Monster

Walter Dean Myers is one of my favorite poets, so I was really looking forward to reading this novel.....needless to say, I was NOT disappointed.  I really liked the style of this novel in that it was written like a film script because that is what the main character, Steve Harmon, was interested in.  To be honest, it did take me a little bit of time to get used to it being in this format, but once I got past that and got into the story, I really loved it.                                       The whole time I I was reading,  kept thinking what a talented writer Myers must be to be able to write convincingly from both points of view in the prosecution and the defense.  I found myself as a reader being very convinced that Steve Harmon was innocent in one part of the book and then guilty in the other!  It was like he was playing the devil's advocate with himself.  I liked it though because as a reader, it really made you think and have to make up your own mind.                                                                                                                                                                                                       This story line is also not something that I have personally experienced, but I thought it brought a really good perspective of what a lot of people go through on a day to day basis.  I have been applying to teach in NYC, and this book, though I realize it doesn't happen to everyone, gives me something to think about as I sometimes feel I have lived a sheltered life in suburban Fairport.

I can see this book being used in many different ways in the classroom.  I think it could be used as a whole class read in high school, or with literature circles, or I really think an author study of Walter Dean Myers using this book would be really interesting as well.  I liked how his son was a part of this book with him as well, I think it speaks a lot about the author.  Overall, I give this book a 5 star rating and will look for more novels by Walter Dean Myers.