Myers, W. D. (1999).  Monster.  NY: Harper.

Monster is set in Manhattan and Harlem, NY in the city lockup and partially in the neighborhood where the main character Steve Harmon lives.  In this story Steve is on trail for murder where he faces 25 to life if he is convicted.  It is written in both script and diary form supposedly by the main character.  The murder occurs while Steve was supposedly participating in a robbery.  It goes back and forth between the present and flashbacks.  Even though he is on trial there is no real clear information that puts him at the scene, in spite of being implicated by another.  It gives a close up yet very adversarial view of the judicial system and its underlying tenants of prejudice.  Ultimately Harmon is found not guilty, but his attorney’s reaction lets him know that not everyone is convinced of his innocence.

This novel’s target audience is grades 9 – 12 with a reading lexile of 670.  It is considered YA fiction.  The book includes issues such as the African American experience with the criminal justice system, elements of peer pressure and nature and consequences of violence and crime. I found the text to be intense. The alternating writing genre for this book would make it applicable for instruction in both drama and writing.. It does contain some vivid descriptions of violence as well as some adult content, which I think needs to be addressed before beginning the reading.  This text could also be used for considering the civil rights of people and how the constitution is applied.  Lesson plans abound for this text in both ELAR and Social Studies.