Monster

Myers, W. D. (1999).  Monster.  NY: Harper. 
Summary: Steve Harman is a black sixteen year old from Harlem who has been arrested.  The story begins while he is in jail awaiting his trial, scared and confused.  He decides to help make sense of his life he should keep notes as if he were making a film for his high school class. The trial is described as in a Screenplay, with the main characters being Steve and the other defendant, James King.  Other actors include the prosecuting attorney, two defense attorneys, the judge and witnesses.  We learn the details of the crime whereby a drugstore owner was shot with his own gun during a robbery. One witness saw two black men arguing with the owner before she left the store, but there was no other direct evidence. Testimony of two jail mates led to the arrest of the suspects due to the sale of cigarettes stolen in the robbery, and two other suspects took reduced sentences in return for their testimony accusing James of being the shooter and Steve as the lookout before the robbery.  From most accounts, it appears James was in the store, and he is found guilty and given a sentence of 25 years to life.  Steve has proclaimed his innocence, but through a series of flashbacks, admits to talking to James about the robbery, and possibly even being in the store looking for mints, but certainly did not know of the shooting until he heard women from the neighborhood discussing it and saw it on the news.  Eventually he is deemed innocent by the jury, but cannot forget how his own attorney turned away after the verdict - what did she see? Could he really be the monster as the prosecution proclaimed?
Commentary: The style of the book is interesting in that it uses first person narration, a screenplay, and flashbacks. This book is relevant for today as well as past generations, as accused black men are often deemed to be guilty unless they can prove their innocence.  In this story, we feel for Steve, as we know he is a good teenager from a loving family who just associated with some tough guys from his neighborhood.  It was somewhat unavoidable as they played in the same ballpark, but we are led to believe he never had intentions of hurting anyone.  But at the same time, his involvement is questionable, even by his own attorney and father, and maybe even himself.  We must face the questions of whether justice was served when Steve received no punishment, but again, how would society have benefitted by putting a good boy in jail with hardened criminals.  This is a great story for teenagers as it makes you think of the lifetime consequences of one wrong act as well as examine racial injustices.

Connections: A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson and Making Up Megaboy by Virginia Walters