Fleming, Candace. Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown. Schwartz & Wade, 04/2025. 356pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-593-48006-9. GRADES 9–Adult. OUTSTANDING.
In 1978, preacher and cult leader Jim Jones of the Jonestown People’s Temple led a group from California to Guyana, where more than 900 people were murdered or committed suicide. This detailed account begins with Jones as a boy, then as a preacher in Indianapolis, then his move to California, and finally to Guyana in South America. Fleming shows how he began with a message of civil rights and welcoming of the Black community but turned into a power-mad lunatic. The author’s award-winning narrative nonfiction style seen in The Family Romanov (2014) and Murder Among Friends (2022), includes first-hand interviews with Jones’s family members and other witnesses, making for a gripping, page-turning text. The details on the cult’s cruelty and the complexity of the story makes this best suited to high school students and even adults who will find it fascinating. Back matter includes an index, source notes, bibliography, and multiple b&w photos compiled in two sections near the end. Includes California-specific content.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool