PJ Can Review: Monster

Monster's story is a fairly common one. A kid, Steve Harmon, is in prison for holding up a gas station and killing the clerk, Mr. Nesbit. He claims not to have done it. As evidence stacks against he and the other perpetrator, whose name I do not recall, it seems like more and more that he was involved but, the other perpetrator actually killed Mr. Nesbit.

So how was the book?
Very, very good.

Let's go over the bad parts first:
The plot was similar to many other books.
The dialogue sometimes came across as unrealistic.
Supporting characters could have been developed a bit more.

Now, the good parts!
I really enjoyed the screenplay format.
Steve's narrative was heartfelt and interesting, you really cared about him.
Even though you liked and cared about Steve, it kept you on your toes, in terms of knowing if he was or wasn't guilty.
The courtroom scenes felt real and intense.
Steve was relatable.
You could really feel O'Brien's doubt.
You never knew the juries verdict until it came.
The mystery was top notch, it was very suspenseful.

I think that anyone who likes a mystery would really enjoy this book. My grandma really likes mysteries and I would recommend this to her. I think she would enjoy it because the mystery in the story keeps you wondering if Steve will be found guilty. Also it is very heartfelt and who doesn't enjoy a heartfelt book. She also really enjoys reading books that aren't in the classic format, and this book is written as a screenplay!!


Overall: 9/10: While not perfect, Monster is a must read.
+ Screenplay format
+ Steve is a great character
+ Mystery is great, suspenseful.

- Unoriginal plot
- Secondary characters felt tacked on and
needed more development


+ Pro
- Con