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    The Monster
    The Monster
    The Monster
    Ebook82 pages1 hour

    The Monster

    By Stephen Crane

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Though best known for The Red Badge of Courage, his classic novel of men at war, in his tragically brief life and career Stephen Crane produced a wealth of stories—among them "The Monster," "The Upturned Face," "The Open Boat," and the title story—that stand among the most acclaimed and enduring in the history of American fiction. 

    This superb volume collects stories of unique power and variety in which impressionistic, hallucinatory, and realistic situations alike are brilliantly conveyed through the cold, sometimes brutal irony of Crane's narrative voice.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateApr 28, 2009
    ISBN9780061914751
    The Monster
    Author

    Stephen Crane

    Stephen Crane was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1871. He died in Germany on June 5, 1900.

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    Reviews for The Monster

    4/5

    140 ratings127 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I loved this audiobook with the film script format! The story is very 12 Angry Men from the perspective of the accused Teen. 
    • 4/5
      I liked the journal and film script way of telling the story. It was so interesting to get inside the head of a sixteen-year-old boy on trial for murder with uncertain ties to the event. Not as gritty as one might think. Most of the harsh prison life details are left out, with only references to actions, rather than graphic descriptions.
    • 4/5
      Solid, popular, boy-centered book. Never go wrong with Walter Dean Myers
    • 3/5
      I surprisingly liked this book. I thought I wouldn't based on the style the story is presented (it's written in both script format and as a journal entry), but once I got used to the jarring quality of the script, I found it made for a quick read.

      The subject is obviously a tough one, but I think it's well presented and does a fantastic job of showcasing truth and reality of life.

      I found the content fascinating and while some of the character's are questionable (i'm still unsure of whether Steve was actually in the drugstore...he kept mentioning he went in for mints...) the overall message of good over evil and the justice system prevailing still managed to come across.

