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Doomed: Sacco, Vanzetti & the End of the American Dream
From John Florio and Emmy Award-winning writer Ouisie Shapiro comes a monumental YA nonfiction book about the heartbreaking case of Sacco and Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants who were wrongfully executed for murder.
In the early 1920s, a Red Scare gripped America. Many of those targeted were Italians, Eastern Europeans, and other immigrants.
When an armed robbery resulting in the death of two people broke headlines in Massachusetts, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti - both Italian immigrants - were quick to be accused.
A heated trial ensued, but through it all, the two men maintained their innocence. The controversial case quickly rippled past borders as it became increasingly clear that Sacco and Vanzetti were fated for a death sentence. Protests sprang up around the world to fight for their lives.
Learn the tragic history we dare not repeat in Doomed: Sacco, Vanzetti, and the End of the American Dream, an action-packed, fast-paced nonfiction book filled with issues that still resonate today.
In the early 1920s, a Red Scare gripped America. Many of those targeted were Italians, Eastern Europeans, and other immigrants.
When an armed robbery resulting in the death of two people broke headlines in Massachusetts, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti - both Italian immigrants - were quick to be accused.
A heated trial ensued, but through it all, the two men maintained their innocence. The controversial case quickly rippled past borders as it became increasingly clear that Sacco and Vanzetti were fated for a death sentence. Protests sprang up around the world to fight for their lives.
Learn the tragic history we dare not repeat in Doomed: Sacco, Vanzetti, and the End of the American Dream, an action-packed, fast-paced nonfiction book filled with issues that still resonate today.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published January 24, 2023
13 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
John Florio
7 books41 followersJohn Florio was raised in Flushing, NY. He credits the streets of Queens as one of his earliest influences, along with black-and-white movies, old superhero comics, Sports Illustrated, Humphrey Bogart, and the Hardy Boys.
A fan of pop fiction and creative nonfiction, Florio is the author of the historical crime novels, Sugar Pop Moon and Blind Moon Alley. With Ouisie Shapiro, he has written the nonfiction books: Marked Man, Doomed, War in the Ring, One Nation Under Baseball, and One Punch from the Promised Land. Florio and Shapiro also contribute to The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Nation, and ESPN.
Florio holds an MFA from the University of Southern Maine, an MA from New York University, an MBA from St. John’s University, and he is pursing a DFA at the University of Glasgow. He currently serves on the faculty of the Stonecoast MFA creative writing program at the University of Southern Maine.
Visit John Florio at johnfloriowriter.com.
A fan of pop fiction and creative nonfiction, Florio is the author of the historical crime novels, Sugar Pop Moon and Blind Moon Alley. With Ouisie Shapiro, he has written the nonfiction books: Marked Man, Doomed, War in the Ring, One Nation Under Baseball, and One Punch from the Promised Land. Florio and Shapiro also contribute to The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Nation, and ESPN.
Florio holds an MFA from the University of Southern Maine, an MA from New York University, an MBA from St. John’s University, and he is pursing a DFA at the University of Glasgow. He currently serves on the faculty of the Stonecoast MFA creative writing program at the University of Southern Maine.
Visit John Florio at johnfloriowriter.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 17, 2023
This was just okay for me; in not knowing anything about this trial and injustice, I wanted so much more than what I got here. While this is a YA book, the writing felt very simple and I never felt like the loss of the "American Dream" was fully fleshed out. While what I read was interesting, the whole story felt rushed and really left me wanting more; I felt that this had the potential to be a really great read and instead I am left disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley, John Florio and Ousie Shapiro, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Brook Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, John Florio and Ousie Shapiro, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Brook Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2022
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Doomed: The Tragic Case of Sacco and Vanzetti by John Florio and Ouisie Shapiro tells the story of a pair I was not familiar with at all before going in. Luckily, the storytelling and world-building creating the world of the 1920s that these men inhabited. Let's just say that "tragic" is exactly the right word for everything that happened here to these men.
Doomed: The Tragic Case of Sacco and Vanzetti by John Florio and Ouisie Shapiro tells the story of a pair I was not familiar with at all before going in. Luckily, the storytelling and world-building creating the world of the 1920s that these men inhabited. Let's just say that "tragic" is exactly the right word for everything that happened here to these men.
January 3, 2023
“In the eyes of the world, America, which had once been seen as the land of opportunity, was now a place of oppression, injustice, and murder.”
This book brings to life the leading events and subsequent trial of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants who were wrongly accused and executed in 1927 for murder. Both aligned with an anarchist movement which gave the jury reasonable enough ammo even though there was little to no evidence to place them at the scene of the crime. But they were anarchists, why wouldn't they kill two men in cold blood?
Hoover and Palmer were their own form of a**hole but Judge Thayer and Katzmann? There aren’t enough words in the English language for me to properly express my disgust of these men.
I was familiar with the trial, but this is the first time I’ve read about what happened, so I found it incredibly informative and appreciated that it was situated within the context of 1900’s America. However, one detail that did bug me was that the authors cited the Lusitania sinking as America’s reason for entering the war, and while I believe it played a role, I feel that the Zimmerman note was the tipping point, but I digress.
Overall, this trial perfectly sums up this patriotic s*** show that was America post-WWI. And serves as another reminder that the American justice system is not something to be proud of, making this book a poignant novel of today.
This book brings to life the leading events and subsequent trial of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants who were wrongly accused and executed in 1927 for murder. Both aligned with an anarchist movement which gave the jury reasonable enough ammo even though there was little to no evidence to place them at the scene of the crime. But they were anarchists, why wouldn't they kill two men in cold blood?
Hoover and Palmer were their own form of a**hole but Judge Thayer and Katzmann? There aren’t enough words in the English language for me to properly express my disgust of these men.
I was familiar with the trial, but this is the first time I’ve read about what happened, so I found it incredibly informative and appreciated that it was situated within the context of 1900’s America. However, one detail that did bug me was that the authors cited the Lusitania sinking as America’s reason for entering the war, and while I believe it played a role, I feel that the Zimmerman note was the tipping point, but I digress.
Overall, this trial perfectly sums up this patriotic s*** show that was America post-WWI. And serves as another reminder that the American justice system is not something to be proud of, making this book a poignant novel of today.
November 12, 2022
Doomed: Sacco, Vanzetti & the End of the American Dream by John Florio & Ouisie Shapiro
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Doomed is the true heartbreaking story of two Italian immigrants who were wrongfully executed for murder. Before reading this book I had never heard of these men, now I will never be able to forget them.
I really like that this book is short and to the point with this case. It's easy to follow along and isn't filled with legal jargon. The story is descriptive enough to transport you back in time without loading you down with unnecessary information.
Overall, I think the authors did an amazing job at shining light on this case. If you're into true crime I suggest giving this one a shot.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Doomed is the true heartbreaking story of two Italian immigrants who were wrongfully executed for murder. Before reading this book I had never heard of these men, now I will never be able to forget them.
I really like that this book is short and to the point with this case. It's easy to follow along and isn't filled with legal jargon. The story is descriptive enough to transport you back in time without loading you down with unnecessary information.
Overall, I think the authors did an amazing job at shining light on this case. If you're into true crime I suggest giving this one a shot.
April 23, 2024
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I never knew how little I actually knew about the real, tragic history of Sacco and Vanzetti until I read this book. While a tad bit dry, this book provided an excellent source about this history for young adults (and this adult). I really appreciated how Shapiro and Florio laid out the story, weaving in pictures and other primary source documents as well as personal letters and writings from Sacco and Vanzetti themselves between each chapter.
I never knew how little I actually knew about the real, tragic history of Sacco and Vanzetti until I read this book. While a tad bit dry, this book provided an excellent source about this history for young adults (and this adult). I really appreciated how Shapiro and Florio laid out the story, weaving in pictures and other primary source documents as well as personal letters and writings from Sacco and Vanzetti themselves between each chapter.
October 9, 2025
Both heartbreaking and haunting. It’s hard to believe these events actually happened, yet even more unsettling how closely parts of the story mirror our world today. Remarkable that a nonfiction account from the 1920s can feel so current.
April 28, 2022
A clear and concise account of the Sacco and Vanzetti trial and the defendants' murders. While the events and social context are laid out in an easy to read manner, the authors don't quite get into the "end of the American Dream" idea promised in the title. And I don't get the feeling that readers will really get the impact of the denial of justice that occurred, or why this particular moment in American history is worth knowing about today.
September 18, 2023
It was the cause celebre of its time. Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were convicted of an April 20, 1920 murder in Braintree, MA, Sacco was at work in Milford, MA and Vanzetti was at the Italian Consulate in Boston on that day. John Florio and Ouise Shapiro have brought together the significant facts for this very readable short history.
Everything from the selection of jurors to having the defendants in the iron cages in court room was irregular. The defendants were questioned for several days on their political views in English, a language in which they were hardly proficient. Judge Thayer told the jury that their job was to “was protect the American way of life” and outside the court room made comments that the two should be executed (with the implication that this was for their political beliefs and immigrant status).
Aldino Feliciano led The Sacco and Vanzetti Defense Committee. They hired attorneys and in these pre-TV days kept the national and international communities informed.
After the conviction, requests for a new trial included evidence of jury tampering, recanted testimony, the many prejudicial statements of Judge Thayer and the confession of a “professional” bank robber. Judge Thayer was the sole arbiter of this and he was steadfast in his refusal to grant a re-trial.
The decisions reverberated around the world. There were marches, attacks on US embassies and letters to President Harding from international notables.
The book has many B & W photos. Some are of the “worth 1000 words” variety: p. 96 The Jury; p. 114 a lapel button for the Fund campaign; p.139 yellow journalism reports the execution; and pages 142 & 3 the caskets, pallbearers and funeral march.
There are some very touching letters (translated from the Italian originals) written by the defendants to family and supporters. There is a good index and the text is well documented in the “Source Notes”.
This is a must read for anyone interested not only in this particular trial, but also the issue of racially/ethnically motivated prosecutions which is still with us today.
Everything from the selection of jurors to having the defendants in the iron cages in court room was irregular. The defendants were questioned for several days on their political views in English, a language in which they were hardly proficient. Judge Thayer told the jury that their job was to “was protect the American way of life” and outside the court room made comments that the two should be executed (with the implication that this was for their political beliefs and immigrant status).
Aldino Feliciano led The Sacco and Vanzetti Defense Committee. They hired attorneys and in these pre-TV days kept the national and international communities informed.
After the conviction, requests for a new trial included evidence of jury tampering, recanted testimony, the many prejudicial statements of Judge Thayer and the confession of a “professional” bank robber. Judge Thayer was the sole arbiter of this and he was steadfast in his refusal to grant a re-trial.
The decisions reverberated around the world. There were marches, attacks on US embassies and letters to President Harding from international notables.
The book has many B & W photos. Some are of the “worth 1000 words” variety: p. 96 The Jury; p. 114 a lapel button for the Fund campaign; p.139 yellow journalism reports the execution; and pages 142 & 3 the caskets, pallbearers and funeral march.
There are some very touching letters (translated from the Italian originals) written by the defendants to family and supporters. There is a good index and the text is well documented in the “Source Notes”.
This is a must read for anyone interested not only in this particular trial, but also the issue of racially/ethnically motivated prosecutions which is still with us today.
December 25, 2024
I knew of Sacco and Vanzetti but only vaguely, as a miscarriage of justice. I didn’t know how blatant a miscarriage of justice, nor that it was strong enough to make McCarthy’s Red Scare look mild. Nor did I know how extreme was the judge’s prejudice. Not only prejudice but a malicious determination to see these two innocent men found guilty. As the authors commented, any more encouragement from the judge and the prosecutors would have been singing the Battle hymn of the Republic! I did not know that appeals would be determined by the same bigot of a judge. There was the state appeal and appeal to the Supreme Court as well as a chance for the Massachusetts governor to grant clemency. All failed, basically out of fear of anarchists and bigotry. Southern Italians were often treated the same as Blacks back then. The rest of the world (mostly meaning Europe but also other parts of the world) were appalled. The pair made headlines in newspapers across the world. But not in the United States where pretty much only local papers covered the end of the long trial. This was not a case where people came to see it as a miscarriage of justice; but one where many at the time knew it as a miscarriage of justice. I didn’t know how not know a man already in line for death for another crime got a message to one of the prisoners that HE had helped commit the crime they had been found guilty of, knew they were innocent, and was willing to admit to it! The judge wasn’t having it: he KNEW who was guilty and wasn’t about to let a minor thing called truth interfere!
