Monster (Myers novel)
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_cover_art.jpg) Cover of the book Monster | |
| Author | Walter Dean Myers |
|---|---|
| Translator | English |
| Cover artist | Christopher Myers |
| Language | Spanish and English |
| Genre | Drama, Crime novel, Mystery |
| Publisher | Harpercollins |
Publication date | April 21, 2012 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 281 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-06-440731-4 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
| OCLC | 40043530 |
| LC Class | PZ7.M992 Mon 2004 |
Monster is a young adult drama novel by American author Walter Dean Myers and was published by Harpercollins in 1999. It was nominated for the 1999 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, won the Michael L. Printz Award in 2000,[1] and was named a Coretta Scott King Award Honor the same year.
The book is a mixture of the screenplay and diary formats, which are used to tell the story of Steve Harmon's murder trial. The book is written from Steve Harmon's perspective.
Reflection
Critic reviews vary on the style of the book. Zvirin observed that the book has, “Intriguing moral questions at the root of the book crossed age boundaries.”One critic however criticized it as “ the story focuses on the uncertain, ambiguous, contradictory issue." [2]
Synopsis
Steve Harmon is a 16 year old African American male who lives in Harlem, New York who is on trial for felony murder. He is accused of being involved in a robbery which led to the death of the owner of a drugstore. It is unclear whether or not he robbed the store or helped the real criminals in any way. He was suspected as acting as a lookout for James King, the other suspect accused in this case, but with no hard evidence to prove this true.
The novel's plot focuses on Steve's time in prison and his experiences in the courtroom throughout his trial. As Steve sits alongside his attorney while thehearings progress, the aspiring filmmaker records the events of his trial in screenplay format. Interspersed are journal entries containing Steve's own thoughts which provide the reader with background information concerning his life prior to the robbery.
During the trial, Mrs. Petrocelli, the prosecutor, calls to the stand a 14 year-old boy named Osvaldo Cruz. Osvaldo tells them the plan for the robbery and who participated. He tells Petrocelli that Bobo, King, and Steve were involved. According to Cruz, the plan was that Steve would go in the drugstore, check for police or citizens and then make a signal if the store was clear. After King and Bobo robbed Mr. Nesbitt, the store owner, Osvaldo was to slow down any person who chased them. Osvaldo tells the police that he participated in the robbery because Bobo threatened him and his mother with violence.
Lorelle Henry also testifies as a key witness as she was in the drugstore when the robbery happened. At that time, she saw two men get into an argument. She saw one of the men seize Mr. Nesbitt by the collar and decided to leave the store before there was any more trouble. The prosecutor brings Bobo out to tell his part of the story. Bobo says that King shot Mr. Nesbitt with his own gun and that Steve came out of the store without saying anything.
A small mistake links Bobo Evans and James King to the robbery: Bobo and King take five cases of cigarettes as an afterthought to the robbery. When a drugstore clerk sees that cigarettes are missing, he reports a theft to the police. In the meantime, Bobo and King have already sold the cigarettes to a man named Zinzi who deals in stolen goods. While Mr. Zinzi was going to be incarcerated for buying stolen goods, the police offer to shorten his sentence if he will testify against Evans and King. In his self-serving testimony, Zinzi confirms that he bought five cases of cigarettes for James King and Bobo Evans which they said came from a robbery.
At the novel's close, Steve rediscovers his personal identity, and develops a set of moral standards for himself that ultimately shape the person he becomes following his trial. James King is found guilty of murder and Steve is found not guilty.
Themes
Introspection: Steve must come to terms with his own identity. He accomplishes this throughout the novel in his journal entries which he makes during his time in jail awaiting trial.
Peer Pressure: This theme is the basis for how he ended up in his current situation. Had he not given into the peer pressure by James King he wouldn't have been involved with the robbery that led to the death of the store clerk.
Humanity: Steve is called a "monster" by the Prosecutor at the beginning of the novel and Steve grapples with the question of whether or not he is monstrous for his actions in the robbery. He is constantly reflecting upon this in his journal entries. The word can also be found scribbled faintly and scratched out on pages of the novel itself. The style in which this book was written, is unique. Giving the impression of a screenplay, written by Steve Harmon. Using visuals like “fade in”, “voice over”, and “fade out. One critic said, “Presented alternately as the first‑person, handwritten memoir... a neatly typed screenplay.”[3] They also commented on the “ Surface effects - marginalia, drawing, photographs, mugshots, and video stills – to offer an analysis of the complex identities that emerge in the context of such surfaces.” Another critic complemented, “Monster is an experiment in form and structure,” and “vent[ing] his passionate perplexity.” [4]
Autobiographical elements
| This section possibly contains original research. (March 2012) |
Like his character, Walter Dean Myers grew up in New York.[5] As a young man, he struggled with a speech impediment that caused many of his classmates and teachers to ridicule him and think him unintelligent.[6] Myers often got into trouble at school and on the streets when trying to defend himself against the ridicule, causing many to label him a “Monster," much like Steve Harmon was labeled a "monster."[7] Later, while working as a construction worker, Myers decided to follow advice given to him by his high school writing teacher and began writing at night after work, just as the character Steve Harmon writes throughout the novel.
In New York City there is a long established law that allows a person to use deadly physical force when they reasonably believe it is necessary and there is no chance of retreating from danger.[citation needed] In most cases of robbery when the suspect is a minor (case depending) they are only held until they are 18. However, when there is a murder involved this rule no longer applies and the juvenile can be incarcerated for much longer.
References
- ^ "2000 Printz Award". Retrieved 14 April 2013.
- ^ Stephenie Yearwood (2002). "Popular Postmodernism for Young Adult Readers: Walk Two Moons, Holes, and Monster". The ALAN Review. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ^ Staunton, John A; Gubuan, Francine (2002). "Monster". J ADOLESC ADULT LIT. 45 (8): 791–793. JSTOR 40012833. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Cart, Michael (2000). "Carte Blanche: The Dream Becomes a Reality". Booklist. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ^ Myers, Walter Dean. "Biography". Walterdeanmyers.net. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Italie, Hillel (4 March 2011). "At 73, Jersey City author Walter Dean Myers is a hero to young readers". NJ.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Myers, Walter Dean. Bad Boy: a Memoir. New York, N.Y.: HarperCollins, 2001. Print