Monster (Amistad) | Walter Dean Myers | A book students like to read

Monster (Amistad) | Walter Dean Myers | From a Teacher/ School Librarian's perspective...

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Monster (Amistad)

	Monster (Amistad) Walter Dean Myers Amistad, 1999 - 288 pages average customer review:based on 681 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Sometimes I feel like I have walked into the middle of a movie. Maybe I can make my own movie. The film will be the story of my life. No, not my life, but of this experience. I'll call it what the lady who is the prosecutor called me. MONSTER.

FADE IN: INTERIOR COURT. A guard sits at a desk behind Steve. Kathy O'Brien, Steve's lawyer, is all business as she talks to Steve.

O'BRIEN
Let me make sure you understand what's going on. Both you and this king character are on trial for felony murder. Felony Murder is as serious as it gets. . . . When you're in court, you sit there and pay attetion. You let the jury know that you think the case is a serious as they do. . . .

STEVE
You think we're going to win ?

O'BRIEN (seriously)
It probably depends on what you mean by "win."

Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon is on trial for murder. A Harlem drugstore owner was shot and killed in his store, and the word is that Steve served as the lookout.

Guilty or innocent, Steve becomes a pawn in the hands of "the system," cluttered with cynical authority figures and unscrupulous inmates, who will turn in anyone to shorten their own sentences. For the first time, Steve is forced to think about who he is as he faces prison, where he may spend all the tomorrows of his life.

As a way of coping with the horrific events that entangle him, Steve, an amateur filmmaker, decides to transcribe his trial into a script, just like in the movies. He writes it all down, scene by scene, the story of how his whole life was turned around in an instant. But despite his efforts, reality is blurred and his vision obscured until he can no longer tell who he is or what is the truth. This compelling novel is Walter Dean Myers's writing at its best.

2000 Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2000 Michael L. Printz Award, 1999 National Book Award Finalist, 01 Heartland Award for Excellence in YA Lit Finalist, 00-01 Tayshas High School Reading List, and 00-01 Black-Eyed Susan Award Masterlist

2000 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA), Hornbook Fanfare 2000, Michael L. Printz Award 2000, 2000 Coretta Scott King Award Author Honor Book, 2000 Quick Picks for Young Adults (Recomm. Books for Reluctant Young Readers), and 2000 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)

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A book students like to read

I am a high school English teacher and I have struggled with finding books students would read. I found just such a book with Monster. I had several who took the book home the first night and finished it. My students begged for more reading time in class because they didn't get to read as much as they wanted to the night before.

From a Teacher/ School Librarian's perspective...

"Monster" was an outstanding book and should be read by any child that is heading in the wrong direction. Over the years, there were so many students I could have recommended this book to. This story is about a black teen and the inner city, but please do not feel this book could not help a child in the suburbs or Asian/Hispanic/White teens. The main focus of this book is to talk about the consequences any teen can face by associating themselves with the wrong people. So many teens want to be cool these days and fit in with the cool peer group. "Monster" is showing that being cool for a few moments could land you in jail for life, where you could be someone's girlfriend for the rest of your life. This book is an easy read and should not take your child or student long to read this book. The focus groups I recommend read this book are:
-Any teen heading down the wrong path
-Any teen on probation
-Any teen who has been getting into trouble at school
-Drama Club students
-Any teen wanting to fit in
-Any teen who you feel is picking the wrong people to associate with
-Film/ Media production Clubs

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Monster: Intresting and thought provoking

Monster is the riveting tale of a young man on trial for murder. His attorney stresses that he needs to stand out from the other thugs on trial, as he struggles with his own sense of self. Steve narrates in a unique way, a collection of train-of-though style journal writing and screen plays of the events. He builds it all into a movie in his head, and on paper to help him sort out what's going on around him.

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Monster review

Monster is an amazing book, because, at least for me, it transports you to a world you don't see every day. One in the courtroom, one in jail, on on the streets. The unique way it was written kept my interest, and made it feel like you were sitting right there. The dialogue was awesome, and it was all written in dialect that seemed realistic. Read this book...you will love it! Or if you don't love, you will at least be fascinated by how the main character's fear is so real, you can feel it.

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Quick read, excellent story

Quick read, excellent story. Steve Harmon is a 16-year-old on trial for the murder of a drug store owner during a robbery attempt. He is accused of being a look-out for the robbery. The reader knows essentially what the jurors know - except for brief, descriptive scenes of Steve's incarceration. Steve comes from a loving stable home. He's an aspiring film student and a loving older brother. The impact of how quickly and how terribly things can go wrong is very strong. An excellent story for teens - neither condescending or boring - but one adults can appreciate as well.

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