Monster
Books | Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Peer Pressure
3.6
(807)
Walter Dean Myers
This New York Times bestselling novel from acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon, a teenage boy in juvenile detention and on trial.Presented as a screenplay of Steve's own imagination, and peppered with journal entries, the book shows how one single decision can change our whole lives. Monster is a multi-award-winning, provocative coming-of-age story that was the first-ever Michael L. Printz Award recipient, an ALA Best Book, a Coretta Scott King Honor selection, and a National Book Award finalist.Monster is now a major motion picture called All Rise and starring Jennifer Hudson, Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Nas, and A$AP Rocky.The late Walter Dean Myers was a National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, who was known for his commitment to realistically depicting kids from his hometown of Harlem.
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More Details:
Author
Walter Dean Myers
Pages
336
Publisher
Harper Collins
Published Date
2009-10-06
ISBN
0061975028 9780061975028
Ratings
Google: 4
Community ReviewsSee all
"I loved this book, social themes are not something I always like. I feel like it has to be executed in a certain way when spoken and this book did it perfectly. I read it last year in 8th grade for an assignment, it’s not a very long book but I enjoyed it so much that I didn’t even care about the test we had every 2 chapters."
"Really well written and interesting format."
C
Carrot
"Two Words: Jaw-Dropping <br/><br/> Monster is book two and the conclusion In Monsters in Us Duet. What an epic duet it is. <br/><br/> On my dark scale, it’s dark gray. Some scenes teeter on black. As for triggers, this is not for the faint of heart; far from it, and that is okay. As for checking off all my boxes for dark romance, check, check, checkiy, *******, check. Be on the lookout for this author. She is going to be one of your favorite Dark Romance Authors. <br/><br/><br/> Books two starts six months were book two ends. Let’s say Vincent is far from happy when he finds Essa. Then the book rewinds from right after the accident to the present day. <br/><br/> We now have more of an understanding of Vincent’s childhood. When they are finally reunited, they are both not who they were six months ago. Both are more complex. But vulnerable, with raw emotions. Vincent is out to make Essa pay, and at times he is brutal and cruel. They both have darkness in them: the Creep and The Monster. <br/><br/>I am highly impressed with the writer's imagination and how she articulates that onto paper. I fell in love with these characters, even some of the side characters. Vincent and Essa will forever be a part of me. If your dark romance lover, this is a must-read duet."
C B
Crystal Bell
"Monster utilized a unique storytelling style and an intriguing plot. Steve Harmon is a 16 year-old black man on trial for accesory to murder. He is implicated in a robbery gone bad and a man is left dead. The story is told from Steve's point of view via a screenplay that Steve is writing to tell about his incarceration and trial. The story ends with the audience wondering. Did Steve Harmon participate in the botched robbery or was he truly innocent? Was he involved in the crime and how much blame is accredited to him if he was in fact involved at all? Monster is a very interesting look into the world of teens in jail, living in Harlem and what lengths some people will go to to get out of jail or avoid spending too much time there. In the end, it is left to the audience to decide whether Steve was innocent or guilty no matter what the sentence was. This is a thought provoking story and is definitely worth a read, especially for those who are interested in due process and other legal issues. This would be a great book to debate the courts decisions and the prosecution and defenses arguments for and against the implicated young men."
A F
Allison Freeman
"Monster is the story of 16-year-old Steve Harmon who is on trial for being an accomplice to murder. Steve loves film and aspires to be a film maker. This book is written as a film script, being told from Steve’s point of view. I think this was a unique choice and made for an interesting read. However, there are inconsistencies throughout the book which leads to the assumption that Steve is an unreliable narrator. From the beginning Steve proclaims his innocence and the reader takes this as the truth. As the story progresses there are memories and information that Steve shares that lend to the idea that he isn’t as innocent as he wants the reader to believe. <br/>I wish we had seen more of Steve outside of jail. I didn’t get a full enough view of him to determine his innocence. I wasn’t sure if I should be happy when he was found not guilty. <br/>I don’t think this book was as good as I wanted it to be. But it was quick enough its still worth a read."
"[Source: usmagazine.com]"

Kevin Hart