Monster

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

In this story we are presented with the weird life of Steve Harmon. Felony murder is not something most sixteen year old boys deal with, but that is what Steve Harmon is charged with.  Steve can only be comprehended the trial as being a movie played out before his eyes.  He seems to be experiencing it all in the third person, out of body, with little to no way to cope with this unbelievably stressful situation. When everyone else involved in the murder is convicted it seems almost impossible that Steve will go free.  In the film script of his life we see the anguish of his mother, the disbelief of his father and experience the disparaging remarks of the prosecutor’s brutal words, painting him as a monster.  When he receives a verdict of not-guilty it is more than Steve can believe.   

I found it all the more powerful, being that it was written in this format.  It added to the drama and suspense.  I could not imagine living through a situation like this:  the hopelessness, the alienation, the disappointment of loved ones. Monster has quite a bit of mature content.  This book should be recommend for the more mature student, grades 9-12.   It would offer a unique perspective on what being convicted of a crime must feel like, giving rise to powerful discussion.  Readers of this might also enjoy The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer.

Image of Monster.(n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2016, from http://www.amazon.com/