MONSTER by Walter Dean Myers

1. Bibliographic data

Myers, Walter Dean. 1999. Monster. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York: HarperCollins. 0-0644-0731-4.

2. Plot summary

Sixteen year-old Steve Harmon, a young black man from Harlem, has been incarcerated and charged with felony murder. As he struggles to deal with life in jail and his impending trial, Harmon decides to write his thoughts and the events of his life as if it were a screenplay of a movie. His screenplay stars Mr. Nesbitt as the victim, Richard "Bobo" Evans and James King as the murderer, Mr. Briggs, Miss O'Brien, and Ms. Petrocelli as the lawyers, other witnesses, Steve's parents and brother, and Steve as the crime's lookout. Steve battles fear of his future, of time spent in jail, and of his past actions and thoughts as the plot moves on. In the end, Steve is given the not guilty verdict and dedicates his time to discovering himself through film.

3. Critical Analysis

Monster is unlike any book that I have ever read before. Having never read any sort of screenplay, spent time in jail, or experienced a murder trial, I learned and was shocked by many things in this book. Although slightly uncomfortable at times, I felt this read was worthwhile.

Steve seems like a pretty normal guy. He likes his parents and his brother Jerry. He spends time with his friend Tony, he enjoys film, and endures the pressures that many other sixteen year-olds feel. James King and Osvaldo Cruz intimidate Steve, and although we never learn the extent of their relationship, it is obvious that Steve struggles with appeasing them and staying true to himself.

I think that if it weren't for the brief asides that illustrate Steve's feelings, it would be hard to vouch for his character in the trial. His words and thoughts portray his feelings and what he is dealing with in jail and during the trial:

"The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help. That way even if you sniffle a little they won't hear you. If anybody knows that you are crying, they'll start talking about it and soon it'll be your turn to get beat up when the lights go out."

"Tomorrow we start our case, and I don't see what we are going to do. I hear myself thinking like all the other prisoners here, trying to convince myself that everything will be all right, that the jury can't find me guilty for this reason or that reason. We lie to ourselves here. Maybe we are here because we lie to ourselves."

It is these asides that really let us into Steve's mind, and we sympathize with his position. It is on account of these asides that we feel like Steve is not a monster. Myers stays away from stereotyping in this book; instead, he reveals stereotypes that other people may have. This is illustrated through the words of Steve's lawyer:

"Half of those jurors, no matter what they said when we questioned them when we picked the jury, believed you were guilty the moment they laid eyes on you. You're young, you're Black, and you're on trial. What else do they need to know?"

Although it is not pretty, Monster offers a up a "slice of life" with a thick crust of reality. Steve is sixteen and may get 25 years to life in prison. There's nothing funny about that. These events could have really happened, even though most of us would rather they wouldn't. This plot is very easy to follow, especially in the cut-and-dry screenplay format. Filled in with Steve's diary-like asides, the plot is interesting, straightforward, but also rich with feeling. The climax at the end is especially exciting. Like a movie, we hear the music and feel the events occurring in slow motion. I think the screenplay method makes the climax even more exciting.

I think that the theme of staying true to yourself and having foresight are themes in this book, evidenced by Steve's thoughts towards the end of Monster:

"I wish Jerry [his brother] were here. Not in jail, but somehow with me. What would I say to him? Think about all the tomorrows of your life. Yes, that's what I would say. Think about all the tomorrows of your life."

Because of his experiences, Steve has a new perspective of life and its offerings. Once he leaves prison, I feel that he would be much more wary of involving himself with people like King and Cruz, and that he would make better choices.

The style of writing in Monster is really what makes it so interesting and fun to read. I found myself turning the pages at record speed. I don't think you could get more straightforward than a screenplay. I think pairing the story of a trial is perfect for a screenplay: trials are straightforward, no details events and that is exactly how screenplays are (aside from descriptions of people's faces and actions). It was appropriate that Myers included Steve's parents' visits and Steve's inner thoughts in the asides, for this is when his emotions are high and the reader needs to experience his feelings. It is important that we sympathize with Steve, and Myers accomplishes this through these tender, heart-wrenching moments.

These asides also balance narration and dialogue in Monster. Without Steve's thoughts, we only hear the dialogue of the trial -- which would be too overwhelming on its own. Without the screenplay, we don't get the whole picture of the crime, which is necessary to understand the story. Both points of view -- Steve's asides and the screenplay -- work in tandem to deliver a balanced and intriguing story.

Myers creates a mood of suspense, of fear, and of anxiety. I couldn't wait to find out what happened to Steve, and I was most curious as to what really happened at the Harlem drugstore. Sadly, Myers never tells us what really happens. Although that was disappointing, it is indicative of the real world. No one -- except those involved in crimes -- knows what really happens.

The only parts of Monster that made me uncomfortable were the references to rape in prisons. I don't know how I would approach this if I were using the book in the classroom, and I don't know if I would even be allowed to use this in my classroom. During my research, I found some websites with guides of how to use Monster in the English/Language Arts classroom, so hopefully those will be of help.

Monster -- such an interesting and original book -- was a great book to read. I learned so much about a completely different aspect of life. Parents may want to preview this book before giving it to their children, but I wouldn't hinder anyone from reading it. It opens up so many possibilities for writing -- I think children will be inspired to write their own screenplays after reading this book!

4. Review Excerpts

"Steve Harmon, 16, is accused of serving as a lookout for a robbery of a Harlem drugstore. The owner was shot and killed, and now Steve is in prison awaiting trial for murder. From there, he tells about his case and his incarceration. Many elements of this story are familiar, but Myers keeps it fresh and alive by telling it from an unusual perspective. Steve, an amateur filmmaker, recounts his experiences in the form of a movie screenplay. His striking scene-by-scene narrative of how his life has dramatically changed is riveting. Interspersed within the script are diary entries in which the teen vividly describes the nightmarish conditions of his confinement. Myers expertly presents the many facets of his protagonist's character and readers will find themselves feeling both sympathy and repugnance for him. Steve searches deep within his soul to prove to himself that he is not the "monster" the prosecutor presented him as to the jury. Ultimately, he reconnects with his humanity and regains a moral awareness that he had lost. Christopher Myers's superfluous black-and-white drawings are less successful. Their grainy, unfocused look complements the cinematic quality of the text, but they do little to enhance the story. 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." - School Library Journal

"Myers combines an innovative format, complex moral issues, and an intriguingly sympathetic but flawed protagonist in this cautionary tale of a 16-year-old on trial for felony murder. Steve Harmon is accused of acting as lookout for a robbery that left a victim dead; if convicted, Steve could serve 25 years to life. Although it is clear that Steve did participate in the robbery, his level of involvement is questionable, leaving protagonist and reader to grapple with the question of his guilt. An amateur filmmaker, Steve tells his story in a combination of film script and journal. The "handwritten" font of the journal entries effectively uses boldface and different sizes of type to emphasize particular passages. The film script contains minimal jargon, explaining camera angles (CU, POV, etc.) when each term first appears. Myers' son Christopher provides the black-and-white photos, often cropped and digitally altered, that complement the text. 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." - Booklist

5. Connections

Related Activities:
After reading Monster, ask students to write about a vital event that occurred in their life as if it were a screenplay. Then have students divide into groups, where they will chose one screenplay to perform for the class.

Related Books:

Myers, Walter Dean. 2001. Bad Boy: A Memoir. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. 0-0602-9523-6.

Myers, Walter Dean. 1990. The Mouse Rap. New York: Harper & Row. 0-0644-0356-4.

Myers, Walter Dean. 1988. Scorpions. New York: Harper & Row. 0-0644-0623-7.