Monster is the story of 16-year-old African American, Steve Harmon, on trial in New York for felony murder. The book is written as if it is Steve's journal. From the beginning, Steve decides that his life would be better expressed in a movie, so he writes most of the book as a screenplay, with short narrative interjections. Steve recounts the trial process and includes flashbacks and reflections on his experience as it happens, having been accused of an ambiguous crime. The reader must hang on till the end to discover the verdict...
This novel is about 280 pages long, but it is extremely fast-moving because of the screenplay format. Important themes that are raised include issues of law and justice, right and wrong, and people's perceptions of others, especially African Americans. The title comes from this important theme, as people view Steve as a "monster," even though he is a good person. The style is fresh and gripping, and Steve's voice is frank and honest about life in jail and in court as we get to see the camera-view of his life from his perspective.
This is an excellent choice for a middle school, because the language is easy to understand and the book is fast-passed . Middle school readers might have some trouble with the law proceedings with situations of objection/sustained/overruled/etc., but this can be an excellent opportunity to teach students about legal proceedings and our judicial system. It also offers a new format, the screenplay, which teachers can work with that is both easy and interesting (and can make for a fun film project!). The themes are very relevant and important, and can spark some controversial discussions in the classroom, which also leads to opportunities for debates, and maybe even mock trials!
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