Review: Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster.

LSSL 5385: Required Reading

Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster. New York, NY: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins.

In this fairly short and edgy novel, 16-year-old Steve Harmon is on trial for felony murder after his alleged part in a drugstore holdup gone wrong. As we see his fears and emotions play out, the reader comes to understand that he is just a scared kid who had real hopes and dreams, yet has somehow made incremental poor choices that have landed him possibly facing the death penalty. Readers will question the circumstances--it it because he is a young black man? From a poor background?--even as they see other characters, such as guards, attornies, and the judge herself, showing indifference toward his ultimate fate. The idea of Steve as a real young person is conveyed through his narrative choice to record the events “as a movie” in his journal, at times cutting back to past events that show him in a film club at school, and other childhood events that seem average enough--though some landed him in the midst of violence or questionable ethical situations.

In the format of a movie script interspersed with journaled thoughts, Steve not only captures the characters’ full dialogue, but descriptions of them, the settings, and his own feelings about the mood and tone of the scenes. At the same time, it breaks the story into short, palpable sections that--along with the high drama of a teen on trial for murder--will keep reluctant readers engaged. His ongoing wish that his life really was just a movie will help them to empathize with his terror. Students will also question whether Steve truly is guilty of the crime for which he stands trial, or whether he is the victim of a combination of circumstances, including the subculture in which he was raised. The story should raise timely questions about the justice system, race, and social equality, as well as the consideration of differing opinions on these issues, largely seen through the attorneys’ arguments; even as one attorney dubs Steve an inhuman “monster,” his defense seeks to humanize him to the jury, though she appears herself unconvinced. In the end readers may be unsettled by events that, while definitive, leave some questions unanswered.

Despite the heavy subject matter regarding crime, violence, and some detailed harsh realities of prison and confinement, Myers has written a relevant story that can be appreciated by the youngest YA audience, with realistic slang, but little swearing or controversial language. Discussion questions at the end are followed by interview-style questions that were asked and answered by Myers regarding the novel. In these responses Myers discusses having spoken with many young black men like the protagonist in this story, some of whom wished they had read such a story before they made poor decisions; this is not unlike the explanation given by Jason Reynolds regarding his writing of Long Way Down, when he states that he has met many such young people in detention centers, and writes for them, as well as those who have not yet made those fatal choices. From these two works many of the same questions will be raised in the minds of young readers regarding how culture and upbringing influence people’s values, choices and consequences, and how we as a society might improve upon inequitable societal structures and systems moving forward.

The graphic adaptation of the novel can be found here.

Several accompanying units, audio and teachers’ guides, including some downloadable, can be found here.