Monster

Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster. NY: Harper.

The book Monster is about a 16-year-old boy named Steve Harmon who is in jail and facing trial for his alleged involvement in the killing of a storeowner. The story is told in movie script format as Steve records the events that occurred prior to the murder. Throughout the book, Steve writes what he feels about his predicament and his narration allows the reader insight into Steve’s true personality. Sometimes the narration itself causes the reader to doubt Steve’s innocence, but in the end after all the witnesses have testified and character witnesses have been questioned, Steve is found innocent. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense this book has. I recommend this book to middle school and high school readers who enjoy and appreciate unpredictable plots. The author’s decision to narrate the story as a script, gives this book a unique style and encourages future writers to think out of the box as they embark on their story writing. The themes involved such as gangs, peer pressure and crime can serve educators in the classroom as they engage students in discussions about real world problems. Both avid and reluctant readers would enjoy this book.