Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, W. D., & Myers, C. (1999). Monster. New York, N.Y: HarperCollins Publishers.

ISBN: 978-0-06-028077-2   Hardback, $16.99



Cover Image courtesy of Goodreads.com

Annotation: Steve Harmon is accused of murder and is on jail during his trial. He narrates his experiences in the format of a movie script while awaiting the verdict.

Mini-Review: While on trial for felony murder, 16-year-old Steve Harmon sits in jail and questions his life. How did he get there? What choices led to this? Will he spend the rest of his life in jail? Desperate for a way to stave off the fear and depression, Steve decides to turn his trial into a movie inside his head. As the prosecution builds their case, can Steve hold it together long enough to survive the trial? If he does, will he spend the rest of his life in prison? Is he really what the prosecution calls him: a monster?

  
Written in movie script format with the occasional diary entry, this story will hook you from the first page. Is Steve guilty? What will the jury decide? Dealing with the grim realities of urban life in a poor neighborhood, this novel explores the possibilities, or lack thereof, available to today’s youth. Monster belongs in every high school and YA library collection. (Adults will enjoy it, too). Myers writing helps the reader feel the despair and anguish Steve feels but keeps you guessing until the end.


Awards:

• Michael L. Printz Award 
• Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honor Book 
• National Book Award Honor for Young People’s Literature 
• American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults 
• American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers 
• American Library Association Teen Best Books for Young Adults 

A conversation with the author about Monster:

See what else Myers has written on his website.

Learn more about Myers from Rutgers University.

Read a short biography of Myers.

Hidden Roots by Joseph Bruchac

Bruchac, Joseph. (2004). Hidden roots. New York: Scholastic Press.   ISBN 13: 9780439353588    Hardback, $16.95

Cover photo courtesy of Goodreads.com

Annotation: Sonny and his family endure the hardships of life in rural Vermont in the 1950s. Racism, abuse, and family secrets must be exposed, endured, and ultimately, overcome.

Mini-Review: Bullied by the bigger boys at school and by his dad at home, 11-year-old Sonny spends his life with his head down, trying not to be noticed. His mom taught him to sleep lightly so no one can sneak up on him. Be quiet. Don’t ask. The one bright spot in his world is his Uncle Louis who teaches Sonny how to hear the trees and hide in plain sight like the deer. But hiding doesn’t always work and sometimes secrets come knocking on your door. Can Sonny and his family survive their secrets?

This powerful story takes place in Vermont in the 1950s. The secrets revealed are not just those of Sonny’s family, some of them belong to all Americans. Recommended for ages 11-14, this book is a great addition to any middle school/junior high library. It takes a realistic, yet gentle approach to the topics of bullying, eugenics, racism, abuse, and family.

Awards:

• American Indian Youth Award winner -2006

Book trailer for Hidden Roots:

Read the author's biography and see his other works on his official website.

Connect with the author and his fans through the forums on his Goodreads page.

Explore all his available works in all formats on Bruchac's Amazon author's page.