Rating: 
Summary: The Paradox of Monstar
Review: "Well, whatever you do, however terrible, however hurtful, it all makes sense doesn't it in your head. You never meet anybody who thinks they're a bad person."(From "The Talented Mr. Ripley)
This quote came to my mind when reading the chilling tale Monster by Walter Dean Myers about a boy facing his own demons as he analyzes his self worth. Although the court deems the main character, Steve Harmon, innocent, the reader is left with some uncertainty. This is definitely addressed at the end of the book by Kathy O?Brien, Steve?s attorney, when she responds coldly to the verdict.
Throughout the book, evidence is presented, as if the reader is the jury. What the reader sees though are Steve's thoughts along with flashbacks that both support and contradict his innocence because it delves deeper into his character.
The book establishes the paradox from the first page. "The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help."(Myers. p1)
Exposing Steve's feelings create a great deal of empathy towards him. The contradiction to this is at the bottom of the page, which can be interpreted as his admission to guilt. "When I look into the small rectangle I see a face looking back at me but I don?t recognize it. It doesn?t look like me."(Myers. p1)
This continues throughout the whole book. The flashback of Steve at twelve-years-old shows a side to his character that changes the reader's opinion of him. He doesn't seem as virtuous a character.
Flashback of 12-year-old Steve walking
in a neighborhood park with his friend
Tony?Steve picks up a rock and we see
it sail past and hit a YOUNG WOMAN.
The TOUGH GUY she is walking with turns
and sees the two young boys. The
TOUGH GUY approaches and asks, "Hey who
threw that rock" Steve yells, "Tony!
Run!" The TOUCH GUY punches Tony.
The YOUNG WOMAN pulls him off and they
walk away. Tony says to Steve, "I didn?t
throw that rock, you did." Steve
says, "I didn?t say you threw it, I just
said Run." (Myers. pp41-43)
The contrast to this flashback is Steve sitting with his little brother Jerry. This shows a much more admirable person and creates a stronger feeling of compassion towards his situation. The reader can see how much Jerry admires Steve and how Steve seems to handle this situation well.
Whatever evidence was presented throughout the book pertaining to Steve's guilt, I still had an overwhelming desire for him to be found innocent. He is a character with a great deal of depth and the reader wants him to succeed.
Rating: 
Summary: Monster
Review: Monster ia a very interesting book. I think that Steve is very smart, but he is caught up in somethign it's hard to get out of. He showed how it is when he was in prison. I think that Steve is scared and afraid of being in prison. At first I thought Steve was going to prison at the beginning of the book, until I read and I figured out he did'nt do it. He's stuggling through this trial, because he thinks that he is going to jail for a long time.
Rating:
Summary: Packs a wallop
Review: This book is remarkably powerful. The style is incredibly unique, and I couldn't put it down - I read the book in one sitting. Never preachy or didactic, Myers is able to bring up the big life questions about truth and honesty, and about how making bad decisions can change your life forever.Fourteen year old Steve Harmon is in jail awaiting his murder trial. Written in a combination of journal and screen play, the reader is thrust into Steve's thoughts and fears as the events that led him to jail are slowly revealed. Because of the screen-play format, this is a fast read, but it packs a wallop.
Rating:
Summary: MONSTER
Review: Monster is a interesting story about a young black male and his struggle during his trial. The flashbacks and testimonies made me read even more! Steve showed how hard it really is being in prison. I would recommend this book to anyone who is open minded and wants to read a good book. The downfalls of this book are the constant internal struggles that Steve dealt with. He showed signs of weakness at times. He once stated that he understood the reason they took the prisoners shoe strings and anything that could help them take their life. I can relate to what he is feeling because I experienced what he had. The book is well written and would make a great movie if it was to be made into one.
Rating:
Summary: Monster
Review: The book Monster by Walter Dean Myers is about a boy named Steve Harmon, a film student, who is on trial for being a lookout for a robbery. The book is written as a film and takes place when Steve is in jail while his trial is taking place. You soon find out that this robbery, which he was supposedly involved with, turns into a murder case when the store owner is shot. When Steve is in jail there are times when his parents come to visit, and they also bring his little brother Jerry to the outside of the jail so Steve can see him. You meet the other people that were involved with the robbery, and you hear everyone's testimony to what happened, and who was at the robbery. While the book is very intriguing at some times, it can also become boring because of the long statements that somewhat repeat themselves (the closing statements), despite this it is a very good book and I would recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Totally Awsome
Review: This book was the ultimate bomb. I absolutly loved it!! Thank Goodness for my 7th grade teacher Miss Cupps. She has taught me and brought me to a whole new world about books and going inside the books and just being so into it! Thank you miss cupps! You are the best!!
Rating:
Summary: A Interseting Book
Review: I liked this book because the auother was talking in the same level as me. He explained everything. I did get confused when the judge would stay things that I didn't get very will. The auother told, wrote down in his eye view. He said what he thought about being in jail. He told the reader what he didn't do or did do about the accident. He gave the reader many different views of this problem. When he was in court or in jail he would write down who said what and who did what. Now after I read the book, I think that in the middle of the book they were taking it slow to get the end of the case. It is really interesting to now that not all blacks do bad things. When I would start reading I would get a lot read in so many minutes. The book was worte in a movie form. I think that this is a very good book. It just would take me time to read it because I have to read like I am in the book. I don't know, but I hope there is a second book coming out. I think that this topic that the main character had to go through was intersting. I enjoyed this book.
Rating:
Summary: Monster
Review: this is a wonderful book Myers is really good at painting pictures in your head
Rating:
Summary: J. Pedraza Scott 4
Review: I have recently finished reading the book "Monster," by Walter Dean Myers. I thought this book was excellent. It is about a sixteen-year-old African American boy by the name of Steve Harmon. Steve is accused of robbery and murder. The book shows the trial in depth. It also explains how he does not like prison. But is he really guilty or was he just not in the right place at the right time? I would recommend the book "Monster" for people of all ages. I would especially like to recommend it to people who love books that involve court room drama. You will be extremely interested while reading and it will keep wanting more. You will not regret reading "Monster" at all, enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Monster
Review: Monster by Walter Dean Myers is a very good book. It is about a 16 year old African American male who has been arrested for a murder he didnt commit. If you are a young African American male or a fan of novels about teens you will love this book. I give this book 5 stars because it is so detailed, it is perfection.
|
