Editorial Review
Sometimes I feel like I have walked into the middle of a movie. Maybe I can make my own movie. The film will be the story of my life. No, not my life, but of this experience. I'll call it what the lady who is the prosecutor called me. MONSTER.
FADE IN: INTERIOR COURT. A guard sits at a desk behind Steve. Kathy O'Brien, Steve's lawyer, is all business as she talks to Steve.
O'BRIEN
Let me make sure you understand what's going on. Both you and this king character are on trial for felony murder. Felony Murder is as serious as it gets. . . . When you're in court, you sit there and pay attetion. You let the jury know that you think the case is a serious as they do. . . .
STEVE
You think we're going to win ?
O'BRIEN (seriously)
It probably depends on what you mean by "win."
Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon is on trial for murder. A Harlem drugstore owner was shot and killed in his store, and the word is that Steve served as the lookout.
Guilty or innocent, Steve becomes a pawn in the hands of "the system," cluttered with cynical authority figures and unscrupulous inmates, who will turn in anyone to shorten their own sentences. For the first time, Steve is forced to think about who he is as he faces prison, where he may spend all the tomorrows of his life.
As a way of coping with the horrific events that entangle him, Steve, an amateur filmmaker, decides to transcribe his trial into a script, just like in the movies. He writes it all down, scene by scene, the story of how his whole life was turned around in an instant. But despite his efforts, reality is blurred and his vision obscured until he can no longer tell who he is or what is the truth. This compelling novel is Walter Dean Myers's writing at its best.
2000 Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2000 Michael L. Printz Award, 1999 National Book Award Finalist, 01 Heartland Award for Excellence in YA Lit Finalist, 00-01 Tayshas High School Reading List, and 00-01 Black-Eyed Susan Award Masterlist
2000 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA), Hornbook Fanfare 2000, Michael L. Printz Award 2000, 2000 Coretta Scott King Award Author Honor Book, 2000 Quick Picks for Young Adults (Recomm. Books for Reluctant Young Readers), and 2000 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
Cached date: AWS Called=true
Customer Reviews
Monster: Intresting and thought provoking 
2008-09-20
Monster is the riveting tale of a young man on trial for murder. His attorney stresses that he needs to stand out from the other thugs on trial, as he struggles with his own sense of self. Steve narrates in a unique way, a collection of train-of-though style journal writing and screen plays of the events. He builds it all into a movie in his head, and on paper to help him sort out what's going on around him.
[...]
From a Teacher/ School Librarian's perspective... 
2008-08-06
"Monster" was an outstanding book and should be read by any child that is heading in the wrong direction. Over the years, there were so many students I could have recommended this book to. This story is about a black teen and the inner city, but please do not feel this book could not help a child in the suburbs or Asian/Hispanic/White teens. The main focus of this book is to talk about the consequences any teen can face by associating themselves with the wrong people. So many teens want to be cool these days and fit in with the cool peer group. "Monster" is showing that being cool for a few moments could land you in jail for life, where you could be someone's girlfriend for the rest of your life. This book is an easy read and should not take your child or student long to read this book. The focus groups I recommend read this book are:
-Any teen heading down the wrong path
-Any teen on probation
-Any teen who has been getting into trouble at school
-Drama Club students
-Any teen wanting to fit in
-Any teen who you feel is picking the wrong people to associate with
-Film/ Media production Clubs
The Most Realistic Story 2008-05-21
"Monster the story of my miserable life." "This film will be the story of my life. No, not my life, but of this experience. I'll call it what the lady who is the prosecutor called me. MONSTER"
Monster is about a teenage boy named Steve Harmon the age of 16 who is in jail and on trial because was a part of a robbery as a look out, along with his "friends" Bobo and King. Throughout this whole book it takes place in the courtroom except for at night when Steve is writing in his journal. The robbery took place on December 22 at around 4 or 5. Two of Steve's friends Richard Evans (known as "Bobo" on the streets) and James King were the robbers in the store. As the story claims to be in court is, that while they were trying to rob the store the owner, Alguinaldo Nesbitt, pulled out a gun. As King struggles with the owner, a shot is fired.
In my opinion, I think that Walter Dean Myers has a very unique type of writing in this book. He writes the whole book in dialogue. Also, during some parts of the book he writes it in Steve's perspective of what happened during the crime scene. Last but not least, it also has the perspective of other characters and what they had done to lead up to the crime. Finally, he also shows Steve's thoughts at the end of every court day by writing it in Steve's journal.
Monster 2008-05-15
Synopsis
The novel begins with the main character, Steve, explaining in a journal type format, that the best time to cry is during the nighttime. Steve is in jail awaiting the outcome of his trial after being arrested for felony murder. He was allegedly involved in the murder of a local grocery store clerk. As the book progresses, it shifts between journal entries and a movie script format. As the courtroom drama unfolds other characters are introduced through the eyes of Steven and the lens of a camera.
Evaluation
The title of this book, takes its name from the word that the prosecutor calls Steve in the courtroom. Throughout the novel, the author explores the notion of identity and perception, and how others inform how one views him or herself. Steve, the main character of the book, views himself as a monster, because that is how both prosecutor and defense attorney view him. In the book, Steve is more like a character in a film, because the people he interacts with perceive him as a one-dimensional stereotype verses a complex human being. Myers uses the narrative style of the book to demonstrate this theme, as the journal entries are punctuated by dialogue and movie script formatting. While others view Steve as one-dimensional, Myers portrays all the complexities of a true character as Steve goes back and forth between acceptance and guilt. The realistic and harsh tone of the dialogue allows the reader to truly empathize with the main character in the book. The novel also raises essential questions relating to human nature, the role of the community and one's environment, and the failure of the criminal justice system. Monster was awarded the Coretta Scott King Award, the Michael L. Printz award for excellence in young adult fiction, and was a finalist for the National Book award
Using Monster in the Classroom 2008-05-14
Reading Monster out loud in class helped my students practice their fluency and inflections on a daily basis. Furthermore, the issues that Steve Harmon faces in the book help to start meaningful discussions in class. Going over definitions of exactly what a "sidebar" and "felony" are in addition to other vocabulary words helped to widen students' knowledge base as well. The book also exposes students to question what their beliefs and morals are and what they would do if faced with similar dilemmas. Great engaging read!
