Monster

Myers, W. D. ( 1999). Monster. New York, NY: Harper.

Steve Harmon is a sixteen year old African-American teenager accused of murder.  He tells his story like a movie script, with character speaking parts and stage directions.  Steve tells of his time spent in jail, awaiting his trial, along with the trial.   He feels scared, lost, and confused. The story begins with the beginning of the trial and Steve's interactions between him and his defense attorney, Kathy O'Brien, who happens to be a white woman.  In their interactions with one another throughout the story, it is clear that she doesn't truly believe his innocence.  The prosecutor, Sandra Petrocelli, tells of the murder of a drugstore owner,  the robbery, and how Steve is involved as the lookout.  She doesn't believe in innocent until proven guilty.  She assumes that Steve is guilty by association and a monster.  As the case proceeds, Steve tells of his own thoughts and feelings throughout the book.  As the story unfolds, it is not clear if Steve is innocent or guilty of the crime he is accused of.  Steve tells of his journey in the judicial system. Steve is frightened of spending the rest of his life behind bars and losing his childhood, along with most of his young adult life.   Towards the end of the story, Steve finally goes on the stand to tell of his side of the story.  It is finally revealed that Steve is innocent.  At the end, the jury finds Steve not guilty.  Steve goes to hug his defense attorney, but she ignores him, gathers her papers, and moves away.  The story ends with the film stage directions of Steve with his arms outstretched for a hug.  Steve has lost his innocence, wonders who he is, and has lost his identity along the way.  He wonders if he is truly a monster, like Petrocelli sees him. 

Walter Dean Myers is a five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, which includes Monster.  His writing depicts the African American experience and point of view.  He writing includes both fiction and non-fiction.  He has written may books about Harlem or set in Harlem, where he grew-up.  Monster could be used to teach about the American Judicial System.  In the book, it shows of the flaws in the system, which is not always fair to those on trail.  It could also be used to teach of discrimination in the judicial system against young African American males. 

Connection:  This book addresses racial discrimination as well as racial profiling.  The protagonist deals with the process of being arrested and placed on trial for a crime he did not commit.