Thursday, October 31, 2002

Walter Dean Myers. Monster. HarperCollins, 1999.

Recommended Age Range: 14 and up

Plot Summary: A 16 year old black youth from Harlem, Steve Harmon, is on trial for murder. As the trial progresses he records the events as a film script.

Evaluation of Reader Appeal: This book is a realistic portrayal of the moral gray area of what constitutes involvement and culpability in a crime that will appeal to teens trying to define their own moral boundaries.

Evaluation of Literary Merit: I love Walter Dean Myers' work and I love this book. The book is well written and the style is engaging. It allows the reader to really see through the eyes of the protagonist. It is a Coretta Scott King Honor book, a National Book Award Finalist, and the winner of the Printz award.

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