      It would have been an entirely different book and commentary if the ending hadn't happened the way it did.
    • 3/5
      I wanted to like this better, but there just wasn't much depth to it. I thought the writing style - being written as a screenplay - would be distracting, but it was enjoyable.
    • 3/5
      First person narrative of a kid going through a trial that might end in a life sentence. He writes his experiences down in a notebook as a film script and director's notes. Inventive format, really compellingly blunt narrative.
    • 2/5
      Monster is the story of Steve Harmon, a young man from the Harlem neighborhood who is facing a charge of felony murder. The book opens with the gripping image of Steve crying quietly in his cell while a fellow prisoner is being beaten and raped. Steve tells his story through a series of journal entries and a move script. The script is especially used for Steve to process the situation that he is going through. In his journal entries and film sequences, Steve ponders his own perceived innocence, shares scenes from life in the prison, and recounts events that led to his accusation. The journal entries as well as the interwoven court scenes are well crafted. However, the close reader notices the discrepancies between Steve's testimony in court and the facts that he relates in his journal. This might lead the reader to pass a "guilty" verdict on Steve Harmon. However, throughout the story, the author has created so much ambiguity and nuance in the terms "guilty" and "innocent', that it is hard to make a resolute judgement. Prisoners speak of their crimes as "mistakes", and out of delusion believe themselves to be innocent. Others quibble about "truth", and feel that telling their own version of the story is acceptable in light of the true horrors of life in prison. These conversations take place right before Steve's testimony in court, leaving readers wondering what the truth really is. This question haunts the reader even after the story is over, in the same way that Steve is ever after haunted by his identity as a "monster".I liked this book because of the mystery that it maintains, and the question marks that it leaves you with. I think that this book speaks to young people because it deals with decision-making, acquaintance choices, helplessness, and identity crises.The book gives plenty of room for teachers to discuss the difference between perception and actual truth with their students. This would be a great book to teach to a classroom full of tough customers, and it is short enough and an easy enough read to assign to young people with the expectation that they read it on their own.
    • 4/5
      This is a great book. The story is about boy named Steve Harmon. Steve is a young, black, terrified teenager. Steve is living in New York state with his mother, father and little brother. He is in trial for a murder. During this trial, Steve uses past and present timing to get the reader involved in the text. This fast-moving book was written like a movie script. There is a lot of drama in the book also. This book kept my attention throughout the whole story. The guessing and wondering keeps you on the edge of your seat. I have a concern about this book. Such as, what grade level should a teacher give this type of book to her students to read for a discussion? We need to make sure our classroom children are ready for books like this one. I liked how it gave a lot of different examples of how things are brought up in the court room. Showing differently aged children how the court works with different examples, like the book Monster, might keep the classroom from doing bad things to go to jail. I liked this book a lot. It is a very detailed book, and it is great for teenagers to see what goes on in the court room. I think every student around the age of nine should have to read this book as he or she is approaching the peer pressure years of a teenager. I have seen many of my friends have to go to court for different reasons and getting a feel for the way they ask questions can be quite scary. This book could be a guide to being honest and wanting to do the correct things in life. I would recommend this book to any child that wanted a quick, fun read.
    • 3/5
      Monster is about a young teenage boy, Steve, who is accused of committing a crime at a drug store. One of his acquaintances, Bobo, places him at the scene of the crime, telling the jury that he was a part of the illegal act. Now it is up to the lawers and jury to decide the fate of this young man. The book is written in a script because after all was said and done, Steve made his experience into a movie. Teaching this book to a class would be great. It relates to so many kids who are living in dangerous areas and who sometimes associate with the wrong people. One good theme about this book that a teacher could point out to his/her students is that one must be wise in choosing who the associate with. Steve was a harmless guy, but since he chose to talk to the neighborhood criminals, they threw him under the bus and accused him of murder. Another good point about this book is that no matter what type of situation one is in, it is always important to always believe in yourself. Do not let someone wrongly accuse you of something you know you did not do. I actually liked this book. It was very easy to read and kept you interested in what was going to happen next. I cannot say that I can relate to this young boy, but I can only imagine that this was the worst experience of his life. My heart goes out to those who are wrongly accused of a crime. I know for a fact that I do not like people blaming me for something that I know I did not do. Growing up, I was brought up in a good town and great school and it just breaks my heart to think that crime, in some cities, happens daily and that it has no effect on some of the people.
    • 4/5
      Steve Harmon was a simple boy just trying to make it through school. He saw life as a movie waiting to be produced and directed. A turn of events happen that Steve's life forever. He is charged with murder. Behind bars he is, waiting for his trail. Did he really help with a murder? Is he really a monster? Themes in "Monster" revolved around crime and actual life. Some of the themes were right versus wrong, denial, seclusion, and perception versus reality. Teaching around this text will show children how society works and how people vilify the convicted so that others will have low opinions of them. The book is written is a different way, script-like. This ensures more attention expressed in the students. The themes and ideas in this book make it a great selection to teach to adolescent students. This book grabs attention on page one. The script-like form of writing is somewhat frustrating but does numb after some time of reading the book. It is a bit hard to understand; there's no chronological order. The book fades from present to past to predicted future. All in all, the book is a great piece. Personally, the script lingo on every page is hard to interpret unless someone has background experience with scripts. The same goes for the settings in court when terms used are found in the text. This book was challenging to read but worth the effort.
