Have you ever made a choice and wish you could take it back? Have you ever found yourself accused of something you didn't do? Well that is exactly what happened to Steven Harmon. Steven is a teenage boy accused of murder and is on trial for this very act. The author set up a contrast in his writing by having the story line told through the eyes of Steven but also through the lens of mock script and camera lens that Harmon takes on throughout the trial. This book has won many accolades including the Coretta Scott King award. This book is used throughout many classrooms because it allows for students to read a story that reflect different experiences and even cultures then themselves. It allows students to be creative in order to gauge their level of understanding on this particular book. Monster is dives into the process of being wrongfully accused and having everyone think you are guilty. In the book the main character Steven talks about his experiences of going through a trial, his time in juvenile detention and his family and the toll this is taking on them. This book is a page turner and it is interesting the way in which the author decided to write this book.
I really enjoyed reading the book, and hearing Steve Harmon's voice in the movie. I had a difficult time following the court proceedings and court lingo. I think that a very helpful tool for teachers who plan on teaching this book, is to teach the vocabulary used in a court room and also discuss the characters found in the story. After reading it, Lauren pointed out that in the very first pages a list of names of the characters and information is provided. These tools would be helpful for students who are reading this form of writing for the first time.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about it in that fashion but that is true. I didn't find the lingo within the court room to be too difficult for me since I watch a lot of court room type shows. That would definitely be a good teachable moment and it can even span into social studies focusing on our judicial system
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