Monster by Walter dean Myers(5/5)

Monster is a riveting story about the flaws of our American justice system. This book is based on a real story. The character Steve is a combination of all the inmates that Walter Dean Myers interviewed while conducting research for this book. Monster is a story about Steve, a 16 year old black male who was falsely accused of a crime and is in the process of a trial. He is charged as an accomplice to murder. He was supposed to signal to his friends that a drugstore was cleared to rob. He claims that he did not make any signal to rob the store. He claims that he was not even in the store that day. His time in prison is heavily affecting his mental health and he writes about this in a journal. He feels isolated and alone. He feels like he has nothing in common with the other inmates he is in with. His friends and family are called up as witnesses to his innocence. At the end of the trial he receives justice and he is found innocent. Overall this was a great book. The only critique I have is that it felt a bit slow paced at times I feel like there were too many unnecessary courtroom scenes. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading and to anyone who feels like the criminal justice system in America could be better.