Walter Dean Myers: Review

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Recommended: Two ways that the media influences stereotypes

For my book talk assignment I read a realistic fiction novel named “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers.

The setting takes place present day in Harlem, New York. The main character is a sixteen-year-old boy named Steve Harmon. Steve Harmon is on trial for a murder that he believes he did not commit. While he is in jail he is writing a script for a movie about the trial. The script helps Steve stay calm and not go crazy while he is in jail. Steve and his Defense Attorney, Kathy O’Brien, are trying to prove to the jury that Steve is innocent. Steve is thought to have been working with two other men, James King and Richard “Bobo” Evans. These two people robbed the store and then Steve apparently killed the owner of the store after Bobo and
That particular theme is used for a lot of things, but I think “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers is a perfect example. Steve Harmon is basically put on a murder trial because he is black. In the beginning of the novel Steve was reminded that he may never be proven innocent because he was black. To a lot of people being black means you’re guilty “Well, frankly, nothing is happening that speaks of you being innocent. Half of those jurors, no matter what they said when we questioned them when we picked the jury, believed you were guilty the moment they laid eyes on you. You’re young, you’re black, and you’re on trail” (Myers 79). This quote helps to show that Steve was completely judged on how he looked. So, in the beginning of the book Steve thought he was never getting out of jail. This gives the reader an understanding on where Steve is coming from, and why he believes he is a monster. After hearing what O’Brien said to Steve, Steve never thought he would be free, all because he was black. When Steve looked around, all he saw was black people “Then I realized that the five guys doing the mopping must have all looked alike and I suddenly felt as if I couldn’t breath” (Myers 129). This all happened in the middle of the book. All of the people mopping were black, Steve realized that black people always look guilty. This scared Steve again, he now knew he was never going to get out, or so he thought. He knew

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