I read this at one sitting and was fascinated. The connections with current prejudice against immigrants and disregard for the law by leaders such as our incoming president are unmistakable. I hope this gets read and thought about before legal descendants of Sacco and Vanzetti get hit by another blatantly unfair trial.
I read this at one sitting and was fascinated. The connections with current prejudice against immigrants and disregard for the law by leaders such as our incoming president are unmistakable. I hope this gets read and thought about before legal descendants of Sacco and Vanzetti get hit by another blatantly unfair trial.
June 26, 2022
Doomed: Sacco, Vanzetti & the End of the American Dream
by John Florio; Ouisie Shapiro
Pub Date: 24 Jan 2023
I'm not one to sit down and read a nonfiction book for pleasure, but a well-written narrative nonfiction? Yes, please! I love how, unlike other narrative nonfiction books I've read, they distinguish between actual historically accurate quotes (in quotation marks) and what most likely was said (in italics). Some books take too much liberty and put it all in quotes.
As for the story itself...this is the heartbreaking story of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants who came for the America dream only to be accused of being a part of a grusome robbery and murder in 1920. When you read this book, which lays out the facts of the trial, you will get angry. The blatant prejudice against two men (who, by the way, had MULTIPLE witnesses attest to the fact they were no where near the city where the crime was committed) will flabbergast you, even though we know things like this do happen. They were convenient scapegoats, plain and simple. Through it all they maintained their innocence and faith that humanity would come through. It was a dark time in American history. One we don't need to repeat.
I appreciate how the authors walked through the trial and used primary sources such as pictures and letters throughout. They also included in the story how not only the rest of America acted, but the world as well. To see huge protests be formed without the help of modern technology was impressive. After the story is told, the authors go chapter by chapter telling where they found each piece of information they included. Great book for history buffs! #netgalley #doomed #JohnFlorio #OuisieShapiro
by John Florio; Ouisie Shapiro
Pub Date: 24 Jan 2023
I'm not one to sit down and read a nonfiction book for pleasure, but a well-written narrative nonfiction? Yes, please! I love how, unlike other narrative nonfiction books I've read, they distinguish between actual historically accurate quotes (in quotation marks) and what most likely was said (in italics). Some books take too much liberty and put it all in quotes.
As for the story itself...this is the heartbreaking story of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants who came for the America dream only to be accused of being a part of a grusome robbery and murder in 1920. When you read this book, which lays out the facts of the trial, you will get angry. The blatant prejudice against two men (who, by the way, had MULTIPLE witnesses attest to the fact they were no where near the city where the crime was committed) will flabbergast you, even though we know things like this do happen. They were convenient scapegoats, plain and simple. Through it all they maintained their innocence and faith that humanity would come through. It was a dark time in American history. One we don't need to repeat.
I appreciate how the authors walked through the trial and used primary sources such as pictures and letters throughout. They also included in the story how not only the rest of America acted, but the world as well. To see huge protests be formed without the help of modern technology was impressive. After the story is told, the authors go chapter by chapter telling where they found each piece of information they included. Great book for history buffs! #netgalley #doomed #JohnFlorio #OuisieShapiro
February 20, 2022
What a stellar bit of storytelling with the case of Sacco and Vanzetti. I can tell you I only recognize the names and have never spent time learning about who they were and why their names are famous. Now I know and now I know why the justice system has always been flawed and will likely continue to be flawed and that has everything to do with people. Holy moly.
I was riveted by the focus of the story and the way the events unfolded. It reads like Florio is delivering the facts without any true bias, leading readers to take stock of what happened to these men-- a miscarriage of justice that allowed two men to go the electric chair who were absolutely, unequivocally innocent and the judge, governor, and lawyers who kept them there when all signs pointed to absolute innocence (including a man connected to the mob/mafia who confessed in prison). Their letters incorporated into the story told the story and provided first-person insight that felt so personal amid all the pain of knowing they were innocent.
Nonfiction is the best, absolutely, and this is another one that solidifies this.
