Monster Audiobook

" If I could give this book 2 and a half stars, I would. I usually don't come up against a book that I don't really appreciate. I typically at least like the style of the writing or the voice, or something. The quality that stuck out for me about this book that saved it from a lower rating was the ending. I had a hard time reading the book because of the style of writing: courtroom, movie script, and journal inclusive. After the first 160 pages I would have stopped if I hadn't had to read it. I found it almost tedious, and may be should have attempted to read it in more than one sitting. This work does prompt a good many questions and allowing the reader to draw conclusions from the ending is good as well. While it was rough for me to read the entire book, once you've read the whole thing it allows the ending to have the impact that I believe the author intended it to. The ending of the "movie" is brilliant and the end of the journal is very well done, especially for the adolescent lit genre. You are able to see the main character's struggle to find who he is as he processes through what he perceives as how other people (who are important to him and have a considerable amount of "power" to influence him) perceive him. Steve's struggle with being in jail and not feeling like he belongs there, and that he's lost his reality is very relate-able to those going through some sort of major life change of a dramatic, or unexpected variety. Overall the ending and the types of struggles and the problem presented were what I appreciated about this book. The last thing I will mention is the premise of the book itself. I'm not sure if this story is actually realistic or not. Maybe I'm just not familiar with the court system, but it seems to me that this case would not have actually proceeded through the courts. Allegedly, Steve was a lookout man for a robbery. After checking the drugstore for customers and cops, he left and never went back and never received any of what was stolen. After Steve left, the robbers went in, the clerk pulled a gun, there was a struggle, and one of the robbers shot and killed the clerk. Now Steve, a 16 year old minor with no priors, is being charged with felony murder and tried as an adult. If convicted of being the lookout, he could receive the death penalty. Or at the least 25-life in prison. I have trouble with believing that this 16 year old boy could be given the death penalty for casing a drugstore, then leaving. Especially when two others involved in the robbery are not facing major consequences because they ratted first and are testifying as witnesses. That just sounds a little too fantastic. "

" A bit difficult to get into because of the screenplay style with minimal introduction. I thought it was hard to keep some of the characters straight and I don't know that I would have been able to do it without the narrative sections sandwiched between scripts. Style aside, the content of Monster is sad and tense, and the book's ending has haunted me since I finished. "

" Myers creates a unique story which details the struggles of a young teen fighting for his life in jail. Steve Harmon has been charged with felony murder and is on trial for his life. This novel details as Steve might say "the true happenings of a teen fighting to stay out of jail and for his life". Myers really captures the emotions and actions of the story within a uniquely written novel. Monster is written within a screenplay form akin to TV shows such as Law&Order. Through this perspective readers of Myers' novel can almost feel as if they are viewing the story. The novel is very visual. Myers creates a spellbinding picture of Steve Harmon's life. Complex themes as well as complex feelings are revealed in a convincing teenage voice. "

" Seventh graders love it, and it's great to teach. "

" In Monster, I really want to find out what would happen to the main Character. I got a little confused with which character is which because there are so many. "

" I was left somewhat unsatisfied by this novel. I was expecting to be wowed by the story... why not, it has won a few awards, so surely I should end up loving the story? Sadly, no. I admit, I was intrigued by the author's choice to tell the story as if it were screenplay, but it felt skeletal... more flesh, meat and gristle should have been present to bring that rawness and lucidity I craved. "

" This book was ok. I liked it because it was a cool case, but it dragged on. "

" I don't like reading screenplays - its distracting, but the storyline was okay "

" This book was fun at the beginning of the book and at the end of the book it got boring because the only thing they was trying to get that boy in jail. "

" fast read. very engrossing story "

" I really enjoyed it! My one friend had it with her, and while I was waiting for my ride, I read the whole thing. I loved the format: a mix of prose and script. I thought it was very original. All the while, I was hoping for him to be innocent. A very good read1 "

" good book- writen as a movie script. "

" I liked this book because it was interesting and it kept me on my toes of what happened and what will happen. "

" It was cool read it in seventh grade "

" i know im going to like this book because i love all of walter dean myers books.i only finished one chapter and its about a 16 yrs old boy whos on jail.i think he murdured someone. "

" I really enjoyed the style this book was written in, like a screenplay of a movie. Everyone always says that they feel like they are watching a movie of what is happening, well Myers portrayed that emotion perfectly. A very interesting and eye-opening read! "

" I liked the screenplay format. Good text to study racism (which is bad). "

" I have to read this book for school and its not the type of book that I would pick out to read. It's not horrible but it's not a favorite of mine. "

" Interesting...this book is written in the form of a movie script...tells "close-up of, cut to, voice over, reaction shot" etc. It was a quick and easy read. The story line made me want to read on, but I was disappointed at the ending. "

" Its was an okay book i didnt really enjoy it "

" Excellent use of the screenplay format to tell a story that is extremely well paced, with developed characters, solid dialogue, and and ending that allows for different interpretations. "