    • 3/5
      Through the story "Monster", Myers writes about the trial and thoughts of a 16-year-old boy who goes by Steve. He keeps the reader interested through a first person, film script type writing. This can seem a bit confusing at first when trying to keep all the people separated in the courtroom. Through Steve's "movie script", the reader finds Steve in prison and on trial for the murder of an older man. This realistic story keeps the reader constantly wondering, "Did he do it?...Will the jury believe he did it?" Steve uses making movies to get through this difficult time. The audience finds that in the end Steve finds his passion which keeps him living above the influence around him. This is a quick-read that any age group will enjoy. Favorite quote: "Think about all the tomorrow's of your life."
    • 4/5
      "Monster" is a book about a 16 year old boy named Steve who is on trial for felony murder. I think this book is a very good read for people of any age. The book is about his trial and his time in jail during the trial. He writes journals throughout the story and the book is actually written as a play. This book was very interesting to me, once I picked it up, I literally could not put it back down. Through the whole story I was dying to know whether he was found guilty or not. This book could be used in a classroom to explain to students how the justice system works. The author does a great job of depicting the reality of court. The students could also be assigned roles and they could act out their own court case after reading this book. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone to read. It was very interesting and also a quick and easy read.
    • 4/5
      "Monster" is a very interesting book about a boy named Steve Harmon who is on trial for murder. He is writing about his life and his life through his trial process. This book shows his thoughts and feelings towards his time in jail. As he waits for his trial to end, he fears for his future. The emotions of this book are very strong and makes a strong connection to the reader. This book can be a fun book to learn about. Students could really get involved and act out different scenes from the book. For example, a teacher could divide the classroom up in different groups and assign different scenes of the book for each group to act out. The students could learn not only from their teacher but from other classmates as well. The book had many scenes that had an emotional toll on me. When reading the book, I tried to picture myself in his situation and I realized that what he was going through did not seem real. I enjoyed the book. I thought his journals were very deep and personal which made me want to keep reading. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a quick and easy read.
    • 3/5
      Monster is a story about a young teenage, Steve, who is on trial for a murder. This story is wrote from Steve's point of view and he writes it stage play fashion. During the trial Steve take the reader back in forth between the past and the present to better help them understand his life. He is labeled as a monster by the District Attorney because of the crime that she claims he help James King commit. I think that was an easy read and would work great for teaching to a class. I think that a class could actually act out each scene as it is already laid out in a stage play format. I think this book would also be a great read for teaching students about peer pressure and some of the things that follow it. This book could also be use to show them how a justice system work. I think that after reading the book it would be a great idea to talk to the student about what could have happened if the trial had a different outcome.Although this book was an easy book to read, it would not have been a book that I would have chosen on my own to read. I do not really like reading books that are set up this way. It also does not fall in to the genre of books that I enjoy reading. There were part in the book that i enjoyed reading. I enjoyed the fact that it was like trip into Steve's on personal thoughts. I enjoyed the feeling that the author showed through his characters. Whiling reading the book the entire time I was hoping that the jury was find Steve not guilty and allow his a second chance at life.
    • 4/5
      "Monster" by Walter Dean Myers is a book about a teenage boy in Manhattan on trial for the murder of a man during a robbery. During this book Steve Harmon is writing down his feelings during the trial. The book is written as a play so we as the readers can see Steve's version of what happen the day of the murder. I believe that this book would be a good book for teachers to have teenagers read and then pick a scene to act out. The way the book is already broken up into small scenes it would be very interesting for the class to split up into small groups and each pick a scene to act out to tell the story as a class. I believe that is technique of discussing the book would make it fun and interesting to the kids reading the book. I also think the theme of this book is very good for teenagers to read because it has a good moral story. Especially if you are a teacher in an area where gangs are present it is a good way to get a clear message to the kids who might be making wrong choices. I very much enjoyed this book. It was an easy read but very interesting. I liked that we were able to read his thoughts as he was going through the trial so we as the readers could understand how he really felt. On the other side of it I did like how the prosecutor, Mrs. Petrocelli, did not ever let down. She was going to make sure that Harmon, King, and Bobo did not get away with anything they were not guilty of. I believe that this book is a good book to teach on because it has a lot of life lessons and is very entertaining at the same time.
    • 4/5
