BDCHS Advanced Reading discussion

The book, Monster, written by Walter Dean Myers, is a interesting book, as it is told from the first and third point of view. Told in first person by Steve Harmon, a African American Teenager, who is on trial for killing and robbing a Mr. Nesbitt. The story takes on 141st street,as well as in a courtroom, and a jail. Steve is in a film class at the time, so he tells the third person portion of the story like a film script. Some other characters in the novel are Kathy O'Brian, Steve's lawyer, James King, the other African American teen on trial, Sandra Petrocelli, the prosecutor, and Richard "Bobo" Evans, the teen who had the idea to pull a heist on the convenience store. The problem, however, is that Steve was simply a lookout in the convenience store, to see if anyone was in there. But he didn't tell King and Evans, who then came and robbed the place, killing Mr. Nesbitt. Steve is proven not guilty at the end of the novel, and James King gets 25 years in jail. The theme of the novel is a person is innocent until proven guilty.

I learned that even if you had nothing to do with a crime, you can still be involved with it, as other people will frame you. I did enjoy the story somewhat, but the beginning is a little drawn out to me. And I like its presentation. I've never seen a story that is told as if it was a movie script. Overall, it's a interesting story, and I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars.

Some questions to think about...
1. You said the theme is innocent until proven guilty. Was that the case for Steve? What he innocent?
2. You said that he had nothing to do with the crime, but was involved in it. Doesn't that mean he did have something to do with it? Was he framed then? Is he just as guilty for the murder?
3. What made the beginning so drawn out?
4. What made the story interesting? Just the presentation or did you like some other aspect?