Monster

This spring I had the unforgettable feeling of matching a student with the right book. I couldn't seem to get him interested in reading outside of school. He talked about East Side Dreams as being his favorite book. He started to read it at a summer program but never finished it once he got home. He seemed to see the book with nostalgia without the motivation to keep reading it. However, it gave me some insights on the type of plot that would interest him.

His disinterest in reading changed when I gave him a copy of Monster by Walter Dean Myers. I had the book on my shelf for about a year but never read it. One day I opened it up and was captivated by the opening lines. I wanted to read it to myself, but could not miss the chance to get my student hooked on a book. As I had hoped, my student flew through the book.

Last night I decided to revisit the book and finally read it. I can see how the book pulled my student in. Steve Harmon is on trial for murder and the book is told from his point of view as a screenplay with some of his journal entries mixed in. Throughout the book Steve is starting to panic about the outcome of the trial. He cannot imagine living his life in a jail. He is also trying to figure out who he is and whether or not he is a "monster" as the prosecutor says.

Aside from the interesting content, the layout of the book is inviting to reluctant readers. The journal entry sections are written in a large sized handwriting font. The screenplay sections of the book are also quick to read because of the screenplay vs. narrative. In addition there are pictures intermixed to set the scene.

This is an excellent option for reluctant readers, but it will also catch the interest of students who love to read. As they read like writers, Myers' style will give them a lot to think about as far as craft.