      “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers is about sixteen years old Steve Harmon, who is on trial for murder. Steve is allegedly guilty for being the lookout of a store robbery that turned into a murder. To help him cope with prison, Steve writes down the trial in a notebook like a writer would a screen play. He aspires to be a director one day. This scripted story describes Steve’s struggle with himself. The prosecutor calls him a monster and Steve begins to think that he may be one. Walter Dean Myers decides to write this book in the form of a screen play. This is a very unique way to write a book, this helps the students experience diversity in literature. Diversity of genre is key to finding an interest in literature. This book is also very relatable to the students because Steve is around their age group. Steve’s story can demonstrate what can happen when people get mixed up with the wrong type of people. It also describes what peer pressure can cause. Teens are very susceptible to peer pressure; Steve’s story can open their eyes to the consequences of it.This book is not something I would usually read. If I had not been assigned the book I do not think I would have ever read it, but once I started I became quite interested in the emotional roller coaster of Steve’s story. The first line of the book really got to me. As soon as I read that line I was hooked. The idea of a sixteen year old boy sitting in jail every night listening to people fight and having to hide his emotions from the rest of the cell mates devastated me. I was on his side from the beginning. His ideas and thoughts throughout the story had me almost screaming how could they not think he was innocent! This young man was caused to see and hear things that no sixteen years old should. The outcome was a real surprise to me, but I was extremely pleased with it. The mystery of this story kept me turning pages. I would recommend this book to any future colleague or student.
    • 4/5
      This book is about a young African American, Steve Harmon, who is involved in a murder trial. He is claiming his innocence whereas the prosecutor is demanding that he is guilty. Throughout the course of the book, Steve Harmon thinks back to what really happened during this event. He compiles his memories in to a movie script.I believe that there are key points in this book that can be used for teaching strategies. For example, having students fill out an anticipation guide or making predictions abut the text will help get students involved and excited about reading this book. Also, after reading this book, a class can participate in their own "trial". I believe this will engage students to really try to grasp the different terms and concepts of what happens in a court room. I enjoyed reading this book. I did not know what to expect when I first started reading, but once I knew a little more about Steve Harmon, I was already on his side. The prosecutor was really starting to get under my skin. I was trying to figure out who was telling the truth and who was lying the entire time I was reading this book. At the end of the story, I did not understand why O'Brien acted like she was not happy with the outcome of the trial. It almost seemed as if there needed to be another book to tell why she did that. Overall, I found this to be a good read.
    • 4/5
      The book "Monster" goes through the experience of a sixteen year old boy who is put on trial for a murder that occurred in a convenient store. He tells his story through a movie script because he is a part of the filming club in his school, and he uses this skill to cope with his emotions throughout the trial. His family hires a lawyer, Mrs. O'Brien who is very helpful throughout the trial and gives Steve, the boy, good tips on how they are going to win. At the end of the book, Steve is proven to be innocent by a grand jury and gets to walk free of charges. I think this book would be a great one to teach in a classroom for several reasons. First, the boy's age is relatable to the students who would be reading the text. He is sixteen and several times throughout the story he explains that he has his whole life ahead of him and he is too young to spend the rest of his life in a jail cell. I think this would be of good insight to the students, seeing as though most of them would not want to waste their life. It puts themselves in the narrator's shoes. Also, it teaches about our judicial system. The experience Steve goes through (and writes about) shows how a courtroom, lawyers, and a judge function and how our judicial system in the United States works. Students could make notable comments and write a reflection on whether they agree with the system or not. I honestly enjoyed this book very much. Once I started, it was very hard to put down because I wanted to see what was going to happen next. The emotion of the young boy on trial was very real causing feelings in myself to come out about the situation. I was rooting for his innocence all along because he seemed to come from a great family and I believed him to be telling the truth. It was a great novel about our judicial system as well. The closing arguments of the lawyers were extremely well written and was something you could picture taking place in a courtroom or on a scene of Law and Order. I thought the way the book was written was also unique. The narrator writes this experience as a movie script, giving the reader a very clear image on how the scene looked. I loved the raw emotion that he included on the random 'notes' pages that were somewhat like a diary for him. Overall a great read and I recommend it to anyone!
    • 4/5
      This novel is told from the first person perspective of Steve Harmon, a young man on trail for murder. There are times when Steve speaks his thoughts giving a summary of what he is going through. The majority of the scenes are told through a screenplay that Steve writes as he goes through his trial. It is his way of keeping himself from going crazy. The screenplay technique is a unique way of experiencing what Steve goes through. Instead of the reader reading about the trial in standard novel form, the trial is shown through a script. The story is mostly written in the first person, with the inserted screenplay written by the overall narrator, Steve.
    • 1/5
      This book is about a boy Steve who is in jail and on trial for a crime. In order to cope with his situation he begins making a movie in his head. This movie helps to understand the way his trail is going. This book also shows how the judicial system works and what it is like for people in jail. This book shows how friends have a reflection on yourself and how important it is to choose friends correctly. Since this book shows how the judicial system works, I think it is a good idea to do a reenactment of the trail in the book after you have read it. All of the children could have a part. This is a good way to help them understand the book a little more because at times it can be hard to follow. I really did not enjoy this book. It was hard for me to stay interested in it, it is hard to relate to the characters in this book.It was also hard to decided if Steve was innocent or not and at the end of the book I am still not sure if he is innocent or not. Also Switching from person to person and place to place it was hard to follow sometimes.
