Monster by Walter Dean Myers, HarperCollinsPublishers, 1999.
ISBN: 978-0060280772
Plot Summary
Steve Harmon isn’t a bad kid. Sure, he knows some guys that are bad but that’s not him. At least, that’s the story his defense attorney is telling. And Steve believes it. On trial for the murder of a shopkeeper, Steve faces the very real possibility of the death penalty or spending the rest of his life in prison. In order to cope with the stress of the situation, Steve starts a screenplay, detailing everything that occurs both in and out of the courtroom. Alternatively told in journal entries, scripts, and photographs, Steve’s story comes to life as he, and readers, grapple with the issues of crime, the flawed justice system, and the truth behind innocence and guilt.
Critical Evaluation
Graphic and disturbing, Walter Dean Myers creates a compelling and thought-provoking story in Monster. Every part of this novel is bold and innovative from Myers’ use of Christopher Myers’ photographs and pencil sketches to the themes he addresses. Certainly Myers challenges readers to question their own assumptions just as Steve Harmon must question his own. Between his cynical portrayal of the justice system to his nebulous depiction of Steve’s innocence and guilt, readers cannot read this novel without becoming emotionally involved. For example, judge, detective and prison guard all show indifference, callousness, and a certainly level of cruelty towards Steve and his fellow prisoners. “You guys treat me nice, and I’ll put in a word for you up at Greenhaven. Maybe I can get you a boyfriend that’s really built,” one prison guard leers (p. 266). “‘This guy’s only sixteen. They won’t kill him,” assistant detective Williams says. “What are you, a pessimist?” detective Karyl shoots back, “Hope for the best” (p. 73). “Half of those jurors, no matter what they said when we questioned them when we picked the jury, believed you were guilty the moment they laid eyes on you,” defense attorney O’Brien explains to Steve, “You’re young, you’re Black, and you’re on trial. What else do they need to know?” (p. 78-79). For readers who are far removed from a crime ridden neighborhood, this picture of the justice system is shocking, for those who do live in such neighborhoods, it’s a reality. Myers forces readers to examine their own assumptions about the justice system, making them see that maybe the system is more broken than they think.
Another assumption Myers addresses is the principle of innocent until proven guilty. In Monster Myers explores what the words innocent and guilty truly mean. Prosecutor Sandra Petrocelli depicts Steve Harmon as a monster, someone who aided two men who shot and killed a storekeeper. Defense attorney O’Brien describes Steve as an upstanding young man who was framed. So which is it? Steve, through his screenplay and journal entries, is not so sure himself. He is, in fact, an unreliable narrator. For example at one point he writes, “What did I do? I walked into a drugstore to look for some mints, and then I walked out. What was wrong with that?” (p. 140) but later when he is on the stand he says, “I don’t know exactly when the robbery happened, but I know I wasn’t in the drugstore that day” (p. 229). If Steve is truly innocent why doesn’t he admit that he was simply in the store to buy some mints? Or is he simply guilty of perjury which, while reprehensible, certainly doesn’t warrant the same punishment as murder. “I want to look like a good person,” Steve explains, “I want to feel like I’m a good person because I believe I am. But being in here with these guys makes it hard to think about yourself as being different” (p. 62). Through his use of contradictory quotes and conflicting testimonies, Myers lets readers make their own conclusions over Steve’s guilt. At the very least, readers quickly learn that everyone has an agenda and whatever the jury decides is not always the right decision.
With Walter Dean Myers’ masterful use of powerful themes and creative format it is no surprise that it became a National Book Award finalist, and received the first Printz award as well as the Coretta Scott King honor. Truly, Myers’ Monster is a novel that has rightfully claimed its place within the canon of Young Adult fiction.
Reader’s Annotation
As sixteen-year-old Steve faces the possibility of the death penalty, he tries to come to terms with his guilt…or is it his innocence?
About the Author
Critically acclaimed author, Walter Dean Myers did not have an easy childhood. While young, his father gave him away to another couple. To this day, he still does not know why he was given away. While he had loving parents and a supportive church, he struggled at school. Eventually he dropped out and joined the army. He would go on to work in construction where he would realize that his high school English teacher was right—he was good at writing. He initially began to write only at night, writing about his high school years. Eventually he went on to become a nationally recognized author, winning the Newbery Honor award, the Caldecott Honor award, the Margaret A. Edwards award, the Virginia Hamilton Literary award, the Printz award, and the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton award for Lifetime Achievement.
Most of his books address current issues teens face such as gangs, drugs, the justice system, and war. His most recent novel, Kick, is the byproduct of a collaboration between himself and a thirteen year old fan, Ross Workman. In it, the two authors take turns chapter-by-chapter telling the story of young Kevin and seasoned police officer Jerry.
Genre
Courtroom fiction, Realistic fiction, Screenplay
Tags
Guilt, Innocence, Lying, Prison, Justice system, Courts, Death penalty, Abuse of power
Curriculum Ties
This book is ideal for discussions centering around justice (especially within the juvenile courts), retribution, gang violence, and the prison system.
Booktalk Ideas
--Take one of the characters (besides the main character) and tell his story. Act as both prosecuting and defense attorneys and involve the audience as the jury.
--Present some statistics on teen incarceration prior to introducing the book
Reading Level/Interest Age
Reading Level: 7th grade
Interest Level: 9th-12th grade (14-18 yrs.)
Information according to Scholastic Reading Wizard (http://bookwizard.scholastic.com)
Challenge Issues
This book has several disturbing, violent incidents and details the shooting of a storekeeper. If challenged, librarians can show how crime statistics have been decreasing and site studies of how reading about difficult topics helps readers develop empathy and understanding.
Favorite Quotes
“I want to look like a good person. I want to feel like I’m a good person because I believe I am. But being in here with these guys makes it hard to think about yourself as being different” (p. 62).
Why Was This Included?
I wanted to read a book by Walter Dean Myers because I knew he was one of the most highly respected authors in Young Adult literature. I chose Monster because it was nominated for three awards and won one. Monster received the first Printz award, became a National Book Award finalist and also received a Coretta Scott King Honor Award.
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