Customer Reviews

Monster

5 star:		(354)
4 star:		(276)
3 star:		(77)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Steven Harmon was only a lookout in the four-person holdup of a drugstore, but during the robbery attempt the store owner was killed. Steven wasn't even IN the store at the time of the murder. How guilty does that make Steven? Does his participation make him a MONSTER? That is the question left up to the jury in this courtroom trial. While the book in made up entirely of the trial, Myers uses mixed modes to depict the case. Steven, an aspiring filmmaker, records the trial's events as a screenplay, complete with close ups, reaction shots, and voice overs. Between scenes, we read Steven's handwritten journal about the case and see his fears of prison life and apprehensions about the proceedings in court. Mixed in are photographs of "Steven" in anguish. I found the telling of the story to be riveting and I feel it would provide terrific discussion in a classroom, perhaps 9th grade. Not only must we judge Steven's guilt, we also judge others involved and learn about the justice system in all its glory. By the time the novel ends, we feel as if we've been with Steven the whole time, and know we would never want to experience these events. It makes us consider peer pressure, the choices we make, the integrity of people, and different degrees of guilt. I enjoyed MONSTER very much and highly recommend it for personal use or with a class.

My parents courted by playing the "first line" game. One person says the first line of a favorite book of theirs and the other person guesses the piece of literature quoted. "Monster"'s first line is a doozy, and I doubt anyone, once hearing it, could do anything but guess its title correctly.

"The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is screaming for help".

So writes Steve Harmon, the sixteen year-old accused felon and hero of this story. Myers adeptly creates a new form of fiction in this Printz winner of a book. Finding jail too painful to endure, Steve recounts his life and court appearances by styling his journal in the form of a movie. The title of this movie "Monster" refers to a statement made by the leading prosecutor about Steve, the defendant. Falsely accused of aiding and abetting a robbery and consequent murder of a local drugstore and its manager, Steve recounts his current status, his past hopes and dreams, and the pain he must endure day to day. Kids reading this book might have some difficulty grasping exactly how this book's protagonist is connected to the murder. Certainly there isn't a detailed description of the extent to which Steve was connected to the killers in the neighborhood. But Myers gives his readers a lot of credit, believing they'll figure out what's going on, on their own. Steve's experiences in jail are a pared down version of the t.v. show "Oz". There are several references to sexual assault, in addition to violence and some mild language. I wouldn't be handing this book to your five-year-old but for any kid that's curious about jail or being "tough", this book can do you no wrong.

This novel really makes one think about society's view of young black men, and about young black male's preception of themselves. Why do good kids get into trouble? And why did Steve Harmon? What happens to good kids when they do get put into jail and they have to be with harden criminals-who do they become? MONSTER, brings these questions to light and there are no answers. But as a young hispanic female, recommending this book to a young african-american male is hard. One teen looked at me and looked at the cover and asked me if i thought he was a monster. Of course I do not. But I wish more than anything this young man would have picked up this book because I think that it would have helped him at looking at himself with the question Steve Harmon asks himself WHO AM I?.

I truly believe anyone who picks up this book will also ask themselves the same question WHO AM I? I know I did.

Maybe I'm a little bit biased, being a staunch Walter Dean Myers fan...but my hope is that I can still review this book fairly so that you, the potential reader/purchaser of this book will know what they're getting into. "Monster" is a very moving novel that, although filled with raw emotion, does not come across as overly-mushy or overly abrasive. That it manages to be truly realistic and "gritty,"(which seems to be an extremely popular description) without being depressing is impressive enough itself.....but to top it off, Mr. Myers' latest book is also incredibly deep. We are actually given a glance into the very soul of Steve Harmon, (the authors protagonist)and what we see is amazingly human.....And very, very, rare. So, why only four stars?? Well, there ARE times where Mr. Myers gets TOO into his play of emotions....and the book gets a little bit over-baring. But hey, don't let that scare you off, it only happens once or twice and is soon forgotten. Over all, "Monster" is a very satisfying read. And for teens or adults that are conservative in what they read....there is nothing to balk at in this book. Oh, hey, it even has a moral!!

Good book.I liked how the author drew me into the character's mind. I loved the book's style. Many students can use this for class performances. I would like to see this book made into a movie. The author makes you feel the character's pain and suffering. I would recommend this book to anyone. The description used makes you feel that you are a part of the action. You must understand what the abbreviations are too follow the story. The book was very suspenseful. I could not put it down. I read the book in two days. The bond between the characters was very strong. In the ending, and throughout the whole story, you could put yourself in the place of the jury. If you did not like the decision of the jury maybe you could write to the author and tell him what you thought. When reading the book I felt very scared. This is one of the reasons kids of any age shouldn't go to jail. When done I thought that it would be nice to be a lawyer and to try to save an innocent person's life from prison. The title was kind of misleading in the beginning, but near the end I understood what it meant. The weird thing about the story was that there were three lawyers instead of two. The main character was very scared and helped me realize that family is the best thing in the world. What happens in the story reminds me of bad streets in towns and that you should avoid bad places and situations. You never know if a person is a bad person just by their looks.Don't take small things in this world for granted because while in jail Sam realized that they mean alot. In closing, I definetely would read another book by this author. Travis Breese

