Wow, is this a powerful novel. Related through alternating journal entries and a film script written by the protagonist, Steve Harmon, Monster tells the story of 16 year old Steve's trial for felony murder in the shooting death of a drugstore clerk during a botched robbery. Steve has been fingered as the lookout, the one who gave the "all clear" for the robbers to enter the store. Right away, I was swept up in the emotional drama of Steve's story. I felt like I was living and feeling all the terror and uncertainty of this young teen facing the possibility of 25 years to life in prison. I was confronted by Steve's fears that as a young black male, he has already been judged guilty in the eyes of the jury. And what, if anything, is Steve actually guilty of? Steve grapples with the meaning of guilt and innocence, and where his actions actually lie on this continuum. I read this in a matter of hours and simply could not put it down. Highly relevant as our society continues to question the implications of its justice system, and the role played by race within the system.
I'm a sucker for anything written journal-style (yes, I was the girl with all the Dear America diaries), and this book has that conversational journal tone to it, with an additional bonus of comics drawn by the narrator, Junior Spirit. Junior is a high school freshman growing up on an Indian reservation, who leaves the reservation school for an all-white high school in his attempt to forge a better life for himself. He relates his story with a refreshing candor, including instances of poverty, racism, alcoholism, bullying, and senseless violence. Even when dealing with such dark topics, however, Junior retains a sense of humor and, more importantly, hope in the promise of a better future. I loved Junior's "voice" in this novel, and found myself rooting for him every step of the way. It was such an engrossing story that I read it in a single day. Highly recommend as it is a book that's both important and enjoyable to read. |
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March 2015
Categories"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one." |