Monster

Myers, W. (1999). Monster. New York: HarperCollins. Steve Harmon, is a sixteen-year-old black teenager, on trial facing the possibility of life in prison. He is facing murder charges after he is accused of acting as the lookout for the delinquents who robbed a Harlem drugstore and killed the owner. The novel is written from Steve’s point of view in the form of a screenplay and journal entries, which will captivate readers immediately. This dark modern realistic fiction not only deals with murder, but also highlights the dangerous horrors that inmates face in prison like physical violence and sexual advances. This novel is recommended for students in grades 7-12 and can be used as a resource for teachers who work with at risk students. It can also serve as a learning tool for students to realize that the choices we make in life can have serious consequences.