Walter Dean Myers’ Monster is a gripping courtroom drama told from the perspective of 16-year-old Steve Harmon, an African American teenager on trial for his alleged role in a robbery and murder.
Written in a unique screenplay format interspersed with Steve’s diary entries, the novel explores themes of identity, guilt, and the complexities of the justice system. As Steve tries to prove his innocence, he grapples with the perception of himself as a monster in the eyes of society.
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