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mariahistryingtoread's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this, but I am reserving ultimate judgment until l read the novel version because it seems the graphic novel format might actually be limiting based on how innovative the novel is in terms of structure.
However, I wanted to know the story after all these years, and I do; so, it served its purpose.
(Steve, wondering what Ms.O'Brien saw in him that made her turn away almost had me in tears.)
However, I wanted to know the story after all these years, and I do; so, it served its purpose.
(Steve, wondering what Ms.O'Brien saw in him that made her turn away almost had me in tears.)
mattyb's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
sagarific's review
the graphic novel medium isn’t working for me with this story, though the style is effective on its own… would still like to read Walter Dean Myers’ original at some point though
eltropenguin's review
emotional
reflective
sad
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
lawbooks600's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.0
Representation: Black characters
Score: Six points out of ten.
I saw Monster displayed on the shelves of a library I went to so after I read another book, I immediately seized the opportunity to get it by picking it up. Afterwards, I read Monster, but when I finished it, I thought it had flaws that forced me to lower its rating. Maybe the original text will be a better reading experience for me.
It starts with the first person I see, Steve Harmon, who is arrested and awaiting trial for a murder accusation. He finds an opportunity to live through that journey like it is a movie, and thus the court case begins. There are some flashbacks to explain what happened before the police arrested Steve like the other characters who committed a robbery and, most prominently, the murder of a person. Despite Monster being under 200 pages, it still felt slow paced, allowing me to see the flaws, of which there are many. Why is the art black and white? I can understand that to be intentional, but I would've liked it if the art was full colour. The characters were hard to connect or relate with and the font was hard to read, dampening my reading experience. The conclusion petered out as the legal drama comes to an end.
Score: Six points out of ten.
I saw Monster displayed on the shelves of a library I went to so after I read another book, I immediately seized the opportunity to get it by picking it up. Afterwards, I read Monster, but when I finished it, I thought it had flaws that forced me to lower its rating. Maybe the original text will be a better reading experience for me.
It starts with the first person I see, Steve Harmon, who is arrested and awaiting trial for a murder accusation. He finds an opportunity to live through that journey like it is a movie, and thus the court case begins. There are some flashbacks to explain what happened before the police arrested Steve like the other characters who committed a robbery and, most prominently, the murder of a person. Despite Monster being under 200 pages, it still felt slow paced, allowing me to see the flaws, of which there are many. Why is the art black and white? I can understand that to be intentional, but I would've liked it if the art was full colour. The characters were hard to connect or relate with and the font was hard to read, dampening my reading experience. The conclusion petered out as the legal drama comes to an end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Drug use, Murder, and Confinement
Full trigger warnings: Murder, imprisonment, physical assault and injury, blood depiction, drug use mentionedlattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I would love to compare this graphic novel with its original novel counterpart. Being able to read this book with visuals brings the narrative closer to how Steve Harmon would want it to be--as the original novel is written as though he is writing a script. Told from his perspective, Steve Harmon sits in a court room, waiting for his trial to be over, hoping that he will be released as an innocent. But there's only one thing that could have truly happened that day, and there's so many versions of it...
The black and white illustrations help make for a jarring contrast, creating a tension as three white lawyers are aiding their black defendants, as a white jury sits to judge. The illustrations really helped me--as much as I loved the original text, I sometimes found it hard to picture exactly what was happening. Problem solved with a graphic novel!
Even though I'd read it before, I was at the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen, wondering if the illustrations would give us any indication of Steve's guilt or innocence. It's a great companion to the novel, and perfect for those who are more interested in graphic novels than textual ones.
Review cross-listed here!
The black and white illustrations help make for a jarring contrast, creating a tension as three white lawyers are aiding their black defendants, as a white jury sits to judge. The illustrations really helped me--as much as I loved the original text, I sometimes found it hard to picture exactly what was happening. Problem solved with a graphic novel!
Even though I'd read it before, I was at the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen, wondering if the illustrations would give us any indication of Steve's guilt or innocence. It's a great companion to the novel, and perfect for those who are more interested in graphic novels than textual ones.
Review cross-listed here!
jacesherman's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
jwinchell's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars because it adds a richness to an already wonderful novel; it would be great for young readers to compare the media and discuss what the graphic version provides (a deeper chance to "see" the characters, for one) and what it doesn't (smooth transitions between the screenplay, the case, and Steve's journal). As a standalone, though, those transitions are confusing in this version.