Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Monster

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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vahartwig's review against another edition

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dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
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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tigerkind's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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remy_licked_my_book's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Things I loved:
-a very relatable topic to the world today and really sheds light on how the world has historically and still continues to try to put away a young black offender or alleged offender simply for being black. That prejudice is a poison on our system.
-there was raw emotion in this book. I could feel Steve's fear every time he went back to the cell.
-Once I got used to the format, I liked that it flipped between first person in his journalling to second person in the movie script, it added that extra layer of distancing himself from the trial.

Things I Wasn't Crazy About:
-The relationship with his dad felt complicated in a way that I wish would have been investigated more thoroughly.
-Actually I wish there would have been more depth to almost all of the relationships with everyone in his family. There was one or two stories about his brother but I wanted to know more about their bond.

I think this is a good book to open discussions in classrooms around race and the law, however as an adult I have read better non fiction accounts with similar storyline.

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