    • 3/5
      Monster is a book that would work well for adolescents. It tells the story of the trial of 16 year old Steve Harmon for felony murder. The book is written from Steve's POV as a movie script. Steve has a passion for film making and tries to cope with his trial by documenting it in this manner. The book leaves the reader questioning a bit and has very thin character development.
    • 3/5
      Monster tells the story of Steve Harmon, a man accused of taking part in a convenience store robbery. It chronicles the trial for this crime. Through the story, various witnesses are called and Steve's relationship with each is examined. The story is told through a movie script Steve writes as well as his journal entries.A major theme in the novel is friend choice. Steve's situation comes mainly from his association with unsavory characters. This could lead to some good writing exercises for the classroom. The journal entries also provide some insight into how Steve is feeling during his ordeal. This alternate source of info can lead to some good discussions.Overall, I didn't really enjoy the book. One of the concepts this book tries to portray is how life is in prison. It only halfway developed this concept. Aside from that, the book was fairly short. This is not a bad thing for a book used in a classroom. Steve's reaction at the ending felt kind of forced. It seemed like the author just threw in Steve's search for himself at the end.
    • 3/5
      Monster is about a young boy, Steve Harmon, who is on trial for being the “lookout” to a robbery gone wrong. Because he is finding it hard to get used to living in jail, he channels his thoughts and turns the events that happen to him into a movie by writing the script in his notebook. Although Steve insists he is innocent and was not even at the scene of the crime, the others convicted said that not only was he there, he was an accomplice. Although the story is told from Steve’s point of view, he records only the truth. Throughout the book, it is the reader’s job to determine his innocence or his guilt based off the words of Steve, his defendant, the opposition, and the other felons. In a classroom, this book could be read alongside a unit on the judicial system and the proceedings of a court trial. Social studies could easily be tied into this by studying the beginning of the judicial system, how it has changed through time, and why it is the way it is. This book could also be used for a unit on personal studies on different cultures and neighborhoods right here in the United States and how where you grow up and the choices you make influence every aspect of your life. This book has a theme of good and bad choices and truth and lies. As students read this book, they could discuss what good choices were made, what bad choices were made, and if they think Steve was innocent or guilty and how they can use evidence as support. To be completely honest, I wasn’t a big fan of this story. I thought it was interesting how it was written as a script and contained flashbacks from Steve’s life, but it was somewhat boring. I did not know enough about Steve or who he was to really care what his fate was as awful as that may sound. I felt no personal connection with Steve that I usually find with the main character in a story. I also didn’t like not knowing whether he was innocent or guilty. I know that was the intention of the author to have to reader find their own conclusion, but it was almost impossible to tell. I felt that the author didn’t even know whether he was innocent or guilty. There were also no good characters in this story. I didn’t like reading about Bobo and Osvaldo who didn’t seem to have souls. I probably wouldn’t use this book in my classroom. It was somewhat confusing at times and I’m not sure it would captivate an entire room of middle schoolers. There were also some very mature themes such as homosexual rape.
    • 4/5
      Sixteen year-old Steve Harmon is on trial as an accomplice of robbery and murder of a drug store owner. This fast-paced story is about the trial and is told through Steve, revealing his perspective and feelings surrounding this case (i.e., being in jail, how others view him, the affects it has on his family, the events of the crime). Unsure of his fate and as a means to make sense of this incident, Steve decides to write a screenplay of the trial while in court. Myer’s choice of language and how he used the protagonist to tell the story is both unique and engaging. Readers will feel as if they are sitting in the courtroom listening to the trial; for anyone who has been present in a courtroom during a murder trial will recognize the raw truthfulness of this novel. The format of Monster (change of font, topography, script format, images and court sketches) enhances the story, helping readers distinguish the screenplay from Steve’s thoughts outside the courtroom. Overall, this well written novel will keep the attention of young adult readers and leave them questioning whether Steve participated in the crime or not. Age Appropriate: 8th grade and higherAlthough Monster is at a low readability (roughly 4th grade), the concepts and content within this novel are for mature readers. This book would be appropriate for high school classes that are serving students that are low-level readers. Conversely, the format (constant switching of setting and variety of characters) within Monster could be confusing for such students who are reading the book independently.
    • 5/5
      Walter Dean Myers' book, Monster, was a great piece of fiction. I must say that the beginning confused me when a cast was listed and everything was written out like a movie script. Then when the boy, Steve Harmon, told about his time in prison and the escape he felt when making a movie through his eyes on his trial and time in prison, it all began to make sense. Steve Harmon is a sixteen year old boy on trial for murder. His attorney, O'Brien is doing everything she can to help Steve, but always seems as if she is not so sure of his innocence. Steve has a hard time coping with all the things going on in his life at this time and only remembers what the prosecutor Petrocelli calls him, Monster. Through monster Steve begins creating a movie script of his life in prison and his time on trial. I loved the way the book is written. Never have I seen another piece of work put together in this manner. I liked the way Myers putthe audience almost in the position of a juror, not even in the end does the reader truly know if Steve is innocent or not. I find the guessing intriguing and will diffenely tell others about the book. For adolescents, I feel as if this book will help them see that even if they are not doing anything, just being associated with the wrong