Reading Skills: Monster

In the book Monster by: Walter Dean Meyers, I predict that the main character, Steve Harmon will be found innocent of murder. I believe this because he has yet to take the stand and plead his side of the story to the jurors.

I also predict that a theme for this novel would be that you cannot make a rash decision based on what a person looks like. A reason that I would consider this as a theme is because in the beginning of the trial Steve's lawyer tells him that he must appear and act as innocent as he can because the jurors have already made up their minds just because he is,"black and young" as the lawyer states.

A question that I have is if he is found innocent of murder, how will his peers and family treat him, and act around him? Another question that I have is how does his lawyer prove his innocence to a close-minded jury?

A text to world connection would be when the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred in New York. Everyone who looked like they were Middle Eastern, or had a darker complexion, was treated differently, and some even assumed that they belonged to the guilty party. This is exactly what occurs in this novel when the jurors see what Steve and the other suspects look like.

A text to self connection would be that when Steve takes the stand he knows that the best thing he can do is tell the truth, and answer every question to the best of his ability. This is exactly how I feel the best way to tell your side of the story. When I forgot my homework, and my teacher asked me where it was, I told her the truth, which was that I just forgot. I have always agreed that the best policy is honesty.

A text to text connection can be found between the novel Monster and the Brian Banks story. The Brian Banks story is about a young African American and uprising football star, who is accused of a serious crime that he did not commit. He lost ten years of his life in jail and on house arrest. His attorney encouraged him to take the plea bargain rather than fight for his innocence in court because he was a young, black male. Brian Banks later proves his innocence after serving the ten year sentence. He is now pursuing his life-long dream of playing in the NFL. This connects to the novel because Steve is being accused of a murder that he claims he didn't commit, and is currently serving time in prison during the trial.

To find out more information on The Brian Banks Story go to: http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2013/4/4/4182724/falcons-flyover-the-brian-banks-story