1. Monster Class Notes Revised 2007© Copyright. Academic Year 2006-2007, by M. Baltsas. (http://www.mrsbaltsas.org)

2. The Author 1937-Present Born in Martinsburg, West Virginia Moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. Attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army. After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. Has been writing full time since 1977. Revised 2007© Copyright. Academic Year 2006-2007, by M. Baltsas. (http://www.mrsbaltsas.org)

3. The Author 1937-Present Has published over seventy books for children and young adults. Has won several awards: Coretta Scott King Award, Newbery Honors, Margaret A. Edwards Award, and the Virginia Hamilton Award, National Book Award Finalist Walter Dean Myers is married, has three grown children and lives in Jersey City, New Jersey. Revised 2007© Copyright. Academic Year 2006-2007, by M. Baltsas. (http://www.mrsbaltsas.org)

4. Background Information The Title –Refers to the name the prosecutor uses to label the two young men on trial. –Also the metaphorical label Steve applies to himself. Genre –Juvenile Fiction Setting –Harlem, New York City, present day Revised 2007© Copyright. Academic Year 2006-2007, by M. Baltsas. (http://www.mrsbaltsas.org)

5. Major Themes Introspection (looking in) Peer Pressure Young Black Men in Harlem Racism The Justice System Revised 2007© Copyright. Academic Year 2006-2007, by M. Baltsas. (http://www.mrsbaltsas.org)

6. Background Information Style: Written as a screenplay and a series of journal entries. Point of View: 1 st person point of view of Steve Harmon. Tense: This story is written mostly in the past tense, but stage directions and the action in the courtroom is in the present tense. Revised 2007© Copyright. Academic Year 2006-2007, by M. Baltsas. (http://www.mrsbaltsas.org)

7. Background Information Mood - Despair and hopelessness - inmates work their way through the justice system, a system that is often one-sided and unfair. Revised 2007© Copyright. Academic Year 2006-2007, by M. Baltsas. (http://www.mrsbaltsas.org)

8. Characters Protagonist –Steve Harmon, who is on trial for felony murder Antagonists: –the justice system of our country –the neighborhood which impacts young men like Steve, –the people Steve associates with in the neighborhood Revised 2007© Copyright. Academic Year 2006-2007, by M. Baltsas. (http://www.mrsbaltsas.org)

9. Exposition Steve Harmon is arrested for felony murder after he is named as the lookout in a robbery/murder Tells the reader through his journal entries and his screenplay of the trial how he feels at each step of the process. Flashbacks of events reveal his connection to the perpetrators and events in his life that emphasize his regret for decisions he has made. Revised 2007© Copyright. Academic Year 2006-2007, by M. Baltsas. (http://www.mrsbaltsas.org)

10. Rising Action Begins with Steve in jail and beginning his screenplay in the midst of the horrors of hardened criminals, rapists, and violence. Revised 2007© Copyright. Academic Year 2006-2007, by M. Baltsas. (http://www.mrsbaltsas.org)

11. Climax/Outcome Climax: The climax of the story occurs when Steve is found not guilty. Outcome: Steve doesn’t actually go to jail, but he creates a new prison for himself when he realizes there is a gap that is widening between himself and his Dad, and then he spends all his time filming himself to try to find the look that was on his face when his attorney looked at him for the last time. Then, he thinks, maybe he’ll know who he really is. Revised 2007© Copyright. Academic Year 2006-2007, by M. Baltsas. (http://www.mrsbaltsas.org)