Calling all Middle School Students 2008-05-09
Sometimes I feel like I have walked into the middle of a movie. Maybe I can make my own movie. The film will be the story of my life. No, not my life, but of this experience. I'll call it what the lady who is the prosecutor called me. MONSTER.
FADE IN: INTERIOR COURT. A guard sits at a desk behind Steve. Kathy O'Brien, Steve's lawyer, is all business as she talks to Steve.
O'BRIEN
Let me make sure you understand what's going on. Both you and this king character are on trial for felony murder. Felony Murder is as serious as it gets. . . . When you're in court, you sit there and pay attetion. You let the jury know that you think the case is a serious as they do. . . .
STEVE
You think we're going to win ?
O'BRIEN (seriously)
It probably depends on what you mean by "win."
Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon is on trial for murder. A Harlem drugstore owner was shot and killed in his store, and the word is that Steve served as the lookout.
Guilty or innocent, Steve becomes a pawn in the hands of "the system," cluttered with cynical authority figures and unscrupulous inmates, who will turn in anyone to shorten their own sentences. For the first time, Steve is forced to think about who he is as he faces prison, where he may spend all the tomorrows of his life.
As a way of coping with the horrific events that entangle him, Steve, an amateur filmmaker, decides to transcribe his trial into a script, just like in the movies. He writes it all down, scene by scene, the story of how his whole life was turned around in an instant. But despite his efforts, reality is blurred and his vision obscured until he can no longer tell who he is or what is the truth. This compelling novel is Walter Dean Myers's writing at its best.
2000 Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2000 Michael L. Printz Award, 1999 National Book Award Finalist, 01 Heartland Award for Excellence in YA Lit Finalist, 00-01 Tayshas High School Reading List, and 00-01 Black-Eyed Susan Award Masterlist
2000 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA), Hornbook Fanfare 2000, Michael L. Printz Award 2000, 2000 Coretta Scott King Award Author Honor Book, 2000 Quick Picks for Young Adults (Recomm. Books for Reluctant Young Readers), and 2000 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
Tyler's book review 
2008-05-01
Monster by Walter Dean Myers, is about a kid named Steve who is 16 years old, he is black, and lives in New York. Steve is a boy who goes to jail, because he robbed a store. Almost the whole book is about him in the court room.
This book is definitely a book worth reading, because it is written very well. It's worth reading but it's very hard to understand because it is written in a movie form. This book would be great for 12-13 year old, because the way its written is hard to understand but it would be easy enough for 12 and 13 year olds to understand. There for this book was very interesting and a good book.
MONSTER 2008-03-06
MONSTER
MONSTER! Is that really what Steve Harmon is? Steve, a six-teen your old boy an accussed felon of this story. Steve was falsely accused of aiding a robey and being at the scene of a murder. This happens when a small group from a gang the "Diablos" want to make quick money. The boys decide to "hit up a drug store and rob the joint." The boys do not realize the consequences of this event. The consequences are 25 years in prison to life and even to a death sentence. Steve is unable to handle the fact he is facing jail, he writes a journal that he is going to turn into a movie.
The journal is about what occurs in the court room during Steve's trial.
This book is for teens to adults. Children would not be able to grasp how Steve Harman is connected to a crime he was accused of. Also the book might be a little to violent for the children to handle, there is mild violence, and language throughout the book. Teenagers would love this book, it has much meaning to it. For an example the book recieved it's name "Monster" from a statement made by the leading prosecutor about Steve, the defendant.
I absolutely love this book. Once i picked up the book i wanted to keep reading it. Walter Dean Myers does an fabulous job in this book by creating to different views in this book, a movie and Steve. I highly reccomend this book for almost everyone above elementay school.
Well written YA novel 2008-03-03
Monster is a strongly written novel with an even stronger theme. The few characters that are deeply developed, although most are not developed at all, are really able to connect with the reader, and get inside their head. The pacing is very easy to follow with it being very fast paced in most places, although some parts are rather tedious, especially the lawyers' closing arguments. The plot and point-of-view can be a little confusing, because the novel switches from third to first person often, but the important plot points are clear. The setting is shown in a rather unusual way, and it can sometimes be unclear as to where you are, but the movie script does provide an interesting read.
Steve Harmon - Monster or not? 2008-03-02
The novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers is a story about Steve Harmon who black, 16 years old and on trial for murder. The story is written like a screenplay but also has narratives that show the what Steve Harmon is feeling. It is a very fast moving drama that goes from the prison to the courtroom and flashbacks of Steve's life and the plot is very believable. Throughout the story, Steve questions whether is a monster or not because he is feeling like that is how the different people in his life see him - his attorney, his parents, the jurors. He struggles with whether he is good or bad. Because even if you were the lookout are you a murderer? Sometimes in the eyes of other people you are already convicted. Steve uses his journal to give you stories about prison and to show his thoughts on his predicament and what is happening each day in the trial. The descriptions that are given of prison life make you feel like you are there with him. This experience changes his life. The dialogue and language change with the scenes and it gives you a clue what the character is like by their speech. In the end, you are left really not knowing whether he did it or not even after the verdict.