crowed can sometimes lead to bad consequences. It can also show, like Steve and his love for movies, that being interested in something that not everyone else is interested in is not a bad thing. Peer pressure does not have to take hold of a teens life. I like how the author carried out that Steve was a good student in school and loved his mother and father. During the adolescent years, teens do not always think school and parents are the socially acceptable things in their lives, but Myers made Steve love his mother and father and enjoy school, which could help a struggling teen relate to Steve. I complete agree with everything Myers was getting at with adolescent issues. - having a class create a movie using a situation they have felt most vulnerable in. -have students write a list of comparisons they have to Steve, even if they are complete opposites. Have them write about things they have both felt scared about, or when they most wanted to fit in. Monster was well written and well planned out. From beginning to end I was still guessing and trying to figure out if Steve really was innocent. The book had me hooked and I could not put it down. All I wanted to know was what was going to happen to this boy and his family. the issues for teens made this story a great piece for young adults, needing to fit in, wanting to be seen with the cool crowd even if that means doing things that do not feel right. I think adolescents can understand Steve and his situation, they can empathize with Steve. What I got out of the book is that our judicial system is not completely, "innocent until proven guilty", but more on the lines of "guilty until proven innocent". Students can feel for Steve, the world hates me and is trying to take away my rights view, probably the same way Steve felt in the court room.
    • 3/5
      The book Monster is a fictional novel by Walter Dean Myers about a young man, Steve Harmon, seen through his eyes. He tells us of the ordeal he is going through because of some trouble he got into and the trial that follows. He tells us that he is on trial for attempted robbery that resulted in the murder of the store owner, but he insists that he is innocent. The book is written in a movie script format, it also has journal entries that Steve has been keeping while he is in jail and during the trial. Steve is a young, African-American who was grown up in what seems to be a rough neighborhood in Harlem. Myers also leads the reader to believe that Steve is from a lower class family.This book deals with a lot of stereotyping, I think that is one of the main issues discussed. The author shows us how the jury and others see Steve and Mr. King and what they think of them because of their background. It is obvious that most of the other characters in the book think they are guilty by association and the fact that they are not from the best background. The author gives us a look into the mind of Steve Harmon; he shows us what he is thinking and how he feels. The reader also gets a look at some of the thoughts of other characters throughout the book because it is written in the form of a script. The trial takes place, both sides present their case, and then the jury deliberates to decide the fate of Steve Harmon. Depenending on the verdict Steve’s life could be ruined.Personally, I enjoyed reading the book and thought the storyline was interestingly enough to catch the attention of middle graders. I also like that the book was easy to read and understand. I gave the book only three stars because probably not recommend it to anyone even though I liked it. The book has a suspense about itself while reading and after getting to the end one time, I can’t see how I would read it again. Monster was intriguing to the extent that it let you see into the mind of young man and his role in a crime. It showed the perspective of many different people and many different beliefs. I think that it was a good book for a high school student, but I would not recommend it for anyone younger. My opinion of the book as a whole is that it is a decent book and I enjoyed it well enough.
    • 5/5
      Steve is on trial for a robbery and shooting at a neighborhood store. Is guilty? Is he innocent? Follow the trial and draw your conclusions. A great book group read. Mature language and situations.
    • 3/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed Walter Dean Myer's book "Monster". This work was a fictional novel toldI told through the eyes the main character, 16 year old Steve Harmon, who is African American. This story was written like a screen play and also has journal entries from Steve as well. The setting is in Harlem and mainly takes place on the streets of the city, in the jail where Harmon is held, or in the court room. Harmon is awaiting trail for his connection in the robbery of a convenient store and murder of the owner. This book takes you on his journey to find out whether he is found guilty or not guilty. At the end, it caused me to be on my toes for the verdict. I had to force myself to not read ahead and as corny as it sounds, i had butterflies waiting to read the verdict. Your heart goes out to Steve because it is told in his perspective. The teaching connections:1. I definitely feel like this is a good book for students to read, but it would need to be strategically placed in the unit to make sure that it was within the appropriate time.2. An activity that my students could do would be after reading this book we would create our own court room and based on the evidence given, we would determine whether Steve Harmon was innocent or not. This would allow the students to feel even more connected to the work and would give them a better understanding of the court system.I found this book to be an easy read and also entertaining. I did not necessarily like the way that the book ended because I do not like having to second guess a work. The question of Steve's innocence is a theme that is represented through out the entire book. Every character questioned Steve's innocence the entire story, including himself. Also, stereotyping is another theme throughout the book. Some of the characters in this book experience racial stereotyping. I believe that Myers believes that this happens in the courtrooms today. Fir example, because of your race you may not actually go into a court room and be considered "innocent until proven guilty". Myers grew up in Harlem and most all of his works were about African American teenagers from Harlem. The book "Scorpion" by Myers also shows the struggle of a young teenager that is surrounded by crime and joins in because he thinks he has no other choice. I can neither disagree or agree with the opinions of Myers because I am not a minority and have not lived in a big city neighborhood surrounded with crime. I will say that this book has opened my eyes to some of the things that could be happening in our court system dealing with racial prejudice. Overall i really enjoyed it. I would rank it about a 5 on the scale of books I enjoyed in high school. This book presented issues such as; racial stereotyping and innocence and this is a common theme throughout the author, Walter Dean Myers' works. The format of this book may bother some OCD people, so if you cannot stand to have a book that is written outside of "normal format", i would recommend you not read this work. I however am not bothered by unusual format and thought it was pretty good. Easy read.
