nearby town. When Katie Leigh Flynn is given the chance to help a reporter cover the trial, we learn a great deal about the case as Katie learns a great deal about herself.

Main Characters:

Katie Leigh Flynn: a girl living in a small New Jersey town. She dreams of getting out and living a life of adventure. She hopes to be a reporter when she grows up.

Mike: Katie's friend. His father is a drunk.

Uncle Jeff: Katie's uncle and reporter for the local paper. After he is injured, he asks Katie to help him cover the 'crime of the century'.

Katie's Mom: Reluctant to let Katie miss school, she does. Katie's mom works for the local motel that becomes important for the trial.

Trial Players: Various members involved in the trial are presented throughout the story, from celebrities and politicians to the Lindberghs and the defendant.

Key Issues:
Family Relationships, Crime, Choice, Responsible Citizenship, Justice, Capital Punishment

Other Information:
The author's note after the story is concluded is a wonderful addition. In the author's note, we learn about the author's connection to the story and some further information that calls into question the outcomes of the story. It is a wonderful note that gets to the issues of right and wrong, capital punishment and the power of perspective.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful work of historical free-verse fiction told from the POV of a girl who is working as a reporter's assistant at the Bruno Hauptmann trial (the accused kidnapper/killer of the Lindberg baby). The historical detail is sharp, the lines have some memorably well-crafted figurative devices, and the story has depth beyond the story of the trial. Way to go Jen!

[Kailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel told through poems, and the poems are beautiful pieces of writing.

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice middle grade novel in verse to read.

Though compare to the other novel in verse I have read (Nikita Gill’s & Elizabeth Acevedo’s), this book’s poems’ only felt like a narrative. Like you can just turn it into a normal novel format, and you will probably feel the same.

We are following Katie in her little town as she follows the trial of Bruno Richard Hauptmann, who is accused of murdering Charles Lindbergh’s baby son in 1932. So this book is a semi-true story.

The only word that I can describe Katie, is that she is humane. She begins as a curious young girl who inspired to be a reporter just like her Uncle Jeff, and ends up to be a considering (soon to be) teenage girl who just want to judge people fairly.

You can also see Katie’s development through her relationships with her friends and family, but mostly from her relationship with her mother and her mother’s lover.

It’s a simple yet touching coming-of-age story anyone can enjoy.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Jennifer Olsker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The historical topic of this novel is the greatly public trial of the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's son. The story follows a small town girl when the trial is brought to her quiet town. through her eyes, it shows the courtroom, describes the jury, judge, lawyers, and the accused, Bruno Richard Hauptmann. Bryant allows depicts Katie's thoughts, doubts, and feelings that occur because of the trial. I really enjoyed this novel. It was interesting and I feel that it brought up many issues/feelings that children usually have around Katie's age(12); the feelings of being lost in the world, wanting adventure, learning right from wrong, and about the idea of justice. The story is told from Katie's direct perspective and is written in free verse, or short poems. I think this was an interesting way for the author to tell the story because it is unique, I personally cannot remember reading a historical fiction novel written in free verse. I also think it allows a different kind of perspective for the readers, one that can allows them to relate to or create their own meaning of the story. One perspective about the text that i enjoyed was the fact that some of the titles also served as text, it was included into the first sentence; for some reason i really thought that added an interesting twist of the free verse style.

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Charles Lindbergh's baby is kidnapped and dies in 1932, Bruno Richard Hauptmann is accused and his trial is in Katie Leigh Flynn's New Jersey town--Flemington. Katie gets to miss school to help her newspaper reporter uncle transcribe the trial.

The author grew up in Flemington and wrote this lyrical and poetic account of the kidnapping and trial from a young girl's perspective.

A quick read that makes you think about individual and social behavior and what truth is.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting method to incorporate poetry as the story itself. A compelling story that captured the imagination of a country reliant on the press.

[Ethin M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The name of the book I am reading is The Trial by Jen Bryant. It’s a 6.1 grade level, I just grabbed it because it looked interesting. This review is to talk about the book and a brief bit of what happened.

The theme of the book is to be smart. I know this because one of the characters made a big mistake. The one who murdered the celebrities child, or who supposedly did, was sentenced to death. They talk about the process of his court case for this man, and how there’s tons of people there. It also talks about a high school girl’s life and about how she got to go there and report on it. It also talks about her mother and her father figure type person. She hangs out with a few people at a track as well.

I thought the book was interesting. I’ve read better but I liked it a decent amount of the time. I thought some of it was a little boring but other than that it was good. A good mystery book I would say.

[Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although quaint in its composition, this compilation of prose poetry tells a story that is far from settling. Seen through the eyes of young Katie Leigh Flynn, “The Trial” details the accusation of Brunno Richard Hauptmann for the kidnapping and murder of the famed Charles Lindbergh’s first born child. Author Jen Bryant captures, with impressive authenticity, the gravity felt by her young narrator when the man’s innocence is questioned. Through intertwining optimism with passion and passion with despair, not only is Bryant’s character dynamic, but her plot is powerfully sobering.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked this, but the narrator acts older than she is, i think she's in junior high, she sounds like a high schooler. And there was a weird thing the editor did in making the quotes and newspaper articles at the start of each chapter much lighter print that Bryant's words. Had to squint to read them.
Talked to my nephew about the Lindbergh kidnapping, he's grown up near Flemington NJ where the trial and this book take place, he knew v. little about it. Not the first time this Californian has had to tell him things about NJ history.

[Teagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book was interesting and some pages really were important and made a huge impact on the book in general. I thought that the book was kind of short and really we didn't get all of the information that we needed to be able to really understand and make huge inferences. I like how it is organized in a poetry form and I feel like that really incorporated a new sense and a new idea based on the book.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The poetic, free-verse prose style of writing was quick and easy to read, and could have easily been read in less than a day. But the story still sticks with you, as it is told from the point of view of a 12 year old girl who gets the task of helping her uncle report on a highly publicized murder trial. Her innocence to start and bleak outlook on life after the trial shows the weight the trial had on her opinions of the good and motivations of people in the world.

[Annalee Schnebele · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to learn more about the Lindbergh baby kidnapping and murder trial and seeing it through a young girl's eyes wasn't cutting it for me.

Recommended for middle school students who are looking for a quick historical fiction book and are intrigued by the great depression and the Hauptmann trial.

[Karyn Buchanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Katie, a seventh grader, is able to witness the Charles Lindbergh trial for the murder of his son. Richly described and showing the difficult times of the 1930’s, this small book of verse brings the trial to life and leaves the reader full of questions about justice, the media, and the dreams of the 12 year old girl.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the poetic verse method used to tell the story. Thinking this book would be great for middle school students that don't like to read (oh the horror!). Due to the interesting nature of the story itself and because of the format in which it is written kids might find it enjoyable. Very creative!

Now to go find more informative books regarding the Lindbergh kidnapping.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie Leigh takes dictation for her uncle at the trial of Bruno Hauptmann (Lindbergh kidnapping case) As she listens to the testimony, she begins to question just how solid the evidence against Hauptmann is.

[Lea Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book in verse about Bruno Richard Hauptmann's trial for kidnapping and murder of the Lindbergh baby. The facts are presented through the eyes of a local girl who witnesses the trial as part of the press. Very interesting read.

[Travis Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars copyright 2004 genre poetry theme discovery. Favorite part of the book was when the mother allowed her daughter to attend the big trial. I will use this book in my future classroom to illustrate the power of poetry as a storytelling medium.

[Alyssa Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I connected with some of the poetry in this book. Super quick read because of the poetry format. At times, I noticed I felt lost with between the characters and story lines. I loved the story being told from the perspective of a pre-teen girl, it felt as though I was reliving those days of my life.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew nothing about the Lindbergh baby trial. I enjoyed this middle grades novel in verse about it! Well told from a kid’s perspective, making it easy for kids to make their own conclusions about the trial without it being spelled out.

[Tamara Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Interesting take in the Lindbergh story.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really amazing and I love the way the book is so different from others. I would definetly recomend it to anyone looking for a good poem book.

[Bookish Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction novel in verse that covers the trial of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping/murder. Great read!

[Susan McGilvray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting and beautiful novel in verse about the Lindbergh kidnapping.

[Miriam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this for a class. It was okay.

[Rishima Parekh]

This book is good. I love how it is written in a chronological way. The story has some times where there is a lot to handle. But it is a very good book.

[Arjun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! One thing I loved about this book was the ending.

[Jennifer Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fictionalized account of the trial of the alleged Lindbergh baby kidnapper makes me want to learn about the facts.

[Leanne Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to recommend this to my students who love Murder on the Orient Express, which was in part inspired by the Lindbergh baby kidnapping.