The Evolution of Annabel Craig - Lisa Grunwald

Genre: Historical Fiction

My favorite history teacher was so because she taught us history through the telling of stories. I love historical fiction for that very reason. I had a cursory knowledge of the Scopes Trial, but experiencing it through the eyes of Annabel Craig in Grunewald’s novel The Evolution of Annabel Craig was a much deeper look into this historic event. Annabel Craig is forced to mature quickly when she is orphaned as a teenage girl. She moves into a boarding home, gets a job, and with the help of her community grows into adulthood. She meets and marries a local lawyer and is looking forward to a better future. A group of local residents decide to draft a young teacher to be charged with teaching evolution in his biology classroom leading to the historical Scopes trial featuring Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryant. Their goal is to bring attention to their small town of Dayton, Tennessee. Annabel’s world is upended again as the trial challenges everything from her faith, to her notions of friendship, to her understanding of her husband and what being married means.

I didn’t know as much as I should about this trial, so I welcomed learning more through this work of fiction. I have done some reading since and appreciate how well Grunewald captures the spirit of the town, the trial, and many of the participants. She really does make history come alive. The town, the cast of supporting characters, are exceptionally developed given their large number. So, too are the trial guests - the reporters and the lawyers. My favorite part though is the development of Annabel. Grunewald does a remarkable job of presenting the extremists from both sides of the trial while exploring Annabel who remains a devout Christian who comes to understand and accept more fully the science of evolution. Grunewald’s thoughtful exploration of Annabel’s conversations with friends and family who have different ideas provides nuance that is often missing in political and religious discourse. Of course Annabel struggles - losing the love and respect of some closest to her, but she emerges strong, and we are given hints of what her future life might hold. I’d read about this life to be sure.

I can easily become discouraged if I focus too closely on issues of politics and religion. I am a person of faith who has moved position from most of the people with whom I currently worship. I am of a political party that is not exceptionally popular where I live (I consider myself moderate and independent.) I often feel like I'm living in the gray. The gray can be an exhausting place for a people pleaser like me. I guess I can find hope in the notion that division is deep in our American culture. I can hear folks talk about how “awful” things are just now. While they probably are, history reminds us that it has been “awful” before.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this title.