  Magnetic reconnection is a primary driver of particle acceleration processes
in space and astrophysical plasmas. Understanding how particles are accelerated
and the resulting particle energy spectra is among the central topics in
reconnection studies. We review recent advances in addressing this problem in
nonrelativistic reconnection that is relevant to space and solar plasmas and
beyond. We focus on particle acceleration mechanisms, particle transport due to
3D reconnection physics, and their roles in forming power-law particle energy
spectra. We conclude by pointing out the challenges in studying particle
acceleration and transport in a large-scale reconnection layer and the relevant
issues to be addressed in the future.
