Response To 'Monster' By Walter Dean Myers

Dear Sirs and Madams of the Scituate district, I am Nicole, a student from Bronx charter school for the arts. I have just read the book "Monster” by Walter Dean Myers, the-year-old boy, Steve, that is ont, along with King, for murder and could be stuck in jail forever. Steve is being accused of doing a crime with others like Bobo and Osvaldo. This crime is the killing of Alguinaldo Nesbitt in a drugstore by a gunshot. This book should have not been banned because it acknowledges the reality of our world. I personally enjoy when the author Walter goes from a play scene into a diary with Steve's thoughts throughout the trial. These issues really do happen in our world and learning about the process and feelings throughout this helps kids

Which isn't done with many books so it's a fun read and it also grasps the idea of how people go to jail and the process of everything. At the very beginning of the story when Steve is in jail and explaining his feelings he writes “I hate this place so much.”(pg.45) By Steve writing this over and over in his notebook and telling us all the bad things happening within, it shows a different side of ¨criminals” not this stereotype of big bad guys who dont care at all. Without reading this book many individuals may never understand that people in these types of situations aren't all violent people who will harm others. Further into the trial, Steve continues to write about all these negative thoughts of being scared and afraid of how his life will turn out then writes ¨Idon't think about my folks that much. I know she loves me, but I wonder what she's thinking.¨(pg.91) Steve still wonders what his mother is thinking even though he is aware of her affection for him, which may indicate a communication problem or a lack of understanding. Which captures a universal experience that many people share, when there is distance or a lack of contact this is a universal human experience that many may not think “criminals” have. Reading this fresh viewpoint was wonderful since I learned about the thoughts that people may have during trials. It can be helpful to understand

Identity is what makes us who we are. But no one else teaches us anything about the factors that make identity. When Steve is in jail and doing chores he had this new thought “Then I realized that the five guys doing the mopping must have all looked alike and I suddenly felt as if I couldn't breathe.” (pg.129) Therefore empathizingwith the challenge of self-awareness and the battle to create one's own identity in a society that frequently labels and stereotypes people. Realizing how similar the five men cleaning the floor all appear to one another causes a sense of heaviness and a sense of losing his identity. The idea of being classed with others based on visible similarities seems to overwhelm Steve to the point of a panic attack. Then at the very end once the whole trial is over this happens “I want to know who I am. I want to know the road to panic that I took. I want to look at myself a thousand times to look for one true image. When Miss O’Brien looked at, what did she see that caused her to look away.” (pg.281) illustrates Steve's sense of uncertainty and trying to find a specific, accurate reflection of himself. Implying that Steve is struggling to understand his own identity and to sort through many perspectives and images in order to get to a true understanding of who he is. Also shows Steve is looking for both internal and external understanding and validation in