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Monster
Monster
Author: Walter Dean Myers
While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken.
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ISBN-13: 9780439202176
ISBN-10: 0439202175
Publication Date: 1999
Pages: 281
Rating:
  • Currently 3.1/5 Stars.
 8

3.1 stars, based on 8 ratings
Publisher: Scholastic
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Monster on
Helpful Score: 4
This book was touching, I cried and I laughed, and I was angry at times with the prosecutors. It seems as if you are there, watching it. I loved the format, as the boy writes the movie. A great piece of literature, if I do say so myself!
reviewed Monster on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
My students enjoy this book. I teach low-level readers at the high school level. This is definitely a high-interest books and I have students coming in from other classes asking to borrow this book because their friend has recommended it to them.
reviewed Monster on
Helpful Score: 2
As a student of playwriting with a degree in broadcast media, I could really appreciate the style of this book. The author writes the entire book in script form - including camera angles, direction, scene set-up, etc. The one thing he does leave to your imagination is the answer to the real question of guilt or innocence. There is no wrapped up happy ending; no resolution to the hard questions. You draw your own conclusions..and then question them for the entire story. This is a unique story that could happen to you your son on any given day in any given city. I read it in one sitting. A fascinating read.
swingsistert avatar reviewed Monster on + 78 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
a unique YA book written in the form of a screenplay. a great way to get today's kids into reading.
reviewed Monster on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book is about a teen on trial for murder. It is written as if it could be a play or a movie.
Read All 16 Book Reviews of "Monster"

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simpleeuphony avatar reviewed Monster on + 3 more book reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is of a teenage boy who struggles with the concept of right and wrong and begins to realize that the line between the two is not quite so clear-cut. He also struggles with his own identity as he is exposed to the biases, assumptions, and judgments of those he interacts with. The book is humorous, highly entertaining, and a quick read but it also asks you to think about the same conflicts that the main character struggles with.

Just a heads up: it can be confusing at times as the format jumps from narrative to journal to movie script and there are flashbacks in the movie script.
princessdiana34691 avatar reviewed Monster on + 361 more book reviews
daughter liked the book was a summer read assignment. did not like the style of the writing though.
reviewed Monster on + 6 more book reviews
I don't know if I really like the writing here. It wasn't too interesting to me. I was sorry for the kid. I wanted things to go easier on him, like maybe community service or something. If I were on his jury, I would have let him off. He didn't seem to be guilty enough to serve tons of jail time. He didn't seem guilty at all. He wasn't part of the murder; he didn't plan the murder. The sentencing was way to harsh for him. I like His movie angles; they were different.


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