Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Monster by Walter Dean Meyers

                Steve Harmon has been called a monster and is currently on trial for the murder of Mr. Alguinaldo Nesbitt. Two men robbed a store and during the robbery shot and killed the store owner. They then emptied the cash register, stole cigarette cartons and went to get food from a fast food restaurant. Steve isn’t being accused of being either of those men. He is being accused of being the lookout. He is on trial with, Mr. James King, one of the accused murderers. As a lookout if convicted he could face twenty five years to life. Steve is only sixteen years old. The idea of spending the rest of his life in jail is something he’s understandably having a very hard time coping with. To escape the trial and the finality of the situation he begins keeping a journal. In this journal he writes down everything that happens inside the court room as if it were a movie he was writing, producing and directing. It was Steve’s way of telling his own story since everyone around him was telling versions of their own.

                Monster is a simple, easy to read depiction of a young misunderstood black youth who is on trial for a crime he didn’t commit. The robbery and murder happened days before Christmas but Steve wasn’t questioned until weeks later. He was taken from his home, in handcuffs to be questioned, while his mom was given no information for where he was going and what he was being questioned about. Steve is obviously scared throughout the entire novel and for many reasons. This is not the life he expected. As a budding film student he was interested in telling stories and was at odds with the fact that he had become one. I felt like he was an honest narrator even through his fear. He wanted to relay everything as he experienced it knowing that would be vital in proving his innocence.

                I remember a lot of students that I knew reading Monster while I was in high school. I never thought much of it. So when it came across my path all these years later I decided to give it a try. It is a gripping story that is told in a very cinematic way (obviously, Steve was supposed to be writing a movie) and I think that version of storytelling is part of why the novel was so interesting. It was a different approach to telling a story. It was effective in portraying characters bluntly. Was this an enjoyable novel that I can recommend? Yes. BUT it has its flaws. Being built around a singular mindset, the other characters came off as shells. The only well-developed character was Steve, everyone else was a caricature of their roles. The prosecution seemed really stern. The defense attorney might not have necessarily believed he was innocent but had to defend him anyway. King was a thug. I give this novel 3 out of 5 stars. If it wasn’t for the method of storytelling and the portrayal of what can be a corrupt legal system this wouldn’t have been very successful to me.