Fascinating fact: The Boston Public Library still has a plaque that says "What I wish more than all in this last hour of agony is that our case and our fate may be understood in there real being and serves as a tremendous lesson to the forces of freedom that our suffering and death will not have been in vain."
I was riveted by the focus of the story and the way the events unfolded. It reads like Florio is delivering the facts without any true bias, leading readers to take stock of what happened to these men-- a miscarriage of justice that allowed two men to go the electric chair who were absolutely, unequivocally innocent and the judge, governor, and lawyers who kept them there when all signs pointed to absolute innocence (including a man connected to the mob/mafia who confessed in prison). Their letters incorporated into the story told the story and provided first-person insight that felt so personal amid all the pain of knowing they were innocent.
Nonfiction is the best, absolutely, and this is another one that solidifies this.
Fascinating fact: The Boston Public Library still has a plaque that says "What I wish more than all in this last hour of agony is that our case and our fate may be understood in there real being and serves as a tremendous lesson to the forces of freedom that our suffering and death will not have been in vain."
July 27, 2022
Really interested in this book, from the standpoint of the 1920s and immigration. I feel this case gets left behind with Scopes and possible Leopold and Loeb. The book does a great job focusing on the narrative about the murderers and the crime, as well as the trial. I really appreciated that the story didn't end with the end of the trial, though. It allows readers to see what happens to them and to reframe the story as more than just being guilty. There's a lot for teen readers to digest here. The American dream (as title suggests) and immigration, along with court room procedure. I'll definitely be recommending to my students who are looking for something connecting to these themes.
Overall, really well written. As a history teacher, I really appreciated the primary sources at the end of the chapter. It really helps connect the way to think about history to the narrative. The opening was very well done; I'm certain it will pull in ambivalent readers. There is a lot of historical context that helps readers understand the complexity surrounding the case in its time. Ultimately, the writers do a great job humanizing Sacco and Vanzetti, portraying them more than just flat historical figures. As an adult, I appreciated it as a quick and easy read. Younger students might have to take a little more time with it, but there's a lot to talk about with them as they read.
Overall, really well written. As a history teacher, I really appreciated the primary sources at the end of the chapter. It really helps connect the way to think about history to the narrative. The opening was very well done; I'm certain it will pull in ambivalent readers. There is a lot of historical context that helps readers understand the complexity surrounding the case in its time. Ultimately, the writers do a great job humanizing Sacco and Vanzetti, portraying them more than just flat historical figures. As an adult, I appreciated it as a quick and easy read. Younger students might have to take a little more time with it, but there's a lot to talk about with them as they read.
August 11, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Book Press for the ARC of this book.
Doomed: Sacco, Vanzetti & the End of the American Dream tells the heartbreaking story of two Italian immigrants, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. These two hardworking men immigrated to the United States looking for streets paved with gold and were disillusioned by the inequity they saw and the struggles they faced to survive. The US was not the land of opportunity they were expecting. Both men wondered if the capitalism that drove so many choices made in the US was the wrong answer and instead joined anarchist groups, supported strikes and the labor movement, and were considered radicals by many. Their heartbreaking tale culminates with them both being accused on a heinous crime and the miscarriage of justice that follows. John Florio and Ouisie Shapiro carefully tell this story with empathy and attention to detail. Using court records, newspaper articles, and letters from the time they let the reader understand both the context of the time period and the impact of the Sacco and Vanzetti trial. This book will be a perfect addition to my classroom library because the writing is honest, accurate, and gripping. Even reluctant readers will be hooked and interested. The detailed bibliography and citations at the end of the book are helpful and much appreciated as well.
Doomed: Sacco, Vanzetti & the End of the American Dream tells the heartbreaking story of two Italian immigrants, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. These two hardworking men immigrated to the United States looking for streets paved with gold and were disillusioned by the inequity they saw and the struggles they faced to survive. The US was not the land of opportunity they were expecting. Both men wondered if the capitalism that drove so many choices made in the US was the wrong answer and instead joined anarchist groups, supported strikes and the labor movement, and were considered radicals by many. Their heartbreaking tale culminates with them both being accused on a heinous crime and the miscarriage of justice that follows. John Florio and Ouisie Shapiro carefully tell this story with empathy and attention to detail. Using court records, newspaper articles, and letters from the time they let the reader understand both the context of the time period and the impact of the Sacco and Vanzetti trial. This book will be a perfect addition to my classroom library because the writing is honest, accurate, and gripping. Even reluctant readers will be hooked and interested. The detailed bibliography and citations at the end of the book are helpful and much appreciated as well.
