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losgiraffee 's review for:
Monster
by Walter Dean Myers
Cool little middle grade read about 16 year old Steve Harmon who goes to jail after being accused of taking a role in the robbery and murder of the store clerk in Harlem. Nothing ground breaking about the plot. Court/jail setting with a couple of the seasoned criminals looking for a way to reduce time and innocent-like child that has been pulled in to the fray for seemingly only knowing the wrong people and lawyers battling it out to win the case.
What is very interesting is the format the story is written in. It's technically a diary written and kept by Steve, but as a film school student, it's written as a screenplay through Steve's perspective. His thoughts and actions come through in the writing as the trial drags on with some breaks here and there as more traditional diary entries.
As it is written through the eyes of a 16 year old, it is pretty simplistic with bits and pieces into his struggle in coping with being in jail and suffering the consequences of bad choices made.
Regardless of the verdict in the end, a lot is left open to interpretation. There is hints for both his innocence and his guilt. Overall a decent read for young adults to have an easy introduction into the judicial system and having consequences for certain actions.
What is very interesting is the format the story is written in. It's technically a diary written and kept by Steve, but as a film school student, it's written as a screenplay through Steve's perspective. His thoughts and actions come through in the writing as the trial drags on with some breaks here and there as more traditional diary entries.
As it is written through the eyes of a 16 year old, it is pretty simplistic with bits and pieces into his struggle in coping with being in jail and suffering the consequences of bad choices made.
“The movie is more real in so many ways than the life I am leading. No, that’s not true. I just desperately wish this was only a movie.”
Regardless of the verdict in the end, a lot is left open to interpretation. There is hints for both his innocence and his guilt. Overall a decent read for young adults to have an easy introduction into the judicial system and having consequences for certain actions.