Monster

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I've Ever Read
Review: Monster is about a sixteen-year-old boy, named Steve Harom. Steve is on trial for the murder of a local store owner. Steve seems like a regular kid, and his experience in jail is tearing him apart. The only thing that is keeping him from going crazy is the movie he is making that recounts his trial and time in jail. Steve's situation is very real; everything that he feels, I would feel if I were in his situation. Even though Steve is innocent, his lawyer doesn't believe him. Steve's father also treats him differently, which leads Steve to question who he really is. This book is extremely thought provoking and I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to read a good book.

Rating:
Summary: Monster by Walter Dean Myers
Review: Monster is a book about a 16 year old teenager, Steve Harmon, who is convicted of felony murder. He is put in jail and has to attend trial to see if a jury finds him guilty or not guilty. While in jail he keeps a journal of his thoughts each day and writes what went on the past day and what he thinks about it. In this journal he also writes a screenplay for a movie of his time spent in jail on trial and in jail. His lawyer O'Brien tells him from the beginning that she doesn't expect to win and by win get Steve out of jail. She believes that the best sentence Steve can get is 25 to life.
As this is going on Steve wonders what is going to happen to him. He writes in his journal that they take your shoelaces away so you can't hang yourself and that he doesn't think he should be in jail because he didn't do anything. After a while though he sees that almost everybody else in jail doesn't think they should be in jail either but they are found guilty.
Steve has his own testimony near the end of the trial and answeres what he can to the best of his ability. He is asked questions like do you know these people and were you at the drugstore on this day around this time. After every testimony is heard the jury comes up with a verdict for everyone and they find Steve not guilty

Rating:
Summary: Monster
Review: This book uses a slightly different format to tell the story. It reads like the script to a movie which is slightly daunting at first. It's lots of type and in all sorts of different fonts, but once you get into the storyline it's hard to put it down. I read this one in an afternoon while sunbathing and ended up getting burnt because I didn't want to go inside. Because of the unusual format I've had difficulty getting some of my students into this book. Those that have gotten beyond the format truly enjoyed this novel.

Rating:
Summary: Monster
Review: Very interesting book. Can be graphic at times, but overall provides a realistic portrayal of gang life.