Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, Walter D. (1999) Monster. HarperCollins Publishers. 281 pp.

Fiction, African American, Innovative Format/Radical Narrative
Literary Elements- Point of View

· Michael L. Printz Award

· Coretta Scott King Award

· National Book Award Finalist 1999

· Newberry honor-winning author

The novel, Monster, travels through the mind of 16 year old Steve Harmon during his incarceration in the Manhattan Juvenile Detention Center and during his trial for felony murder. Harmon is accused of being a “look out” for a drugstore robbery and murder in his neighborhood. In a matter of seconds, Steve feels like he is detached from his own life. The aspiring filmmaker documents the court proceedings in ‘movie script’ style. Harmon titles the screenplay “Monster” because the prosecutor of the trial calls him so. Was he really the “look out” or was he at the wrong place at the wrong time? During the court proceedings, Harmon begins to question his choices and thinks about his future through feelings of disconnection and self-refection. After the trial is over, Harmon and his family are relieved, but things will never be the same. Harmon’s family questions for the first time who their son really is. And likewise, Steve struggles to define himself and his choices. As readers, we are left to determine for ourselves how involved Harmon really was in the robbery/murder.

I would use Monster as a small group novel or a whole class read. This novel has many of the same themes found in A Lesson Before Dying by Earnest Gaines. Both novels deal with African American men being labeled “monsters” or “animals”. Both of the main characters are in jail, facing criminal charges, and having total strangers decide the rest of their lives. The novels are set in two different eras, which is great for connecting themes of the past and present. While both could be considered ‘coming of age’ novels, the novels truly deal with discrimination and defining one’s self. The characters in Monster definitely play on African American stereotypes. We see the boys on the streets who will do anything for money, even murder, and can go and have a meal after shooting someone. We also see the older African American woman who says that she thought about not testifying because she would be testifying against her own race. The boys on the street also make fun of Harmon because of his family and his schooling. A Lesson Before Dying also has many stereotypical characters, including the main character Jefferson. Jefferson cannot read and write well and speaks with a dialect that many cannot understand. Monster would act as a great bridge to A Lesson Before Dying.

Monster not only deals with adolescent issues, such as disconnection, self-reflection, creating your future and defining yourself, but it is also written in a way that appeals to teens. The novel is written in a font that simulates Steve Harmon’s writings during in the courtroom and in jail. It also incorporates a script of the court hearing. The text is very creative and allows readers to follow along very efficiently. Harmon’s personal writings and the script alternate back and forth, breaking the novel up into sections. Throughout the book, readers are constantly hearing testimonies of different characters and questioning Harmon’s participation in the murder/robbery. Readers are left in anticipation until the end of the novel when we finally find out Harmon’s fate. Harmon questions himself throughout the novel, which allows the reader to also self reflect and think about their decisions, acquaintances, and futures. Harmon often feels disconnected from his life throughout this whole process and wonders what he did to get himself in this situation. This could help adolescents deal with life changing decisions and illustrate the consequences of their actions. In the novel, Harmon writes, “it was her job to make me different in the eyes of the jury, different from Bobo and Osvaldo and King. It was me, I thought as I tried not to throw up, that wanted to be tough like them” (130). This quotation shows the desire to be like certain people, the want to be cool. Teens often struggle between right and wrong because of the desire to be like other people. Later in the novel, Harmon begins to take responsibility for his actions and desires to change. “Maybe we are here (jail) because we lie to ourselves” (203) This quote really stuck out to me because it shows the importance of being true to oneself, if any one at all. Also, “think about all the tomorrows of your life” (205). This shows the importance of knowing that there are consequences to different actions. This novel is a great for students struggling with life changing decisions. It also is a great illustration of people struggling to overcome obstacles and it gives hope to those who think they are alone in the search to define their lives.

Because this novel is so ambiguous and leaves readers questioning Harmon's actions and intentions, I feel that students should be old enough to deal with not having all of their questions answered in this ending. This novel is not suitable for classes lower than 7th grade and I feel like the material in this novel is better suited for students around 9th grade.