MODULE 6: MONSTER

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Myers, Walter Dean. 1999. MONSTER. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0060280778.


PLOT SUMMARY
Is Steve Harmon guilty of being a lookout for an armed robbery or in the wrong place at the wrong time? This is the central question in MONSTER. This is the story of the script from trial of Steve Harmon. Steve is a sixteen year old boy who is accused of being the lookout for a robbery that led to the death of the store owner. He is on trial for felony murder. MONSTER follows the prosecution and defense presentations. It also includes many of the thoughts and feelings Steve has as he awaits justice and the verdict. Suspense builds when the other defendant that is on trial with Steve is convicted. However, the jury believes that Steve was uninvolved, and he is freed.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
MONSTER is a timely novel. It focuses on the trial of a teen age boy who made some poor choices and discovered the consequences of these choices. Many of the youth of today can relate to either knowing someone or unfortunately being involved in the justice system.
All of the characters are believable and realistic. They have strengths and weaknesses. No one is portrayed as a superhero or as a perfect person. Although at times the attorneys seem to fit into stereotypes, it is the opinion of this reviewer that real people can act like the stereotype they are trying to refute. Steve’s attorney, Ms. O’Brien seems very true to life. She is very business like when she talks to her client. Steve believes that she thinks he is guilty, although she doesn’t ask him. She has a job to do and is doing it, whether she likes it or not.
The main character, Steve, is a very accurate portrayal of a teenager in this situation. He tries to be brave and cool for the crowd but in his thoughts, writings and interactions with his parents the reader sees his fear and insecurity. He is a likeable and interesting character. Although he stands accused of serious crime, this reader couldn’t wait to read if he had been acquitted and would have been upset if he hadn’t. Once he has been freed, Steve makes a movie of this series of events. Steve endured a great deal and seems to have grown up and matured. While he has changed, it seems that the way others view him has changed also. His relationship with his parents has been altered. Steve comments that his parents don’t understand the films he makes. He is using the films to be introspective and analyze who he is.
Since the book was written from his point of view, he is a sympathetic character that one believes in. This reviewer wonders if the book was written from a different point of view, for example from the other defendant, if we’d have a different opinion of Steve Harmon.
The plot makes for a good story. There is a logical series of events that are presented using a flashback format and dialogue. The events are true to life. This story could happen—and probably has and will. As the story builds, things become very tense and suspenseful. The climax of the story comes during the closing arguments. This reader did not know what way the verdict was going to go. There were several times that this reader was tempted to read the end since the author did such an excellent job of building action and not being predictable. The ending was optimistic. Steve is acquitted and seems to have developed into a more mature individual.
The setting of this story is not pivotal to the success of this story. This story is set in New York. The year is not specified. Despite the location specificity, it is not a key to the case. It is only mentioned briefly. The author wants the reader to not associate this story but just New York. This story could happen in any area where children chose to make friends with interesting characters.
The topic of this story is relevant to today’s teens. The characters and dialogue avoid didacticism. There are many times when the author could have included a lecture from a mature adult character relaying a string of clichés about the company one keeps or about poor decision making. There are none. There is no reference to “If all your friends jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you?” There are no trite and pat answers. All Steve learns is from himself, not the words he heard on an after school special.
The style that this story is written in is very inventive. It is written as a screenplay with camera, lighting and other filming cues. This text is written in a moderately large and dull font. It is very simplistic and legal looking. Intermittently, there are segments of writing that look like personal writings. These pages of personal writings seem to be on a slightly grayed piece of paper, as if they have been photocopied from a journal and included. The dialogue between the characters is very natural and flowing.
MONSTER is an excellent and quick read. The action and events drive the reader toward to the end, as the events of an actual court case would.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award -- 2000
HORN BOOK Honor Book
From Kirkus Reviews: “The format of this taut and moving drama forcefully regulates the pacing; breathless, edge-of-the-seat courtroom scenes written entirely in dialogue alternate with thoughtful, introspective journal entries that offer a sense of Steve's terror and confusion…”
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Monster will challenge readers with difficult questions, to which there are no definitive answers…. Monster lends itself well to classroom or group discussion. It's an emotionally charged story that readers will find compelling and disturbing.”

CONNECTIONS:
Informational Website:
Walter Dean Myers - Monster
Lesson Plans and Discussion questions:
HarperCollins Kids Teachers' Guides Monster and Scorpion
Author Profile:
Teenreads.com -- Author Profile: Walter Dean Myers

Reenact scenes from the book as a Reader’s Theatre with a Mock Trial twist:
Students would be assigned roles to play. Each would research the background of the job (for example defense attorney). Students would present this to history and government classes. The students in the other class would serve as the jury. At the end of the reenactment, the jury would present a verdict. Students would need to read MONSTER to find out Steve Harmon’s fate.