Monster (1999 novel)

infobox Book
name = Monster
orig title =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Walter Dean Myers
cover_artist = Christopher Myers
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Drama, Crime novel
publisher = Harpercollins
release_date = April 21, 1999
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 281 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-06-440731-4
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"Monster" is a young adult drama novel by American author Walter Dean Myers and was published by Harpercollins in 1999. It was nominated for the 1999 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

The book is a mixture of the screenplay and diary formats, which are used to tell the story of Steve Harmon's murder trial.

Plot Summary

The novel centers around a teenager named Steve Harmon, who has just been arrested, and has been charged with felony murder. The book tells how Steve must cope with the fact that he might be behind bars the rest of his life, and going through the trial.

Sixteen year old Steve Harmon stands accused of assisting in the murder of a store owner. The novel revolves around the question of whether Steve was part of the gang which held up the store or whether he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Using the screenplay format, the reader gains great insight into not only Steve's reaction to the prosecutor's portrayal of him as a "monster" but also to what it is like to be held in jail.

Characters

Steve Harmon, Kathey O'brien, Asa briggs, Richard "bobo" evens, James king, Osvaldo, Briggs

Awards

*Won the Michael L. Printz Award
*National Book Award Finalist
*Coretta Scott King Award

External links

* [http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060280772/Monster/index.aspx Official Site]