    • 5/5
      Walter Dean Myers’ Monster was a book that I underestimated its brilliance and likableness. The story takes the reader and places him in the mind of Steve Harmon. The sixteen year old boy tells the story of his happenings and how he lands in prison, but that story is not told in the typical manner. The story is told through a movie script, which ultimately allows Steve Harmon’s passion and interest to be known. By knowing Steven as a movie maker, the reliability and sincerity of his character becomes a saving grace in the eyes of the reader. The journey that Steve Harmon takes the reader through provides a view of the world that tends to be over looked. Steve tells the reality of the life of many young black men raised in poorer area. As the reader, I took a journey to the mind and heart of Steve, and believed that despite the charges he was innocent. The innocence of Steve was a desire formed by his likeable nature and his young mind. The idea that Steve did not deserve to be blamed for premeditated actions of murder, came because the reader’s was able to understand Steve became a person, not a monster. The book brings to life the reality that human’s judge. For Steve Harmon, the fact that his name was included with the murder immediately labeled him a monster. Steve never stood a change for being seen any other way, and his lawyer O’Brien told him his only hope was to become a person in the eyes of the jury. The stereotype that was placed of Steve comes from the fear of looking past something like race. The question that the reader is asked to mull over is; what is truth? Truth for Steve Harmon is that he did not murder Alguinaldo Nesbitt. However, the jury and the readers have the choice to believe Steve’s story as truth, or argue that the truth is found in the actual reality that Mr. Nesbitt is dead, and someone deserves to be punished. The book challenges the read to look past the appearances of something, and find humanity in it all. The saving grace and only hope for Steve Harmon was to be understood as a person, not a monster. However, in life people, including myself, find seeing people as monsters as less complicated than giving them their right to exist as an actual person. Humanity is a right to all people, but some fail to live in such a way that they deserve the right, yet some people lose the right before it is time. Steve Harmon is just one example of an individual that lost his right to be labeled human before he was truly found guilty. Instead of choosing to see Steve as a sixteen year old boy who happened to grow up in a bad area, we equate the bad area with having to produce bad behavior. The realization that we as people feel we deserve a right to judge others causes people like Steve’s lawyer, O’Brien, to always see Steve as a monster, even if he is proven innocent. The reality of this book is people judge, and how do the readers escape the inevitable judging nature. Monster reminds the reader to look past the appearance of situations and people, and look for the more, look for truth. That is how people like Steve Harmon are found, and truly are not guilty. I truly enjoyed this book. I loved the fact that I was asked to care. The uncertainly of the actual happenings made me love the book even more. I was allowed and asked to actively participate in the outcome and understand of what really happened. I had to look at Steve Harmon’s life and decided if I could adequately deem him a monster. Through this process I found that every person in a human. However, some people choose to live in a way that makes them appear monster like. Through this book, I got challenged to look at someone, have to care. I had to care either about punishing or listening with a prejudice free perspective. Truth had to be a reality otherwise I would be a monster that never gave someone a free chance to prove himself innocent. I loved the choice to create my own view, and the one I created has become such a reality in my mind. I loved the freedom in this book.
    • 4/5
      The novel Monster is written by Walter Dean Myers and is a nonfiction book written for young adults. The story is set in Harlem and is set from the perspective of a 16 year old African American male named Steve Harmon. He is being charged with assisting in a robbery that resulted in a death at a gas station. Monster is written as if it is a film script and takes place in jail and a court room. Two older men testify against Steve saying he assisted them in the crime. Steve is faced with a jury judging him due to his race and age. It is a battle of discrimination.I think the book was very interesting and it kept my attention. It shed light on a subject that is not normally written about and had an interesting perspective of how a court case is run. However, the ending leaves the reader hanging and wanting more from the story. There is not that sense of closure that I as a reader rely on. Nonetheless, I do feel that the author makes some very important points that are great for young adults to read and think about. Monster makes the reader think about discrimination on a deeper level and how it is still such an issue in today’s society.When I become a teacher I would definitely consider using Monster in my classroom. It would be good for the following:•I would use this book when teaching students about different ways people can be discriminated against. Not just by race but also by age, religion, sex, etc. It is important to not just focus on the discrimination of this particular book but of all the different types in the world.•It would be a great book to show a class different ways books can be written. This one is written as a script for a film. It shows that not all books are narratives. Some students may enjoy this type of writing better.The book Monster is a very interesting and thought provoking book. Even though I am not a huge fan of how it is written, I think it makes many great points for the reader to think about. With discrimination being a major theme shown in the book, it makes Monster even more relevant to use with young adolescents. This is something that they need to learn about and be educated on. Monster demonstrates that theme very well.

