Monster by Walter Dean Myers
Format: Paperback
Goodreads
Steve Harmon is 16, black and on trial for felony murder. They say he was the lookout for a robbery that went bad. The story is told in the unique format of small bits of Steve’s journal along with the story as told through a screenplay written by Harmon. There are some flashbacks but the main text follows the courtroom. My personal opinion… scripts are not meant to be read. I have a BFA in Drama and a minor in English. I have read a lot of scripts and they were created to be performed not read. Now Monster was created to be read but I still feel like the same issues are still there and so it was like pulling teeth to me. Don’t get me wrong it is a story that needs to be told but I would have preferred full journal or anything other than a script.
Printz Winner 2000
Coretta Scott King Author Honor 2000
