Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster. NY: Harper
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
was written almost twenty years ago but it feels like it was written yesterday.
United States African American males
make up 59% of the prison population although they only make up 29% of the total
Unites States of America population. As I was reading this heart wrenching poignant
novel these statics played through my mind. Steve Harmon is a 16-year-old black
man on trial for accessory 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
screen play and journal writing format. The book contains stage headings, type shots,
and a script along the main character Steve through his personal thoughts
during the court case and his time in the detention center. The story also
includes the guys that he is in jail with, prosecutor, defense attorney and his
family.
The novel takes you through
his court case and ends with his verdict. The book themes included justice and racism.
I became overwhelming emotional reading this book because Steve could be my nephew,
cousins, students, and neighbors. Steve is the unarmed black kid that has been
shot by police on the nightly news. Steve is the countless name to all the black
and brown young men who are in jail or a juvenile center facing the same
injustice that he is. Through the dark and uncomfortable scenes this book also
offers hope. Hope through Steve trying to stay hopeful in a hopeless situation.
This book will open the dialogue on race, criminal justice system, and the
systematic prison reform that needs to take place in this country. This book
has won many awards Michael L. Pintz Award 2000, Coretta Scott Kind Award for
Author Honor 2000, Boston Globe- Horn Book Award Nominee for Fiction 1999,
Lincoln Award Nominee 2005, National Book Award Finalist for Young People
Literature 1999.
Grade Level Recommendation: 9-12
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