    Book preview

    The Monster - Stephen Crane

    The Monster

    Short Story

    Stephen Crane

    Contents

    Begin Reading

    About the Author

    Copyright

    About the Publisher

    THE MONSTER

    I

    Little Jim was, for the time, engine Number 36, and he was making the run between Syracuse and Rochester. He was fourteen minutes behind time, and the throttle was wide open. In consequence, when he swung around the curve at the flower-bed, a wheel of his cart destroyed a peony. Number 36 slowed down at once and looked guiltily at his father, who was mowing the lawn. The doctor had his back to this accident, and he continued to pace slowly to and fro, pushing the mower.

    Jim dropped the tongue of the cart. He looked at his father and at the broken flower. Finally he went to the peony and tried to stand it on its pins, resuscitated, but the spine of it was hurt, and it would only hang limply from his hand. Jim could do no reparation. He looked again toward his father.

    He went on to the lawn, very slowly, and kicking wretchedly at the turf. Presently his father came along with the whirring machine while the sweet, new grass blades spun from the knives. In a low voice, Jim said, Pa!

    The doctor was shaving this lawn as if it were a priest’s chin. All during the season he had worked at it in the coolness and peace of the evenings after supper. Even in the shadow of the cherry trees the grass was strong and healthy. Jim raised his voice a trifle. Pa!

    The doctor paused, and with the howl of the machine no longer occupying the sense, one could hear the robins in the cherry trees arranging their affairs. Jim’s hands were behind his back, and sometimes his fingers clasped and unclasped. Again he said, Pa! The child’s fresh and rosy lip was lowered.

    The doctor stared down at his son, thrusting his head forward and frowning attentively. What is it, Jimmie?

    Pa! repeated the child at length. Then he raised his finger and pointed at the flower-bed. There!

    What? said the doctor, frowning more. What is it, Jim?

    After a period of silence, during which the child may have undergone a severe mental tumult, he raised his finger and repeated his former word—There! The father had respected this silence with perfect courtesy. Afterwards his glance carefully followed the direction indicated by the child’s finger, but he could see nothing which explained to him. I don’t understand what you mean, Jimmie, he said.

    It seemed that the importance of the whole thing had taken away the boy’s vocabulary. He could only reiterate, There!

    The doctor mused upon the situation, but he could make nothing of it. At last he said, Come, show me.

    Together they crossed the lawn toward the flower-bed. At some yards from the broken peony Jimmie began to lag. There! The word came almost breathlessly.

    Where? said the doctor.

    Jimmie kicked at the grass. There! he replied.

    The doctor was obliged to go forward alone. After some trouble he found the subject of the incident, the broken flower. Turning then, he saw the child lurking at the rear and scanning his countenance.

    The father reflected. After a time he said, Jimmie, come here. With an infinite modesty of demeanor the child came forward. Jimmie, how did this happen?

    The child answered, Now—I was playin’ train—and—now—I runned over it.

    You were doing what?

    I was playin’ train.

    The father reflected again. Well, Jimmie, he said, slowly, I guess you had better not play train any more to-day. Do you think you had better?

    No, sir, said Jimmie.

    During the delivery of the judgment the child had not faced his father, and afterwards he went away, with his head lowered, shuffling his feet.

    II

    It was apparent from Jimmie’s manner that he felt some kind of desire to efface himself. He went down to the stable. Henry Johnson, the negro who cared for the doctor’s horses, was sponging the buggy. He grinned fraternally when he saw Jimmie coming. These two were pals. In regard to almost everything in life they seemed to have minds precisely alike. Of course there were points of emphatic divergence. For instance, it was plain from Henry’s talk that he was a very handsome negro, and he was known to be a light, a weight, and an eminence in the suburb of the town, where lived the larger number of the negroes, and obviously this glory was over Jimmie’s horizon; but he vaguely appreciated it and paid deference to Henry for it mainly because Henry appreciated it and deferred to himself. However, on all points of conduct as related to the doctor, who was the moon, they were in complete but unexpressed understanding. Whenever Jimmie became the victim of an eclipse he went to the stable to solace himself with Henry’s crimes. Henry, with the elasticity of his race, could usually provide a sin to place himself on a footing with the disgraced one. Perhaps he would remember that he had forgotten to put the hitching strap in the back of the buggy on some recent occasion, and had been reprimanded by the doctor. Then these two would commune subtly and without words concerning their moon, holding themselves sympathetically as people who had committed similar treasons. On the other hand, Henry would sometimes choose to absolutely repudiate this idea, and when Jimmie appeared in his shame would bully him most virtuously, preaching with assurance the precepts of the doctor’s creed, and pointing out to Jimmie all his abominations. Jimmie did not discover that this was odious in his comrade. He accepted it and lived in its shadow with humility, merely trying to conciliate the saintly Henry with acts of deference. Won by this attitude, Henry would sometimes allow the child to enjoy the felicity of squeezing the sponge over a buggy-wheel, even when Jimmie was still gory from unspeakable deeds.

    Whenever Henry dwelt for a time in sackcloth, Jimmie did not patronize him at all. This was a justice of his age, his condition. He did not know. Besides, Henry could drive a horse, and Jimmie had a full sense of this sublimity. Henry personally conducted the moon during the splendid journeys through

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