Monster **** 1/2

Myers, Walter Dean. Monster.

National Book Award Finalist
Michael L. Prints Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
Coretta Scott King Award

This book has won awards, but I don't think you should read it for that reason. No, you should read it because it is good.

It tells the story of Steven Harmon, an African American teen from Harlem, on trial for assisting in a robbery that turns into a murder. He is accused of being the look out, of going into the drug store first, to ensure there isn't anyone in the store, and then give the signall that it is ok to go in. Steve claims he wasn't even in the drug store that day. The book alternates between Steve's diary and a transcript of the trial. Steve, an aspiring filmmaker, tells the story of the trial is screenplay form, with close-ups, etc. This makes the book intersting as it isn't plain writing, it is a journal and a play all in one.

The size of this book has always put students off this book right from the beginning, but readers shouldn't worry about the length of the book. It is, indeed, 300 pages, but there is a lot of blank space, and the writing is very large, particularly in the diarty sections. I read this book in less than 2 hours. I recommend this book to anyone that doesn't like to read as it is fast paced and interesting, so it will hold anyone's attention.