Monster

Myers, Walter Dean. Monster. Amistad (2001). ISBN 978-0-0644-0731-1

Plot Summary

                Steve is being tried for a crime he didn’t commit.  A convenience store clerk was killed in a robbery gone wrong.  The boys responsible for the killing have pointed the finger at Steve, saying he was the look out.  He was the one who told the boys it was ok to go in and rob the place.  Or so they say.  He says he’s innocent.  Will the jury believe him?

Critical Evaluation

                This is an amazingly crafted book.  Many parts of the story are told as if from a movie script.  It’s called “Monster” because that is was the prosecution called Steve.  Steve likes film and so, to deal with the stress of being on trial for murder, he imagines the court room scenes, and others, through the lens of a camera.  This style of writing is fairly uncommon.  One thing that did bother me was that there was never an actual clear definition of what happened that day.  We are just left to assume what the jury decided is what happened.  At the same time, I guess, this adds to the authenticity of the book.  No one watching a trial from the outside, or inside, ever knows exactly what happened unless someone tells the truth.  So why would the reader think they would get to know the truth when the jury didn’t even know what happened for sure. 

Reader’s Annotation

Imagine the story of a murder trial being written as a film script – that is Monster.

Author’s Information

Walter Dean Myers is a NYT bestselling author.  He has written fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for young people.  He was the first winner of the Michael L. Printz Award.  His website is here: http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/.

Genre

Award Winner

Book Talking Ideas

This isn’t just your regular “put on trial for something I didn’t do” story.  The elements of film and scripting make this a book that every teenager should read, especially those interested in photography of any kind.  But that isn’t necessary to enjoy this book. 

Reading Level/Interest

13/15

Challenge Issues

There are references to drugs, violence, gang activity, and the murder trial is front and center.  Overall, these issues are not front and center at all, so they shouldn’t be too big of a problem for parents. 

Why Include This Title?

Monster is not only an amazingly original story in the form of a film script but is also won the 2000 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Literature for Young Adults.