Monster ( Myers novel ) - wikipedia Monster ( Myers novel ) Monster Cover of unknown edition Author Walter Dean Myers Cover artist Christopher Myers Country United States Language Spanish and English Genre Drama, Crime novel, Mystery Publisher Harpercollins Publication date 1999 Media type Print ( paperback ) Pages 281 pp ISBN 0 - 06 - 440731 - 4 OCLC 40043530 LC Class PZ7. M992 Mon 2004 Monster is a young adult drama novel by American author Walter Dean Myers and was published by Harpercollins in 1999. It was nominated for the 1999 National Book Award for Young People 's Literature, won the Michael L. Printz Award in 2000, and was named a Coretta Scott King Award Honor the same year. The book uses a mixture of a third - person screenplay and a first - person diary format to tell, through the perspective of Steve Harmon, an African American teenager, the story of his trial along with James King for felony murder in the state of New York. Contents 1 Plot 2 Characters 3 Themes and format 4 Autobiographical elements 5 Film adaptation 6 References 7 External links Plot The novel begins with 16 - year - old Steve Harmon writing in his diary awaiting for his trial for murder. Musing on his short time in prison so far, he decides to record this upcoming experience in the form of a movie screenplay. Kathy O'Brien, Steve 's lawyer, informs him on what will happen during the trial. At this stage, only two of the four accused - James King and Steve - will be tried, since the other two accused - Richard `` Bobo '' Evans and Osvaldo Cruz - have entered into a plea bargain. When the trial first begins, Steve flashes back to a movie he saw in his school 's film club and the discussion he had with his teacher in which they discuss the idea of predictability with queers. The trial begins with the opening statements of the prosecutor Sandra Petrocelli, Miss O ' Brien, and King 's lawyer, Asa Briggs. Petrocelli labels the four accused men, including Steve, as `` monsters. '' The lawyers call on several witnesses, including Salvatore Zinzi and Wendell Bolden, illicit cigarette traders, who admit to buying cigarettes that came from a drugstore robbery that led to the murder. The story of the trial is often broken up by a variety of flashbacks, including ones showing that King is only acquainted with Steve, that King had accused Steve of pulling the trigger during the robbery. Petrocelli calls as a witness Osvaldo Cruz, who is affiliated with the Diablos, a violent street gang. Cruz admits to participating in the crime only due to coercion by Bobo. Steve recounts a visit from his father, who wishes Steve would have gone on to attend his alma mater, Morehouse College. After detailing various news reports covering the robbery and murder, Steve documents his arrest and his mother 's panicked reaction. Before returning to the trial, Steve writes in his notes that he can not psychologically handle writing down the tragic details of the robbery itself. The coroner, the city clerk, and a detective are questioned in a four - way split screen montage. Miss O'Brien warns Steve not to write down in his notebook anything he wants the prosecutor to see. According to Cruz, the original plan was that Steve would go into the drugstore and signal if the coast was clear. After King and Bobo robbed the store owner, Mr. Nesbitt, Cruz would slow down any potential pursuers. All sources indicate that Mr. Nesbitt drew a gun, which one of the robbers wrestled him for, causing the gun to discharge and kill Mr. Nesbitt. Bobo takes the witness stand to say that James King pulled the trigger and vaguely recalls that Steve, whom he hardly knows, was meant to give an all - clear signal. Briggs argues that neither King nor Steve was ever involved in the crime since the only eyewitness to the robbery saw only two men involved, which can be accounted for by Bobo and Cruz alone. Though Miss O'Brien seems doubtful of Steve 's innocence, she wisely has him distance himself from King. Steve appears to know King and Cruz only as remote acquaintances, and Bobo hardly at all. Steve testifies that he does not particularly remember where he was on the day of the robbery, but that he certainly was not a participant. The defense