In the book monster is steve guilty or innocent book

According to the book monster, by myers, steve harmon is found innocent. In monster by walter dean myers, what are some of the reasons why. Like the jurors, the reader has to weigh the evidence and decide whether steve is innocent or guilty and if he is guilty, of what exactly. Steve is on trial for a being a possible accomplice to a murder. The character of steve harmon in monster from litcharts. Steve ruminates on this, still uncertain whether he is guilty or not, despite the jurys decision. Booktalking monster by walter dean myers the new york public. Apr 27, 2009 the book monster by walter dean myers, is about teenager steve harmon who has a gift for screen play writing.

Walter dean myers monster guilty until proven innocent monster is an example of what patty campbell would call a landmark book. Steve is on trial for allegedly being the lookout in a serious crime that involved robbery and murder. Obrien gives him the cold shoulder after the trial, which only makes him doubt himself more. The climax of the story occours when steve is found not guilty for murder. We only see the faces in the courtroom, as the jury finds ellis guilty and steve innocent. Why is steve innocent in the book monster by walter dean. Twentyfive years to life in prisonthats the sentence facing our main man, steve harmon. Steve has doubts about his own innocence, and the book challenges students to address themes of morality, guilt by association, and what it means to be innocent or guilty. Steve was caught in the drugstore and all 3 king, osvaldo and bobo reconized steve as the lookout. Evans testifies that steve was part of the robbery team, acting as a lookout man. This book is read in 8th grade as a required text in my district, most likely for. He refers to the other robbery participants as acquaintances whom he hardly talked with at all. Steve must grapple with the fact that his fate rests in the hands of strangers.

But there is a twist to this story because steve is making documentary about his like in jail. What does this suggest about her feelings toward steve. The cell also shows his involvment and how seriou his crime was. Is steve an accomplice to murder or an innocent kid. Thats what prosecutor petrocelli calls him, and he cant help but dwell on it. Walter dean myers monster guilty until proven innocent. The character of kathy obrien in monster from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Get an answer for in the book monster by walter dean myers, was it clearly stated if steven is guilty or innocent, or do they not say.

Monster guilt and innocence presentation by steve harmon on. Steve harmon, the novels protagonistand, at times, its narratoris a sixteenyearold africanamerican student from harlem. This changed steves life forever, because he would not spend his life in jail. After she made him look bad, he thought he was doomed because she was brain washing everyone with all of these accusations towards him, which is why his reaction was to write monster repeatedly in his.

Probably not, but in the book monster that is the case for steve harmon, a poor africanamerican in rundown harlem in the book monster by walter dean myers, which is a fascinating piece of young adult literature. So, heres another booktalk of a very highly decorated book in terms of. Although steve wants to believe that the court will see him as innocent until proven guilty, obrien explains that this statement is nothing more than an idealistic adage. Steve s greatest conflict is not really the trial itself, though its certainly stressful and difficult. By providing a book for each student, students will be able to take the books home so that they may complete reading, homework, and preparation for. Even in the middle of the novel steve still thinks he is not guilty and not a bas person but know he has to take responsibility for his actions. Steve harmon is the main character of the book monster.

In monster, while steve harmon is pronounced not guilty, he is definitely not pronounced innocent. Buy a cheap copy of monster book by walter dean myers. He claims he is innocent and didnt participate in the robbery. The book uses a mixture of a thirdperson screenplay and a firstperson diary format to tell, through the perspective of steve harmon, an african american. Along with that, the court cannot pronounce someone innocentthat is not something any court of law can do.

In 1999, in his young adult book monster, walter dean myers introduced readers to a young man named steve harmon. In the book monster by walter dean myers, was it clearly stated if. Steve even testifies that he hadnt spoken with ellis, evans, or cruz for months. The book begins with him in jail waiting for his trial to start. Although steves actual guilt or innocence is never explicitly revealed, his. Steve, sixteen and in prison awaiting a murder trial, is an african american teen and. Monster morality debate donorschoose project by ms. Apr 21, 1999 i give monster a rate of 5 stars because this book is such an amazing book. The book does not go into as much detail about this, but it is set in nyc in the 90s when rudy giuliani was the mayor known for being tough on crime. In the end, steve is found innocent but the reader is left to wonder if steve is guilty or not. Opening statement we think that steve harmon is innocent because there is not enough evidence to prove he is guilty, he is very certain and stuck with trying to prove that that he was not there when the crime was committed and finally because. Monster is a young adult drama novel by american author walter dean myers and was published by harpercollins in 1999. Is steve really a monster in walter dean myers novel monster. Steve was caught in the drugstore and all 3 king, osvaldo and bobo reconized steve as.

Essay about walter dean myers monster guilty until. However, i suppose it could be argued that this is not an accurate ruling. Monster is a youngadult novel written by walter dean myers in 1999. Booktalking monster by walter dean myers by miranda mcdermott. It is a story of a young man who wants to act tough and ends up in trouble for this.

He fights his worst battles in his head, as he tries to figure out if hes truly a monster. Was steve guilty or innocent in the book monster answers. Steve is a 16yearold black kid from harlem charged with felony murder for his involvement in a botched robbery that ended in mr. Steve harmon is the narrator and protagonist of the story. At the beginning of the novel, the reader learns that steve is in. Walter dean myers grew up in harlem, where steve is from. Steve is on trial for allegedly being the lookout in. If they see it as a contest between the defense and the prosecution as to whos lying, theyll vote for the prosecution. Even in the middle of the novel steve still thinks he is not guilty and not a bas person but. Steve is pretty freaked out, in need of a way to deal with both the trial and the nastiness surrounding him in prison.

The story is written in screenplay format along with steves journal writing which he. The book is set as if steve is making a screenplay. It was nominated for the 1999 national book award for young peoples literature, won the michael l. Kathy obrien, steves lawyer, is all business as she talks to steve. I thought youre supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. Steve senses that obrien does not truly believe he is innocent. In language arts class we read a book called monster, by walter dean myers. Monster is about a 16 year old boy named steve harmon, and how he had to go on a trial for felony murder. The prosecutor walks around looking very important.

Monster is the story about a 16 year old black boy named steve harmon from harlem. The book briefly cuts to a flashback of steves high school film club. The book is about steves trial and whether he will be found guilty of felony murder. It tells the story of steve harmon, a sixteenyearold on trial for his alleged. By the end of monster, the reader can infer that steve is. Steve is pretty freaked out, in need of a way to deal with both the trial and the nastiness. Probably not, but in the book monster that is the case for steve harmon, a. In language arts class we read a book called monster, by walter dean.

This creation of sympathy can indicate that myers does not see steve as a monster. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Steve and other inmates lie while on the witness stand. Steves mother throws her arms to the sky in relief, as. Although steve wants to believe that the court will see him as innocent until proven guilty, obrien explains that this.

Guilty or innocent, steve becomes a pawn in the hands of the system, cluttered with cynical authority figures and unscrupulous inmates, who will turn in anyone to shorten their own sentences. Here, obrien addresses the harsh reality of the american court system. The book monster by walter dean myers, is about teenager steve harmon who has a gift for screen play writing. He admits that he is not a bad person which shows that he has grown through the past weeks. In this book a young man named steve harmon had been put in jail because he supposably killed a man that worked in a drug store. Steve harmon guilty or innocent monster by walter dean myers. The character of kathy obrien in monster from litcharts. The reader is left as uncertain as steve is as to whether or not he is a monster. Steves greatest conflict is not really the trial itself, though its certainly stressful and difficult. Sixteenyearold steve harmon is on trial for murder. I give monster a rate of 5 stars because this book is such an amazing book.

The jury finds steve innocent at trial, but throughout the story there is evidence that steve feels guilty. Texts such as these encourage readers to interact with the text and with. This is the anchor book test for the novel, monster. Guilty or innocent, steve becomes a pawn in the hands of the system, cluttered.

Monster argumentative essay the united states judicial system says that you are innocent until proven guilty. The book is multimodal, combining thirdperson screenplay with firstperson diary. In the book, he tried to mollify himself by denying in his mind and to the jury his part in the murder. Sixteenyearold steve harmon is sitting on the edge of a medal cot, head in hands. At the beginning of the novel, the reader learns that steve is in prison awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a murder.

Just writing in his journal isnt cutting it, so he. Monster is what the prosecutor called 16yearold steve harmon for his supposed role in the fatal shooting of a conveniencestore owner. Are these feelings of being a monster based on the truth that he did passively signal the allclear to the robbers, and thereby he has blood on his hands. Printz award in 2000, and was named a coretta scott king award honor the same year. The book does not go into as much detail about this, but it is set in nyc. Steve is guilty of accessory to murder of agluinado nesbitt. Is obriens coaching intended to hide steves guilty feelings from the jury. The book reveals the strength and tough attitude with which steve coped with this ordeal, including steve s writing of a wordforword play based on his trial.

Opening statement we think that steve harmon is innocent because there is not enough evidence to prove he is guilty, he is very certain and stuck with trying to. In monster, by walter dean myers, the reader learns from steve harmons experiences that sometimes guilt or innocence of a person might not. Was steve an innocent party, wrongly accused by guilty boys simply. Texts such as these encourage readers to interact with the text and with one another by employing a variety of devices, among them ambiguity campbell 1 because it is told through the eyes of steve himself, the plot can be difficult to decipher. Obrien does not celebrate with steve when he is found not guilty. Monster guilt and innocence presentation by steve harmon. A harlem drugstore owner was shot and killed in his store, and the word is that steve served as the lookout. Have you ever been on trial for a murder you didnt commit, and risked the rest of your life being spent in jail. The character of steve harmon in monster from litcharts the.

Walter dean myers monster guilty until proven innocent essay. I think it makes each book funnier to have read them both. Jennifer kendall is an english teacher, librarian, and writer specializing in young adult and childrens literature. Monster takes the form of a screenplay interspersed with diary entries and recollections. Texts such as these encourage readers to interact with the text and with one another by employing a variety of devices, among them ambiguity campbell 1. Thats true, but in reality it depends on how the jury sees the case. When the jury comes back to deliver its verdicts, steves screenplay cuts to silence. Zach liston and jamis williams both as news reporters camera workediting tanner moulton. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.