Monster

Myers, D. Walter. Monster. Harper Collins Publishing: 1999.

Annotation

A teenage boy is put on trial for a crime he may not have commited. It is through the patience of thoughs beside him to see the truth come out.

Nomination for Recommendation

As a youth, I always stayed up an extra hour past my bedtime watching Law and Order, hoping my mom would not find out. The unwinding twists were so thought provoking for me. Not to compare the two, but Walter Dean Myers' Monster is a suspenseful and question thinking book. It's a quick read, not because it is easy, but because until the end you never know the answer. Adolescents today are put on the spot for mistakes they have made. Steve Harmon has possibly been put in a position where his mistake is questioned. Did he or did he not commit the crime? Steve's situation can be related to in many degrees. This is what makes this novel so profound. Without a doubt, this is a book that appeals to a teenage audience, but it shows no age discrimination. Read this book, and you will want to tell others to do the same. Ironic as it is: In this book, Steve Harmon's position is a dreadful one. This makes it so much more enjoyable to read, hoping for a positive outcome.

Genre: National Book Award, Coretta Scott King Award, Michael L. Printz Award.