Social Justice Book Choice: Monster

The sense of a social justice theme in Walter Dean Myers Monster is very prominent. The novel practically takes place in a courtroom the majority of its narration. On trial is Steve Harmon, sixteen year-old African-American charged of murder. Did he commit the crime? No. And justice is rightfully served but only in law. Mentally, justice was not served for Steve. Though the conflict of novel was Steve potentially going to jail for life, the greatest conflict Steve faced was in his head as he tried to figure out if he's really the monster everyone sees him to be. He sees in the jury’s eyes and in the people of the courts. They way they look at him even had him want to throw up—the struggle’s gotten physical now.

Before all of this, before the trial, Steve saw himself as a good kid. In the reader’s eyes, he is good kid. But the trial really messed with his mind and he continually battled other people’s perceptions of himself with his own belief of his goodness. So in the end, regardless of his innocence, the damage was already done and what others think of him will continue to haunt Steve.