Myers, Walter Dean. Monster. New York: HarperCollins, 1999. Print.
Annotation:
"Sometimes I feel like I have walked into the middle of a movie....Maybe I could make my own movie...of this experience. I'll write it in the notebook they let me keep. I'll call it what the lady who is the prosecutor called me. . . MONSTER"
Steve Harmon is sixteen years old, in jail, and on trial for felony murder. His lawyer says he has to believe in himself if they are going to convince the jury that he is innocent, but he's not sure if he can believe himself.
Justification for Nomination: In Monster, Walter Dean Myers has written an incredible and dramatic story of a young black man caught in a society where he is guilty by association. Steve Harmon represents the young black population who are victims of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is uncomfortably aware of the impending judgment. However, Mr. Sawicki, Steve's mentor in the high school film club says the object is not to make the ending predictable: " When you make a film, you leave an impression on the viewers, who serve as a kind of jury for your film. If you make your film predictable, they'll make up their minds about it long before it's over." Remembering Mr. Sawicki's instructions, Steve decides to cope with his plight by writing his story as a screenplay. He also includes journal entries between court proceedings to fill in the gaps. Privy to a front row seat to the remembrances, thoughts, and daily scenes as they play out in Steve's mind and life, the reader/audience begins to understand and empathize with this authentic character Myers has created. The reader is tested as society is in believing in someone's innocence until proven guilty.
In Monster, Myers has made a significant contribution to young adult literature. This work questions the ideas of identity, power, and social justice. In the midst of trying to decide who he really is, Steve must also question who society believes he is and determine for himself the value of that belief. These are questions the reader must answer as well. That's critical thinking territory at its finest. I am without-a-doubt guilty of nominating Monster for an award for literary excellence.
Genres: Printz, Realistic/"Edgy" Novel, Multicultural Novel
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