December 20, 2022
This book is a perfect example of how public opinion and bias can stand in the way of justice. Even today this is still something that we need to be careful of. It makes my heart so sad to know that there was so much proof that both Nicola and Bartolomeo had nothing to do with the robbery and yet everyone turned a blind eye when dealing with their trial. It does make my heart happy that not only our nation, but others around the world demanded that their case be reexamined. Yet the powers that be even with 7000 pages of testimony could not see that bias and plan racism lead to two men losing their lives. This book is very fast paced and does a great job providing some very interesting information on both Nicola and Bartolomeo, and their trial and its outcome. I hope that this book helps people realize that we need to learn from the past and not allow such grievous errors to happen again.
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
January 3, 2023
Was the American Dream sold as a scam? Being greeted by the Statue of Liberty might not be the beginning of a gilded, hopeful future in the land of the free-- especially if Lady Liberty is a more than a little xenophobic.
This is a well-constructed, solid take on an oft-forgotten trial-by-media circus in the 1920s. Aimed at the teen crowd, John Florio and Ouisie Shapiro take on one of the most controversial murder cases in American history. Teens will devour this.
Adults will devour this.
Dogs might devour this, but only after their humans are finished reading this book cover-to-cover.
There's more than a pearl of widsom to take from this book, and if you're like me, you'll be thinking long and hard about the current hot topic cracks in the American justice system long after the book is over.
5 stars.
This is a well-constructed, solid take on an oft-forgotten trial-by-media circus in the 1920s. Aimed at the teen crowd, John Florio and Ouisie Shapiro take on one of the most controversial murder cases in American history. Teens will devour this.
Adults will devour this.
Dogs might devour this, but only after their humans are finished reading this book cover-to-cover.
There's more than a pearl of widsom to take from this book, and if you're like me, you'll be thinking long and hard about the current hot topic cracks in the American justice system long after the book is over.
5 stars.
June 12, 2025
The case of Sacco and Vanzetti has always fascinated me, so I was excited to dive into Doomed, and it did not disappoint. Florio and Shapiro do an excellent job of telling the story in a way that’s both informative and accessible, especially for younger readers. The book brings to life not just the details of the trial, but also the larger social and political forces at play—immigration, xenophobia, labor movements—that still echo in today’s world.
This is a must-have for any high school social studies classroom. It’s a great example of how history isn’t just something that happened “back then”—it shows how many of the same debates and struggles continue to shape our society today. Doomed makes those connections clear without feeling forced or preachy. It’s thoughtful, well-researched, and engaging—a powerful resource for sparking classroom discussion
This is a must-have for any high school social studies classroom. It’s a great example of how history isn’t just something that happened “back then”—it shows how many of the same debates and struggles continue to shape our society today. Doomed makes those connections clear without feeling forced or preachy. It’s thoughtful, well-researched, and engaging—a powerful resource for sparking classroom discussion
March 11, 2024
In April of 1920, there was a payroll robbery where 2 men were brutally shot and killed. 5 men were involved but they made a clean getaway with very few clues left behind. Two Italian immigrants with political ideologies that went against public opinion were arrested despite the fact that they had alibis. A biased judge made matters even worse for Sacco and Vanzetti during their trial. There was even a lot of public support both national and international for these 2 men but it didn't make a difference. It was hard to believe our justice system could do this - but really things aren't much better today when you look at how many innocent people have been found on death row. Well researched, engaging tone. Source notes and bibliography.
July 31, 2025
Superficial and one-sided account of the lives and trials of Sacco and Vanzetti, the infamous Italian immigrant anarchists who were convicted and eventually executed for the fatal shooting of two men during a shoe factory payroll robbery in 1921. Whether they were actually guilty or merely innocent victims of prevailing prejudices against immigrants and fears of anarchism remains a subject of much debate, but Florio's account presents the story as if there were no doubt about their innocence, discussing only the evidence that favored their acquittal while ignoring the evidence against them and the many contradictions and falsities in the defense's case.
