(2) YA On April 15, 1920, in South Braintree, Massachusetts (as a prologue describes), two men were shot and killed as they were transporting payroll funds to a major shoe factory. There were a handful of robbers, a getaway car, and dozens of witnesses. Surely the police could find the culprits and bring them to justice. The book then gives the backstory of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, Italian immigrants looking for better lives in America. Eventually, each man is drawn to the political movement of anarchism and its promise of a brighter future for laborers, though some anarchists turn to violence. As Sacco and Vanzetti seek to eliminate evidence of their connection to anarchism amid government suspicion, they become ensnared in the search for the Braintree murderers. The xenophobic bias that dominates their trial and numerous appeals will likely seem blatant to modern readers, and the suspense of whether or not they will be executed is what drives the resolution. Primary sources are included throughout, and longer excerpts from the men's letters conclude most chapters, reinforcing their humanity. Source notes, a bibliography, and an index are appended.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(4) YA Headline Court Cases series. Sacco and Vanzetti presents a focused examination of the 1920s trial, including historical background, summaries of the prosecution and defense cases, and the aftermath that ultimately led to a 1977 proclamation of wrongful execution. Witchcraft Trials follows a similar format but is broader in focus. Illustrated with black-and-white photos and historical reproductions, these overviews are informative, though the writing is generally flat. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta