Reviews with content warning for Racism - Monster

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.

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mattyb's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition

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emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

"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.)

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sunflowery's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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anniefwrites's review against another edition

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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.

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draconia's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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wellintendedbibliophile's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is an important book. It covers a tough topic and the subject matter can be intense, but I would recommend giving the book a chance. The author does not censor the characters so even though it is a YA novel, it addresses graphic topics in a way that seems realistic and unfiltered. Some parents may find it problematic and not all young readers will appreciate the story. There is a recently adapted movie. I have not seen it so I can’t compare it to the novel, but the book and audiobook are both great. The book is short due to the screenplay format and the audiobook is under three hours long. Consider reviewing the trigger warnings before reading.

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savannahtrice's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I wish we had gotten more of Steve's thoughts and feelings throughout the trial! But I do love how this story makes you question your own implicit biases and teaches you about how wild the court room is.

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