This New York Times bestselling novel from acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon, a teenage boy in juvenile detention and on trial.
Presented as a screenplay of Steve's own imagination, and peppered with journal entries, the book shows how one single decision can change our whole lives.
Monster is a multi-award-winning, provocative coming-of-age story that was the first-ever Michael L. Printz Award recipient, an ALA Best Book, a Coretta Scott King Honor selection, and a National Book Award finalist.
Monster is now a major motion picture called All Rise and starring Jennifer Hudson, Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Nas, and A$AP Rocky.
The late Walter Dean Myers was a National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, who was known for his commitment to realistically depicting kids from his hometown of Harlem.
Is Steve Harmon an aspiring filmmaker caught in the wrong place, or a monster on trial for his life?
- A Unique Screenplay Format: Follow Steve Harmon’s story through his own film script, complete with camera directions and notes, as he tries to make sense of the trial unfolding around him.
- A Gripping Courtroom Drama: Witness the back-and-forth of a high-stakes felony murder trial, where a prosecutor is determined to paint a 16-year-old boy as a monster.
- Unflinching Social Commentary: A powerful and necessary look at a young Black teen navigating the complexities and prejudices of the American justice system.
- An Iconic Printz Award Winner: Discover the groundbreaking, multi-award-winning novel that became the first-ever recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature.