Novel Review of Printz Award Winner-Module 3

Novel Review of Printz Award Winner-Monster/ Module 3 Bibliographic Citation: Myers, W.D. (1999). Monster. New York: Scholastic Inc. 281 pages. Summary: This riveting story about a young man fighting for his life is written in two different formats. The character of Steve Harmon views this struggle as a film of his life, with each of the characters playing a crucial role in the determination of his future. While the majority of the novel is written as if one is reading a screenplay, the true feelings are presented as if Steve is writing in a journal. It is through the combination that the reader is left to determine guilt or innocence. Analysis: The subject matter in this novel would be a traumatic event for an individual of any age. The character of Steve is forced into a very adult world due to questionable influences in his life. Questions concerning peer pressure come to mind: why did I let someone talk me into doing something that I know is wrong or how did I get into this mess? Walter Dean Myers allows the reader to become part of the Steve’s inner struggle to face what could be life in prison or a second chance to make better decisions. The addition of different individuals in the jail sharing about their struggles with law enforcement helps to reinforce the need to make better decisions, regardless of how it is perceived. Myers uses his own life experience of growing up in Harlem to convey the rough, brutal lifestyle of those adolescents who struggle each day not to become a statistic on the evening news. He shows that the perceived abrasiveness of the characters is softened by the insight of wanting a better life, not a life in prison. Awards: *Nominated for the 1999 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature *Michael L. Printz Award-2000 *Coretta Scott King Award-2000