Monster by Walter Dean Myers takes an African American teenage boy and throws him into the judicial system on trial for his life. Myers explores the feelings and events through main protagonist Steve Harmon. Steve decides the only way he will make it through is to write down everything that is happening to him in the form of a screen play. Throughout the play there are journals to reach into Steve’s mind on what had just happened in his trial or the disturbing events happening around him in jail.

I can definitely see why this would reach teenagers; it brings an all too real possibility to any teenagers who have made a wrong turn in their life. Rather Steve knew what those guys were up to or if he really wasn’t there according to his testimony, however at one point he does curse the need for going into a store for mints.

I really enjoyed the screen play set up. Television and movies are such a big part of our culture now that giving them an outlet that they are used to read really helps them get into the novel. I found myself imagining the different movements of the camera around a courtroom from Law and Order. I would probably have to set my classroom up like a courtroom or if the school has the capability on a stage to help the students walk through it. In doing this I feel like I could give an outlet for my students to explore the race issue without ‘imposing’ my ideas onto them.

Quick point about Reading Multiculturally by Daniel D. Hade, I understand Hades attempt to get away from the “tourist’s conception of multiculturalism” (236) and offer comparisons to help release the students eyes to what may be just above the surface of a text. However, I’m not entirely sure how he is able to justify ‘what I am after isn’t imposing meaning, it is exposing injustice.” (237) I find exposing anything is the same as imposing his thoughts onto the students.