This is a very depressing book. It is a page turner and at some points it is a tounge twister. It was a good book and I reccomend it to young adults and higher.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers Harper Collins Publishes, US, 1999 ISBN: 0-06-028077-8 US $15.95
Locked Away

Monster by Walter Dean Myers is a thrilling story of murder, betrayal, and the cold, hard, truth. Meet Steve. Steve Harmon is a boy of just sixteen who has been put on trial for felony and murder. While sitting in his holding cell, waiting for a verdict, Steve decides to make his life into a film. Weaved into his film are James King, Richard "Bobo" Evans, and Osvaldo Cruz who each have a different tale to tell. The problem is-which one should the jury believe? Should they believe King who-in every story- plays a huge part of the crime or Bobo-who has been in jail more than once before? A bigger question is, should they believe Steve- the quiet, film student who tells the jury that the participants of the crime were just his acquaintances? With the help of O'Brien-Steve's defense lawyer- and support from his mother, father, and little brother Steve will try to prove the jury he was innocent. But does he think he is innocent?
Taking place in modern day Harlem, pressure enters Steve's life as it does in most teenagers' life. The one thing that differs from other teen's is Steve's response to the pressure. Would you be as calm and collected as he was in court? While in court he continues to write in his journal and tell his story by script. But one thing continues to creep into his mind when he isn't busy writing his film: he believes he is a monster.
When Steve is on trial for felony murder he begins to take down his future in the form of screen play. He realizes as the case goes on that his life seems more and more like a movie and less like his life. While sitting in the courtroom during his numerous sessions of trial he tries to remember his life before being arrested. He remembers childhood memories involving past friends, conversations with James King, and even the day he was arrested. Beginning in the courtroom we meet Jose Degaldo- a man who worked along with Mr. Nesbitt (the man who was killed) at the drugstore. From then on we hear different stories from witnesses somehow attached to the crime by one way or another. When it is Steve's turn to speak to the jury he uses the rehearsed answers that O'Brien helped him with. But when the case comes to an end and O'Brien seems a little different Steve asks himself "What did she see?" What did O'Brien truly think of Steve? Did she believe he was innocent or guilty? But most of all what did the jury decide? To them, was he innocent or guilty? That is up for you to find out.
After reading Monster by Walter Dean Myers I honestly can say that I felt the book was mediocre. Myers had a terrifyingly intense plot but not a lot to follow it. The pace of the book dragged slowly with low suspense. Myers definitely has an artistic mind to write as Steve and in the format of a screenplay. But, I felt as if Myers held back or locked away a piece of his story that could've added so much to it. He should've added more character development to main characters such as O'Brien, King, and even Steve. Myers has a unique outlook of being on trial so young but I feel he didn't allow himself to fully develop the book. Personally I would not recommend this book, but if you enjoy tales of jail and easy reading such as Life in Prison by Stanley Williams forget what I just wrote and be my guest to read this fictional tale of sixteen year old Steve Harmon.

I totally respect Walter Dean Myers for making this book like a movie. It was a great book to relate to, because it was so real, it was like you could put yourself in the story. There were so many characters to like Bobo, King and probably, the most important character, Steve Harmon. Also, The way Walter Dean Myers put the setting in New York. Its a great city to write a crime story in. My favorite part was really the whole book! It had great insite. The diary entries gave the reader a great perspective of what was going through Steve's mind. This book is a very well written book. Was you begin reading you can't put the book down. Its just to good to let go. Go buy and read all you want.

A few reviews below tell you the ending of the book, so if you want to read the entire book and play "juror", then please do not read all of the reviews.

I played "Juror" as I read the book, and I was floating back and forth the entire novel...so that tells me 1 very importnat thing that the author has made his point and done so effectively.

Certainly a well deserved winner of the first Prinz Award for Young Adult Fiction.

This is one of the first Walter Dean Myers books that I've liked. I teach a film class and would definitely consider this book as a jumping-off point in teaching kids how to write and read a screenplay. The screen directions make this book different than what most of my students have probably read in previous classes.

Myers does a good job of letting the reader get into Steve's head. However, since the reader never gets a direct answer to whether or not he committed the crime he's accused of, each person is left to make up his own mind. So many trial novels are cut and cry. The accused is either clearly guilty or innocent. Monster not only gives the reader an opportunity to decide for himself, it also gives him the chance to debate the extent of Steve's guilt or innocence.

The main criticism I have of this book is the way it cuts back and forth from one place to another. Until one gets used to the transitions, they can be a bit tricky to figure out what's going on.

This would definitely be a good book to use in a high school class. There are many opportunities for discussion, debate and learning. I would recommend it to anyone.