Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster.
New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. 978-0-06-440731-1; paperback; $7.99
(Available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, audiobook, and graphic novel)
Monster is about
the felony murder trial of 16-year-old Steve Harmon. Steve has been implicated
in the robbery and murder of a convenience store clerk and despite a lack of
evidence against him, his defense attorney must fight to prove his innocence
against the jury and prosecution’s preconceived notions about the character of
a young black man from an impoverished neighborhood. The story is written from
the perspective of Steve Harmon in jail while he waits for the trial as well as
during the trial itself. Steve has decided that the only way he can stay sane
in these unthinkable circumstances is to view his life as a movie and the novel
reads like a movie script.
This book has been recognized with the Michael L. Printz
Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and was a finalist for the National Book
Award for subject matter that is still a hot topic in the United States justice
system today with the Black Lives Matter movement. This book is a great,
nail-biting look into the prejudices of the justice system toward the African-American
community. At 281 pages, Monster is a
surprisingly fast read that will haunt you long after Steve Harmon’s trial is
over.
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