Monster

By: Walter Dean Myers

Narrated by: full cast

Sometimes I feel like I have walked into the middle of a movie. Maybe I can make my own movie. The film will be the story of my life. No, not my life, but of this experience. I'll call it what the lady who is the prosecutor called me: Monster.

FADE IN: INTERIOR COURT. A guard sits at a desk behind STEVE. KATHY O'BRIEN, STEVE's lawyer, is all business as she talks to STEVE.

O'BRIEN
Let me make sure you understand what's going on. Both you and this King character are on trial for felony murder. Felony murder is as serious as it gets....When you're in court, you sit there and pay attention. You let the jury know that you think the case is as serious as they do....

STEVE
You think we're going to win?

O'BRIEN (seriously)
It probably depends on what you mean by "win".

©1999 Walter Dean Myers (P)2000 Random House Inc., Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"Steve Harmon, 16, is accused of serving as a lookout for a robbery of a Harlem drugstore. The owner was shot and killed, and now Steve is in prison awaiting trial for murder. From there, he tells about his case and his incarceration. Many elements of this story are familiar, but Myers keeps it fresh and alive by telling it from an unusual perspective. Steve, an amateur filmmaker, recounts his experiences in the form of a movie screenplay. His striking scene-by-scene narrative of how his life has dramatically changed is riveting....It's an emotionally charged story that readers will find compelling and disturbing." (School Library Journal)

I wanted and needed more from this great story.

I find that I needed much more out of the story and characters. I also struggled with the screen play setting.

A read never to be forgotten

An interesting story told in an unique style that makes the book a quick, but unforgettable read.

A semblance of justice

The ending left this reader with a semblance of justice. Since it was written through the lens of a teenage boy, certain observations were superficial and locking depth at times. But I find that was intentionally done by the writer to give this a juvenile vibe. Well done.

Great Book!

I love this book, and I can see myself listening to this again and again. I never heard of this book until my brother recommended it to me.

Decent book

It was decent just seemed a bit messy but I had to read it for English. Pretty quick read I finished it in less than three class periods.

Fabulous Book

This audiobook brought the story to life. I was able to feel the conflict and stress on the main character. The audio was very clear and made it easy to follow the story.

Great!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This audiobook is awesome! It does justice to Walter Dean Myers's Monster and the unique writing style and structure of the book. I taught the book in a 7th grade ELA classroom and it really helped students visualize the characters and helped clarify the plot movement! Wonderfully done!

Classroom Group Reading

Using audible has been great for my classroom. Some of my students don't like to read or are working on reading on grade level. Playing books through audible and reading together has brought such joy to my students! Especially this book since it held their attention with suspense and drama as well as different narrators throughout the book. Thank you!

best story ever

I loves it


it's the best it's great amazing outstanding the best love it fantastic

disappointed in the author's foreword

The story was well written and executed but I expected the author to more explicitly challenge the racism of the criminal justice system, not put the blame on individuals who "cross a moral line".