Genre: Realistic Fiction
Myers, Walter Dean . Monster.
[Book cover credit: www.alibris.com]
16 year old Steve Harmon is caught in the middle of a murder trial. The situation is so unreal to him that he captures his experience in a notebook by writing it as a screenplay.
There is a saying that you are the writer, director and star of the movie that is your life. 16 year old Steve Harmon finds himself in a horrific situation. He copes by separating himself from what is going on around him by writing a detailed screenplay, including camera direction, of his life in jail and in the courtroom. He includes his thoughts by adding letters in between scenes. From page 144:
"Violence in here is always happening or just about ready to happen. I think these guys like it-they want it to be normal because that’s what they’re used to dealing with. If I got out after 20 years, I’d be 36. Maybe I wouldn’t live that long. Maybe I would think about killing myself so I wouldn’t have to live that long in here."
This book shows how frightening life is when people think you are a MONSTER.
Grade 7 and Up–
2000 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Literature for Young Adults
2000 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
1999 National Book Award finalist
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