Monster (Walter Dean Myers novel)

{{Infobox book |name = MONSTER

|orig title = |translator = |image = |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 |ssbn = 0-064-40731-4 |congress = PZ7.M992 Mo]] for Young People's Literature, won the Michael L. Printz Award in 2000^[1], and was named a Coretta Scott King Award Honor the same year.

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

Summary

Steve Harmon is a young African American who lives in Harlem, New York and is forced into the situation which put him on trial for murder. He is accused of being involved in a robbery which led to the death of the owner of a drugstore. It is unclear whether or not he robbed the store or helped the “real” criminals in any way. He was suspected as acting as a lookout for James King, the other suspect accused in this case, but with no hard evidence to prove this true. However, because he was suspected of being involved in a robbery which led to the death of a store owner he was charged with felony murder, which is a sentence of no less than 25 years in a federal prison.

The novel's plot focuses on Steve's time in prison and his experiences in the courtroom throughout his trial. As Steve sits quietly alongside his attorney while the fast-paced hearings progress, the aspiring filmmaker records the events of his trial in screenplay format. Interspersed with journal entries containing Steve's own thoughts and provide the reader with some valuable background information concerning his life prior to the violent acts that ultimately landed him in this serious position. Steve must learn to cope with the notion that, if found guilty, he could spend the rest of his years in prison.

During Steve Harmon's trial, Mrs. Petrocelli, the prosecutor, calls to the stand a 14 year-old boy named Osvaldo Cruz. Osvaldo tells them the plan for the robbery and who participated. He tells Petrocelli that Bobo, King, and Steve were involved. The plan was that Steve would go in the drugstore, check for police or citizens and then make a signal if the store was clear. After King and Bobo robbed Mr. Nesbitt, the store owner, Osvaldo was to slow down any person who chased them. Osvaldo tells the police that he participated in the robbery because Bobo threatened him and his mother with violence.

Lorelle enry testifies as a key witness in the trial. She was in the drugstore when the robbery happened. She was in the store to buy cold medicine for her granddaughter so that she could enjoy her Christmas. At that time, she saw Bobo and King faking an argument to make Mr. Nesbitt come closer so that King could ask him at gunpoint where the money was. Then Henry says she forgot what else happened. The prosecutor brings Bobo out to tell his part of the story. Bobo says that King shot Mr. Nesbitt with his own gun and that Steve came out of the store without saying anything. At this point it seems as if Steve did not participate in the robbery because he made no signal, nor did he receive money from the robbery.

A small mistake links Bobo Evans and James King to the robbery: Bobo and King take five cases of cigarettes as an afterthought to the robbery. When a drugstore clerk sees that cigarettes are missing, he reports a theft to the police. In the meantime, Bobo and King have already sold the cigarettes to a man named Zinzi who deals in stolen goods. While Mr. Zinzi was going to be incarcerated for buying stolen goods, the police offer to shorten his sentence if he will testify against Evans and King. In his self-serving testimony, Zinzi confirms that he bought five cases of cigarettes for James King and Bobo Evans which they said came from a robbery.

At the novel's close, Steve rediscovers his personal identity, and develops a set of moral standards for himself that ultimately shape the person he becomes following his trial. Unfortunately things do not plan out so well for Steve's friend, James, who is found guilty of murder. Fortunately for Steve, he is found not guilty and, with the charges dropped, he is afforded a second chance at life and is able to start over with a clean slate. - Cam12204

Main characters

• Steve Harmon: A black 16 year-old young man who is on trial for felony murder in New York City.
• Kathy O’Brien: Steve Harmon’s defense attorney. ( She doesnt know if he is guilty or innocent but she still tries her best to plead him innocent.)
• Sandra Petrocelli: Assistant District Attorney. She prosecutes Steve and James King, labeling them "monsters" before the jury.
• James King: the defendant who encouraged Steve to join the robbery. He is responsible for the death of the store owner, Mr. Nesbitt.
• Richard "Bobo" Evans: the defendant who planned the robbery. The procecution uses his testimony in an effort to put King and Steve in jail.
• Asa Briggs: the defense attorney for James King and his mother. He has blue eyes and white hair.
• The Judge: a 60 year-old man. He is tall and thin with white hair.
• Osvaldo Cruz: a 14 year-old boy. He is slim and well-built. He has a tattoo of a devil's head on his left forearm and one of a dagger on the back of his right hand between his thumb and forefinger. He is in a gang, The Diablos.
• José Delgado: the drugstore clerk. He is young, well built, and very articulate.
• Sal Zinzi: a nervous man, slightly overweight, who sells stolen goods. He wears thick glasses, which he touches over and over again as he testifies.
• Detective Karyl: a lazy, fat man responsible for questioning Steven Harmon. His partner is Detective Williams.
• Mr. Alguinaldo Nesbitt: the drugstore owner who was shot and killed in the robbery.
• Mr. George Sawicki: Steve's school film club mentor.

Themes

Introspection: Steve must come to terms with his own identity. He accomplishes this throughout the novel in his journal entries which he makes during his time in jail awaiting trial.

Peer Pressure: This theme is the basis for how he ended up in his current situation. Had he not given into the peer pressure by James King he wouldn’t have been involved with the robbery that led to the death of the store clerk.

Humanity: Steve is called a "monster" by the Assistant District Attorney at the beginning of the novel and Steve grapples with the question of whether or not he is monstrous for his actions in the robbery. He is constantly reflecting upon this in his journal entries. The word can also be found scribbled faintly and scratched out on pages of the novel itself.

Autobiographical elements

Like his character, Walter Dean Myers grew up in New York.^[2] As a young man, he struggled with a speech impediment that caused many of his classmates and teachers to ridicule him and think him unintelligent.^[3] Myers often got into trouble at school and on the streets when trying to defend himself against the ridicule, causing many to label him a “bad boy” (hence the name of his memoir), much like Steve Harmon was labeled a "monster."^[4] Later, while working as a construction worker, Myers decided to follow advice given to him by his high school writing teacher and began writing at night after work, just as the character Steve Harmon writes throughout the novel.

Actual legal cases

In August 2009 a similar robbery to the one that occurred in Monster took place in Harlem, New York.^{[citation needed]} This robbery had different consequences than the one Steve was involved in. The owner of the restaurant being robbed shot back at the robbers and killed two of the four involved in the robbery.

In New York City there is a long established law that allows a person to use deadly physical force when they reasonably believe it is necessary and there is no chance of retreating from danger.^{[citation needed]} In most cases of robbery when the suspect is a minor (case depending) they are only held until they are 18. However, when there is a murder involved this rule no longer applies and the juvenile can be incarcerated for much longer.

References

1. ^ http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/printzaward/previouswinners/winners.cfm
2. ^ Myers, Walter Dean. "Biography". Walterdeanmyers.net. http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/bio.html. Retrieved 7 March 2011. 
3. ^ Italie, Hillel (4 March 2011). "At 73, Jersey City author Walter Dean Myers is a hero to young readers". Associated Press. NJ.com. http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/03/at_73_jersey_city_author_walte.html. Retrieved 7 March 2011. 
4. ^ Myers, Walter Dean. Bad Boy: a Memoir. New York, N.Y.: HarperCollins, 2001. Print

Awards
Preceded by none	Michael L. Printz Award Winner 2000	Succeeded by Kit's Wilderness