systematically casts the honesty of Petrocelli 's witnesses in doubt. Although many of the testimonies contradict, even the most incriminating toward Steve claims only that he acted as a lookout in the first stage of the robbery. George Sawicki, Steve 's film club mentor, serves as a character witness, proudly defending Steve 's moral character. Briggs, Miss O'Brien, and Petrocelli finally make their closing statements, before the jury decides on a verdict. James King is found guilty, while Steve is found not guilty. As Steve moves to hug O'Brien, she turns away, leaving Steve to question why. The end of the novel takes place five months after Steve has been cleared of all charges and released from prison. Steve has continued his film - making, but his father has moved away, creating a noticeable distance between the two. He is still confused as to Miss O'Brien's demeanor at the end of the trial, wondering whether she saw some real Steve or a `` monster. '' Characters Steve Harmon : The main character ; an African American teenager on trial as an accomplice to murder. Kathy O'Brien : `` The Defense Attorney with Doubts ''. Steve 's lawyer. Throughout the novel, O'Brien questions Steve 's innocence, but she still tries her best to defend him. She is petite, red - haired, and freckled. Sandra Petrocelli : `` The Dedicated Prosecutor ''. The state attorney of New York that is assigned the case of Steve Harmon and James King. James King : `` The Thug ''. Steve 's co-defendant. He is 23 years old. King is the person responsible for goading Steve to participate as a lookout man for the drugstore robbery ; also believed to be directly responsible for the death of Mr. Nesbitt. Asa Briggs : The defense attorney for James King. Briggs has blue eyes and white hair. Osvaldo Cruz : `` The Tough Guy Wannabe ''. A 14 - year - old boy, slim and well - built, who has a tattoo of a devil 's head on his left forearm and one of a dagger on the back of his right hand between his thumb and forefinger. He is in a gang, The Diablos, and has been arrested multiple times. Cruz testifies that he only participated in the robbery because he was afraid of Bobo, though his violent gang history makes this excuse doubtful. José Delgado : The first witness to testify. A young, well - built drugstore clerk, and the first person to see the murdered Nesbitt. Salvatore Zinzi : A criminal in jail telling the story he heard to get a break in his jail sentence. He was not part of this crime. Alguinaldo Nesbitt : A 55 - year - old native of St. Kitts. The man murdered in the store during the robbery. Jerry Harmon : Steve 's younger brother. George Sawicki : Steve 's film club teacher. Lorelle Henry : A 58 - year - old retired librarian who was a witness to the drugstore robbery, but not the murder. The judge : A 60 - year - old New York judge ; seems to be bored with the case ; does n't talk much. Wendell Bolden : Brought cigarettes from one of the guys from the stickup. ( He was with Sal Zinzi at the time. ) Richard `` Bobo '' Evans : `` The Rat ''. 22 years old. Bobo admits that he was actually involved in the crime. He also testifies that King pulled the trigger, killing Mr. Nesbitt ; and to Steve 's role as the lookout man. After the robbery, Bobo sells the cigarettes that connect him with the crime. Themes and format The novel depicts the themes of identity, race, peer pressure, dehumanization, crime, teenaged masculinity, and the relative or subjective nature of the truth. This idea comes up multiple times throughout the novel. There is the truth in relation to the law, but also the truth of a person 's character. Steve, during the trial, writes about experiences he has had that directly contradict the thug persona he has been labeled with. The book reads like a formal screenplay, written by Steve Harmon, interspersed with seemingly handwritten fragments from his diary. The screenplay 's verisimilitude is enhanced by such cues as `` fade in, '' `` voice over, '' and `` fade out. '' As one critic wrote, the novel is `` Presented alternately as the first ‐ person, handwritten memoir... ( and ) a neatly typed screenplay. '' Critics have commented on how the novel offers `` surface effects -- marginalia, drawing, photographs, mugshots, and video stills -- to offer an analysis of the complex identities that emerge in the context of such surfaces. '' Generally, the novel has been praised for remarkably sophisticated levels of thematic and formal complexity, considering its ostensible status as a young adult novel. As another critic wrote, `` Monster is an experiment in form and structure, '' demonstrating Steve 's `` vent ( ing of ) his passionate perplexity. '' The novel is interspersed with various photos depicting Steve. Many appear to be placed around the prison, possibly taken after he has been released as he is dressed in plain clothes although his oversized T - shirt is striped. Possibly indicating that he will never be free from this experience. Myers had an affinity for addressing issues of race in many of his other novels as well as several articles he penned. Autobiographical elements As a young man, Myers struggled with a speech impediment that caused many of his classmates and teachers to ridicule him and think him unintelligent. He often got into trouble at school for selling drugs in school and on the streets. When trying to defend himself against the ridicule, many labeled him a `` Monster '' much like how Steve Harmon was labeled a `` Monster. '' Later, while working as a construction worker, Myers decided to follow advice given to him by his high school writing teacher and began writing at night after work, just as the character Steve Harmon writes throughout the novel. Myers ' novel is also one of very few young adult novels that features a protagonist of color. The cover artist for the novel is Myers ' son, Christopher Myers. Film adaptation Main article : Monster ( 2018 film ) Monster has been adapted into a film of the same name directed by Anthony Mandler. It will premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. References Jump up ^ `` 2000 Printz Award ''. Retrieved 14 April 2013. Jump up ^ Staunton, John A ; Gubuan, Francine ( May 1997 ). `` Monster ''. J ADOLESC ADULT LIT. 45 ( 8 ) : 791 -- 793. JSTOR 40012833. Retrieved 14 March 2013. Jump up ^ Cart, Michael ( 2000 ). `` Carte Blanche : The Dream Becomes a Reality ''. Booklist. Retrieved 14 March 2013. Jump up ^ Bosman, Julie ( 2012 ). `` Children 's Book Envoy Defines His Mission ''. New York Times. Retrieved 28 April 2015. Jump up ^ Italie, Hillel ( 4 March 2011 ). `` At 73, Jersey City author Walter Dean Myers is a hero to young readers ''. NJ.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 7 March 2011. Jump up ^ Myers, Walter Dean. Bad Boy : a Memoir. New York, N.Y. : HarperCollins, 2001. Print Jump up ^ Myers, Walter Dean ( 2014 ). `` Where Are the People of Color in Children 's Books ? ''. New York Times. Retrieved 15 April 2015. Jump up ^ Debruge, Peter ( November 29, 2017 ). `` Sundance Film Festival Unveils Full 2018 Features Lineup ''. Variety. Retrieved January 1, 2018. External links Children and Young Adult Literature portal `` Monster '' Google Books Walter Dean Myers Official Website Michael L. Printz Award winners 2000s 2000 : Myers -- Monster 2001 : Almond -- Kit 's Wilderness 2002 : Na -- A Step From Heaven 2003 : Chambers -- Postcards from No Man 's Land 2004 : Johnson -- The First Part Last 2005 : Rosoff -- How I Live Now 2006 : Green -- Looking for Alaska 2007 : Yang -- American Born Chinese 2008 : McCaughrean -- The White Darkness 2009 : Marchetta -- On the Jellicoe Road 2010s 2010 : Bray -- Going Bovine 2011 : Bacigalupi -- Ship Breaker 2012 : Whaley -- Where Things Come Back 2013 : Lake -- In Darkness 2014 : Sedgwick -- Midwinterblood 2015 : Nelson -- I 'll Give You the Sun 2016 : Ruby -- Bone Gap 2017 : Lewis, Aydin, and Powell -- March : Book Three 2018 : LaCour -- We Are Okay Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Monster_(Myers_novel)&oldid=832898412 '' Categories : 1999 American novels Epistolary novels American crime novels American novels adapted into films Michael L. Printz Award - winning works Hidden categories : Pages to import images to Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 28 March 2018, at 15 : 51. About Wikipedia

Question: what point of view is the book monster written in
Answer: third-person screenplay