His family and the other mice in the castle found him to be very strange and odd. The reader can get lost in the references to movie and film-making lingo, but should be fine as long as these terms are reviewed and introduced before the book is read.ĭespereaux was born a tiny mouse, with gigantic ears, and eyes open. This book would not be appropriate for younger elementary students, but it would be favorable for 4th grade and up. The book does not clearly answer the question of whether or not Steve did it, and leaves other doubts for readers to ponder regarding the nature of the current justice system, the plight of New York ghetto youth, and thug culture. The novel makes readers consider peer pressure, the choices they make, the integrity of people, and different degrees of guilt.

Grainy photographs contribute to the realistic atmosphere, and the photographs present images of 'Steven' in anguish. Myers paints a compelling story, and the suspense and skillful writing grips readers. 'The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is screaming for help.' The movie script and courtroom realism teach both creativity and contemporary culture. The first line of the book grabs the reader by the heart, and makes them wrestle with doubts as to whether or not Steve is guilty. Myers uses highly realistic writing, with poor and good grammar used appropriately for each character. He knows his mother still loves him, but his father distances himself from Steve because, Steve feels, his father no longer knows who his son is. He believes that his attorney thinks that he is guilty. I guess making you live is part of the punishment.' He doubts his own innocence and tries to convince himself that he is not guilty. 'They take away your shoelaces and your belt so you can't kill yourself no matter how bad it is. He hates and fears the jail environment, with its constant threat of violence and sexual violation. The psychological plot becomes more complex as Steve's emotions ride a looping roller coaster immersed in fear and doubt. The plot moves ahead to the trial and draws out the story with flashbacks to scenes before Steve is arrested and shortly afterward. The reader first hears from Steve in a prologue narrative where he describes what it is like to be in jail as he waits for his trial to proceed. There is not a large amount of scientific evidence in the case against Steve Harmon, so the jury must rely on Steve’s background information, their opinions of guilt and innocence and the testimonies of the witnesses which are mostly criminals.

Steve, a 16 year old African American, is on trial for murder in this contemporary realistic fiction novel.

Monster walter dean myers prologue