1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Myers, Walter Dean. 1999. MONSTER. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN: 0060280778
2. PLOT SUMMARY
While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Main character, Steve Harmon, must face an increasingly difficult situation. On trial for murder, Steve must come to grips with the choices he’s made. Myers creates a believable character in Steve. The emotions he goes through while in prison seem realistic and credible. The character struggles with thinking that these events aren’t really happening to him and young adult readers will be able to relate to those feelings.
The plot is gritty and true-to-life. As Steve spends time in jail he reflects on what a life term would feel like. Subject matter such as sodomy is discussed candidly. Steve’s relationship with his attorney, Ms. O’Brien, is also well designed. Even after Steve’s not guilty verdict she still looks at him like a monster. This realistic ending can show young adults that all is not forgiven in the real world.
Myers’ writing technique writes this novel in the form of a film script. It is a little choppy at the beginning but it quickly becomes easier. The style is creative and it allows the reader to get a better sense of who Steve is. Could someone who is so talented also be a monster? It is a question that readers will grapple with for a long time.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
BOOKLIST: ”Script and journal together create a fascinating portrait of a terrified young man wrestling with his conscience. The tense drama of the courtroom scenes will enthrall readers, but it is the thorny moral questions raised in Steve's journal that will endure in readers' memories. Although descriptions of the robbery and prison life are realistic and not overly graphic, the subject matter is more appropriate for high-school-age than younger readers. A powerful and provacative novel.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Monster will challenge readers with difficult questions, to which there are no definitive answers. In some respects, the novel is reminiscent of Virginia Walter's Making Up Megaboy (DK Ink, 1998), another book enriched by its ambiguity. Like it, Monster lends itself well to classroom or group discussion. It's an emotionally charged story that readers will find compelling and disturbing.”
5. CONNECTIONS
* Discuss the modern-day legal system. Are lawyers seeking the truth? Which witness in the trial were telling the truth and which were not?
* Discuss the screenplay format. Was it an effective way to tell this story?
Myers, Walter Dean. 1999. MONSTER. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN: 0060280778
2. PLOT SUMMARY
While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Main character, Steve Harmon, must face an increasingly difficult situation. On trial for murder, Steve must come to grips with the choices he’s made. Myers creates a believable character in Steve. The emotions he goes through while in prison seem realistic and credible. The character struggles with thinking that these events aren’t really happening to him and young adult readers will be able to relate to those feelings.
The plot is gritty and true-to-life. As Steve spends time in jail he reflects on what a life term would feel like. Subject matter such as sodomy is discussed candidly. Steve’s relationship with his attorney, Ms. O’Brien, is also well designed. Even after Steve’s not guilty verdict she still looks at him like a monster. This realistic ending can show young adults that all is not forgiven in the real world.
Myers’ writing technique writes this novel in the form of a film script. It is a little choppy at the beginning but it quickly becomes easier. The style is creative and it allows the reader to get a better sense of who Steve is. Could someone who is so talented also be a monster? It is a question that readers will grapple with for a long time.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
BOOKLIST: ”Script and journal together create a fascinating portrait of a terrified young man wrestling with his conscience. The tense drama of the courtroom scenes will enthrall readers, but it is the thorny moral questions raised in Steve's journal that will endure in readers' memories. Although descriptions of the robbery and prison life are realistic and not overly graphic, the subject matter is more appropriate for high-school-age than younger readers. A powerful and provacative novel.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Monster will challenge readers with difficult questions, to which there are no definitive answers. In some respects, the novel is reminiscent of Virginia Walter's Making Up Megaboy (DK Ink, 1998), another book enriched by its ambiguity. Like it, Monster lends itself well to classroom or group discussion. It's an emotionally charged story that readers will find compelling and disturbing.”
5. CONNECTIONS
* Discuss the modern-day legal system. Are lawyers seeking the truth? Which witness in the trial were telling the truth and which were not?
* Discuss the screenplay format. Was it an effective way to tell this story?
1 comment:
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