Walter Dean Myers
Steve Harmon is one of many young men in Harlem on trial for killing a man in a convenient store. Since he is only 16 and is a well-mannered and well-behaved boy, prison absolutely terrifies him. To help him cope, he writes a screenplay to document his experience in prison, on trial, show his past experiences and reveal his inner complex and gritty thoughts. Towards the end of the novel, Steve is proclaimed innocent, but he is left with feelings of uneasiness and confusion about himself.
Impact on Me
After reading this novel, I realized that I judge people all the time who are in prison, in court and even just in trouble. I assume that they know right from wrong and the decision is easy. They should not have been in with the wrong crowd or be in the wrong place at the wrong time, it is all about decisions. And though decisions are important, most things are situational and individual. It is important to look at who someone is on the inside before stereotyping. Steve Harmon is called a Monster by his prosecuter. This label, and perhaps even identity, crushes the young and impressionable Steve and spins a terrible web of self-pity, self-doubt and self-loathing for him. It breaks my heart to watch Steve unravel and the weight of the adults' judgements manifest in his own heart.
Reviews
Myers's novel leaves ample room for discussion of topical issues for teenagers. For instance, visible minorities and the judicial system, judicial errors (guilty or innocent), and perhaps self-identity. Steve Harmon struggled with the fact that he in fact might be a "Monster" as the Prosecuter called him. He starts to believe this idea, starts to doubt himself and his innocence. Overall, Monster was a worth-while read.
Staunton, J. A., & Gubuan, F. (2002). Monster (Book). Journal Of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 45(8), 791.
One aspect I did not like is how it is written: Myers has Steve write the book as a movie script, so it is a little confusing and difficult to follow. With lots of characters, it’s hard to remember who is who, and what their purpose is. On the other hand I really liked the diversity of the characters, and how they adapt to the different events in the book. -Spencer Brown
Myers, W. (2010). Monster. Teen Ink, 21(10), 19.
Steve thinks he's just a normal, good kid. He does well in school and gets along with his family. How did he end up in court, fighting a life sentence in prison? The only way Steve can handle being inside the juvenile-justice system is to write about it, as if it were a movie. Monster is an exciting, scary, award-winning novel that reads like a film script.
Myers, W. (2000). Monster (Book Review). Scholastic Scope, 49(4), 4.
In the Library
After a volunteer group reads Monster, they can pair a quote from Monster with a quote about judging, stereotyping and racial profiling others. These two quotes together could be placed throughout the library with opposite symbols such as yin and yang signs. This would certainly interest students in the book and the book's weighty messages. Another idea to attract similar attention is to have volunteer students to research real events where people were racial profiled and/or stereotyped and have the actual news article (could be electronic) hanging on one side of the library or near the quotes mentioned above (if the librarian were to do both activities). Students can see that ours and others' judgement effects innocent people or those that are guilty with a rocky and complicated childhood or past. Finally, after reading this book, teenagers could potentially have an incredible discussion. One question I would love to ask and discuss is: Was Steve actually innocent or guilty? Steve gives us conflicting stories about the robbery and the murder of Mr. Nesbitt. The reader genuinely is left not actually knowing Steve's role in the incident.
Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster. New York: HarperCollins.
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