August 15, 2023
Written for students, this clear and informative book is well-paced with enough insights for older readers.
The events depicted in this book may have occurred over one hundred years ago, but the themes of injustice, economic inequality, the treatment of immigrants, and the battle over the free expression of ideas are still incredibly relevant.
Other books for adult readers: The Dynamite Club: How a Bombing in Fin-de-Siècle Paris Ignited the Age of Modern Terror by John Merriman; One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson; Anarchism and Other Essays by Emma Goldman.
The events depicted in this book may have occurred over one hundred years ago, but the themes of injustice, economic inequality, the treatment of immigrants, and the battle over the free expression of ideas are still incredibly relevant.
Other books for adult readers: The Dynamite Club: How a Bombing in Fin-de-Siècle Paris Ignited the Age of Modern Terror by John Merriman; One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson; Anarchism and Other Essays by Emma Goldman.
November 10, 2023
I got completely sucked into this riveting story. Florio and Shapiro help the reader learn, and and even feel who these men were, on a personal level. It is a tale of two men wrongly accused of murder, set against the backdrop of turn-of-the-century America, in the midst of the mass immigration, the Industrial Revolution, and the Red Scare. An engrossing way to teach an important time period in American history to teens!
March 11, 2024
Honestly, I had this book on my "to read" list for so long and I figured I'd skim through it this weekend so I could check one off my list. I ended up reading it in one sitting. It was captivating, exciting, and extremely moving. The cover doesn’t do it justice. I knew the names of Sacco and Vanzetti were connected to criminal activity, but I had no context and no understanding of the significance of the case. I found it to be one of the best books I've read in a long time.
May 10, 2023
It is well written and perfect for Young adult readers, informative but not overwhelming and not dry at all for non-fiction story.
While it has a welcoming sympathy to protagonists and immigrants in general, I think it got carried away with a sympathetic view of anarchism, "poor russian radicals, they were treated unfairly" strikes a wrong overtone for a reliable historical narrative.
While it has a welcoming sympathy to protagonists and immigrants in general, I think it got carried away with a sympathetic view of anarchism, "poor russian radicals, they were treated unfairly" strikes a wrong overtone for a reliable historical narrative.
July 26, 2025
A very fast read. Not much suspense, as they give it away right away and don't really allow for any thinking or sleuthing. But clearly, the 2020's don't have any monopoly on treating people poorly or making decisions about who people are and what they are without any evidence. They did that very well 100 years ago.
December 7, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
My students are always asking for true crime books, but I'm not sure that they can be persuaded to go this far back in history. I would definitely purchase this for a high school, since it has a lot of social and civil rights issues.
My students are always asking for true crime books, but I'm not sure that they can be persuaded to go this far back in history. I would definitely purchase this for a high school, since it has a lot of social and civil rights issues.
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March 7, 2023Two immigrants unveil an unjust justice system in heartbreaking non fiction titled DOOMED: SACCO AND VANZETTI AND THE END OF THE AMERICAN DREAM by John Florio.
Read the full review on Booktrib.com
Read the full review on Booktrib.com
April 20, 2023
Such a sad, but true, story which follows the lives of two Italian men wrongly convicted of a crime they didn't commit. Anti-immigrant sentiment fueled the community and brought worldwide attention to this terrible American tragedy.
August 20, 2023
This is a very sad but interesting piece of American history that I didn't know about before reading this book. It is very eye-opening and emotional for many reasons. I don't know if the intermediate aged kids are going to be interested, but it is very good.
December 10, 2023
Honestly, I didn’t know much about the trial of Sacco & Vanzetti. I’d heard of it but was unaware of just how blatant the racism was. It is disheartening that at every turn these two men were never given their fair shake.
April 29, 2025
Really good YA book written about two men wrongfully accused and convicted of murder. Their only crimes were being immigrants and questioning an America that is supposed to support all people. I definitely see a lot of connections to the current climate.
February 21, 2022
A really interesting, terrible story that I’d never heard of before.
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