MONSTERBY WALTER DEAN MYERS

PU

BL IS

HED

BY H

AR

PER

CO

LL INS

©1999

Cameron RobinsonBlock 2A

SETTINGManhattan and

Harlem, New York City

a city jail or prison lockup

the court where the trial is held

neighborhood where Steve Harmon lives

In the opening, readers find out that Steve is in a cell in jail. this is important given is shows his fear.

The "scene" between Steve and his family.

The scene with the transcriptionist and the court officers.

The flashback to Steve and his brother.

The scene with Steve running from the man who was almost hit by a rock he threw.

The scene with Steve on the porch talking about making money.

The scene where Steve is with his lawyer and asks her if they are going to win.

Key Events

* Important “scene” for the plot

PROTAGONIST STEVE HARMON 16 year old young

African American man. arrested for acting as

the lookout in a robbery that goes bad and ends in a murder.

narrator of the story, writes it in screenplay &journal entries

ANTAGONIST(S)

• the justice system

• the neighborhood which

impacts young men like

Steve

• people Steve associates

with in the neighborhood

• Steve himself.

CENTRAL CONFLICT

Man vs. SocietySteve Harmon is on trial for felony murder and must help his attorney convince the jury that he is not guilty. Man vs. SelfSteve Harmon must deal with his own questions and conscience about his involvement in the crime and who he really is. ?

MINOR CHARACTERS

KAT H Y

O ’ B R I E N

Steve’s defense

attorney who distances

Steve from the other

defendants as a way of

getting a not guilty verdict.

SANDRA

PETROCELLI

Assistant District Attorney who prosecutes the case against Steve and James King.

She labels them “monsters.”

MINOR CHARACTERS

JAMES KING

An African American man who is also young, but older than Steve.

He is accused of being in the drugstore and ultimately shooting the Mr. Nesbitt to death.

RICHARD “BOBO” EVANS

Accused of being in the store during the

murder.

He admits to stealing the money and

grabbing the cigarettes.

REVIEW

S

ht tp : / / teen ink .com/reviews /book_rev iews /a r t ic le /157359/monster-by-wa l ter-dean-myers /

HTTP: / /WWW.COMMONSENSEMEDIA.ORG/BOOK-REVIEWS/MONSTER

o T h e u s e r w h o r e a d t h i s b o o k e n j o y e d i t m u c h a n d s a i d t h a t i t w a s a n “ e y e o p e n e r ” t o a l l t e e n s e n t e r i n g y o u n g a d u l t h o o d t e a c h i n g t h e m a v e r y i m p o r t a n t l e s s o n o n l i f e .

o T h i s r e a d e r f o u n d t h e b o o k i n t r i g u i n g a n d f e l t t h a t i t w a s f u l l o f a c t i o n a n d a l w a y s k e p t h i m g u e s s i n g a n d w o n d e r i n g a b o u t w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n n e x t w i t h a “ r e a l -w o r l d ” p l o t .

MY TAKE ON THE STORY

This book was a good read. It really does show emphasis for teenagers and young adults on what could happen if you get caught up in the wrong crowd and give in to peer pressure. It also lets readers know that you

should take life for granted because even though it may

seem as though your future is bright ,don’t go slacking,

because you never know what decision may affect your

dreams.