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challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A different book than I thought it would be, but overall a pleasant read. I loved the script-like formatting, and I liked the fact that we don’t find out if Steve is guilty or innocent - that it’s up to us to decide. I wouldn’t typically read a book like this, but it was fun to branch out and try something new. I loved the characters and the dialogue, and the relationships between family are shown pretty well. Overall a good read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Minor: Police brutality
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I used this book when I still taught 9th grade English. Before reading the rest of this review, I do want to point out that most kids LOVE this book. So if you are a kid or are looking for a book for a kid who needs a high-interest book to get more engaged in reading, then disregard the rest of my review because I am going to look at it from an adult's perspective.
The story centers around Steve Harmon, a Black 16-year-old who is on trial for the murder of a drugstore owner. The book centers around Steve's trial, and his time awaiting trial in jail. The reader gets to look at the proceedings in a more unconventional way: from Steve's journal and a movie script he is making about the trial.
Students relate very well to Steve's character because he is young, which also keeps the book fresh. The unconventional format of the dialogue/journal allow the reader However, one thing that I DO really like about the book is that Steve can be considered an unreliable narrator and may not be telling the reader everything. The reader is then forced to form an opinion about Steve's guilt or innocence. It could be argued that Steve may not be completely truthful in his diary, since he knows that it could be read by the authorities. Sometimes, the movie and the journal are inconsistent. To me, that made the story the most interesting.
The book is great for unmotivated readers because it is a quick and easy read. I've even heard the audio version that was pretty good as well. However, the thing that makes this book great for younger people makes it annoying for adults. This book is NOT great writing, even from a YA literature perspective. However, it is accessible for a lot of kids who would otherwise not want to pick up a book, and for that, I must give it full credit.
This is a very good YA lit book, but it is not as meaty as others in the same category. Overall, younger people would probably like it more than older. It is definitely not a book I would pick up again for pleasure.
The story centers around Steve Harmon, a Black 16-year-old who is on trial for the murder of a drugstore owner. The book centers around Steve's trial, and his time awaiting trial in jail. The reader gets to look at the proceedings in a more unconventional way: from Steve's journal and a movie script he is making about the trial.
Students relate very well to Steve's character because he is young, which also keeps the book fresh. The unconventional format of the dialogue/journal allow the reader However, one thing that I DO really like about the book is that Steve can be considered an unreliable narrator and may not be telling the reader everything. The reader is then forced to form an opinion about Steve's guilt or innocence. It could be argued that Steve may not be completely truthful in his diary, since he knows that it could be read by the authorities. Sometimes, the movie and the journal are inconsistent. To me, that made the story the most interesting.
The book is great for unmotivated readers because it is a quick and easy read. I've even heard the audio version that was pretty good as well. However, the thing that makes this book great for younger people makes it annoying for adults. This book is NOT great writing, even from a YA literature perspective. However, it is accessible for a lot of kids who would otherwise not want to pick up a book, and for that, I must give it full credit.
This is a very good YA lit book, but it is not as meaty as others in the same category. Overall, younger people would probably like it more than older. It is definitely not a book I would pick up again for pleasure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Toxic friendship
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexual harassment
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Racism
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Rape
challenging
dark
informative
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was quick, but it was quite good. The dramatized reading especially highlights how unequal and theatrical our justice system is and that justice itself usually isn't even one of the top five goals during these proceedings. It's all so broken.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Classism
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization
Minor: Sexual assault
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Monster" is about 16 year old Steve Harmon who is on trial for murder. This story is told through a first person perspective via Steve Harmon's diary and through a third person screen play format. "Monster" was an interesting read, all the court room scenes (which is about 65% of this book) made me feel like I was watching an episode of Law & Order (I listened to the dramatized audio book.)
I see why this book won the awards that it did when it came out in the year 1999 and then in 2000, some of the imagery was really powerful and the book format was unique, especially for the times.
I wish the reader actually got to find out if the main character was really involved in the robbery or not. Either way, I don't think he should be on trial for murder if he were the "look out", he didn't pull the trigger and he wasn't in the store when the store owner died (according to his and everyone else's testimony.)
I see why this book won the awards that it did when it came out in the year 1999 and then in 2000, some of the imagery was really powerful and the book format was unique, especially for the times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Murder
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I can see why this was the first winner of the Printz Award. Walter Dean Myers captured Steve's voice so well that it really felt like reading the character's own notebook and screenplay. The unique structure really helped to propel the plot at a quick pace. I know that often trials drag on instead of breeze past (see Know My Name by Chanel Miller), but I think for the audience and the reading experience, a fast pace was a great choice. I especially loved how, despite having an objectively "happy" ending, it shows the nuance in Steve's situation--just being accused of this crime has changed his life for the worse, in his family, his psyche. I love how he turns to an art form to process his complex emotions about the trial and his time in jail; it's a real testament to the impact that creating can have on us, even in our darkest moments. You don't have to know if Steve was guilty or not; this book was ahead of it's time in the way it shows how inhumane prison is, regardless of crimes committed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder